Why do hamsters sleep so much?
When you find out that hamsters can sleep up to 14 hours every day, you might feel envious (wouldn’t that be nice?) But unlike humans, they don’t do it all at once; rather, they wake and sleep frequently throughout the day (and sometimes night).
They are also nocturnal, so you might hear them playing and running on the hamster wheel very late in the evening. Fortunately, by planning your routine to match your schedules, you can still spend quality time with your pet. Your little pet usually passes out during many of your awake hours because they enjoy staying up all night, which may contribute to some of your feelings.
Hamsters don’t actually sleep continuously, despite the fact that 12 to 14 hours is undoubtedly a lot of Zs. If you’re wondering why your hamster sleeps so much, especially for a rodent, you should probably contact the vet to see if there’s something more going on. These animals also only awaken briefly during the day to forage for food. You might be catching them at the incorrect times. Visit your pet at dusk when he will be at his busiest if you need to spend some time with him.
What does it mean when a hamster is sleeping a lot?
The majority of the time, spending a lot of time asleep indicates that your hamster is a typical little guy that enjoys sleeping all day. A indication that something might be awry with him, though, should come from getting too much sleep. You don’t want him to have gone into hibernation, for example.
This usually occurs when a chilly winter has set in and the cage temperature has dropped too much below ideal. Because their wild cousins must sleep through the chilly months, this makes your pet go into hibernation. This could occur if there are drafts close to the cage or when the room temperature drops below 50 degrees. Be careful not to place your hamster too close to a fan or air conditioner.
On the other hand, if it’s warm enough and your small critter is still oversleeping, he might have been ill. Hamsters are prone to colds and intestinal problems, which can make them want to stay in bed longer.
Sneezing or diarrhea are two other indications that your child isn’t feeling well. Examine him thoroughly, taking note of his eating and toileting routines, and then call your veterinarian for additional guidance. She might ask you to bring in a sample of your feces, or she might need to order testing and blood work to figure out the problem. Similar to how colds normally pass in people, your hamster will soon be able to resume sleeping through the night.
Why you shouldn’t wake a sleeping hamster?
Nobody wants to be abruptly awakened from a sound slumber, and since your hamster sleeps for the majority of the day, you risk accidently waking him with your regular sounds. It’s ideal to keep him in a part of the house where your morning traffic won’t wake him up and get him thrilled. In addition, a startled hamster can bite you if it thinks you’re a predator awakening him from his nap.
Stress and poor sleep quality can also result from spending too much time awake during the day, when hamsters should be sleeping soundly. You don’t want your guy’s regular resting hours to be altered if it means that he remains awake anxiously because hamsters get sick when they feel too much tension.
Conclusion
You can stop worrying about why your hamster sleeps so much. Hamsters are genetically predisposed to sleep when most predators are out and about and it is too hot to go in search of food. They like to search for seeds and puddles at night since it is both safer and cooler. Try not to force your hamster’s schedule to match yours too closely. Find a point of agreement instead, perhaps later on in the day. Just after supper, you may take your hamster out of his cage and let him play for a while. Then, at night, you can give him access to a variety of toys and exercise equipment to keep him occupied while you sleep.
If you want more helpful advice on looking after your hamster, including tips on food, toys, accessories and accommodation, add a comment below to let us know!
Waiting for our next post here.
