Why Do Hamsters Need to Smell You?

Hamsters do not have good eyesight. They don't need good eyesight considering they are usually most active at night. They rely mostly on their sense of smell to make sense of the world.

  1. Function

    • Hamsters use smell in order to communicate and identify each other, find mates and find food. "Training Your Pet Hamster" suggests equating your scent with good things for the hamster, such as treats or time outside of the cage.

    Significance

    • Hamsters are prey species. They tend to bite when they are not sure of what is trying to touch them, so they may mistake their owners for predators and bite.

    Prevention

    • "Training Your Pet Hamster" notes that the way a hamster recognizes its owner is through the sound of voice and by smell. Always talk to the hamster and let the hamster sniff your hand before attempting to pick up or pet.

    Warning

    • Make sure to wash your hands after eating before handling a hamster. According to "Training Your Pet Hamster," if fingers smell like food, the hamster will assume the fingers are food and take a bite.

    Types

    • Roborovski dwarf hamsters.

      According to Hamsterific.com, all types of pet hamsters have poor eyesight, including the Syrian or golden hamster, the Campbell's or Russian dwarf, the winter white, the Chinese and the Roborovski.