How To Tame a Hamster

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Handling is one of the joys of having a pet hamster, and if you don't tame your hamster you won't be able to have a full, free relationship with him. Taming can be time-consuming and involves a good deal of patience, but in the end it will all be worth it. It is important to remember that a hamster may sometimes bite, but this is only done through fear and is a defensive behavior. If a hamster bites it means he is not comfortable being handled yet.

When you first bring your hamster home do not attempt to tame it immediately. The hamster should be given at least a couple of days to settle in and get accustomed to it's surroundings. It can be very frightening being in a new place. Trying to tame the hamster too early will only frighten him more. Put his cage somewhere quiet and calm.

Once these few days have passed you should start spending time sitting by the cage, perhaps sit and read near the cage and gently talk to your hamster. This will get him used to your presence. Next try giving the hamster a treat through the bars/lid of the cage. If he will not approach your hand at first, then do not try to force him into a corner. Leave your hand in the cage for as long as possible, it may take a few attempts before the hamster will take a treat from you. Slowly your hamster will become comfortable walking on your hand. If at any point your hamster bites your, or you feel he may bite, continue the process wearing gloves.

The next step is to place the cage somewhere safe, perhaps on a bed or in a room that is totally secure such as the bathroom (even a bathtub). Here you should take the lid off the cage. You can either allow your hamster to come out and explore, or allow him to walk on to your hand then slowly lift your hand out of the cage. Patience and bribery are the two most important things when taming. Avoid trying to rush your hamster, it may not seem like there is any progress but rushing will only make things worse.

The best way to pick up a hamster is cupping him in the palm of one hand while using the other hand placed over the top to stop him jumping to the floor. To be safe it is best to hold your hamster above your lap or close to a carpeted floor, so that he does not hurt himself if her falls.

Remember even though you may think you have tamed your hamster because he will sit on your hand this does not mean he trusts you completely. It may take weeks before you have built up a trusting relationship with your pet.