How to Bond with your Hamster

Bonding with your hamster may seem like a daunting task but it doesn't have to be, many people expect their hamster to bond with them the first day they bring them home but that's an unreasonable request. Hamsters are still quite new to the pet trade and have not been around people nearly as long as other domesticated pets we own, so it may take some time and patience to bond with your hamster but it is a possible thing!

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[emmam]

My hamster is not necessarily fond of being held but he loves running around on the couch and if he goes to close to the edge I just call his name and say "watch out" and he turns around and walks back to safety 😂 very handy

[diellalala]

If it weren't for you my Syrian hamster Toffee would be living in a tiny cage with a 4" wheel and less than an inch of bedding. She's currently living in a cage with almost 600 square inches of floor space and more than 6 inches of bedding! She has a proper wheel now and a beautiful natural setup. All thanks to your channel! I am so thankful to have found it! Toffee is also a new hamster and this video is perfect for learning how to bond with her! :)

Update: I'm planning to get the NiteAngel Vista enclosure (the large size!) in the spring or early summer (they're currently all out of stock in my area). It exceeds 1000 sq in and I am so excited for this upgrade!! Again, thanks so much! <3

[jaredjordan]

I had a hamster that wasn't big on being held or cuddled, but loved to be pet. There was a spot on my bookshelf next to my bed where he liked to hang out and groom himself. He was always in reach for me to pet if I wanted to. When free roaming, he'd periodically rub up against me for reassurance before going back to exploring. Even without the holding and cuddles, I felt like we had a very strong bond.

He was one of those heart animals. I knew at the pet store. He was the only one who ran up to the glass of the enclosure they were in like he wanted to know me better. He ended up living 2 1/2 years and never once bit me.

[Stibly]

I get my hamsters from an elderly person who's been breeding them for nearly 40 years. They're always super tame, healthy, and love human interaction.

[paige-wiens]

When I adopted my little syrian hamster it took her about 1 week to settle down, she had a bad past. Her old owners where younger and didn't understand that she was a living thing and not a toy. She was super skittish at the start but now when I tap on her cage gentally she comes running and hops onto my hand without a second thought. She's honestly the sweetest angel ever, it takes time. You can't force or rush trust, it might take forever but patience is key. Good luck guys! :)

[kyleechristensen]

So, I bought my daughter a hamster many years ago before I ever watched YouTube and it was a struggle. Now I look back and wish I had all the knowledge I have now from watching your videos. I feel bad for the animal we had because we had literally no idea what she needed from us and we made the mistake of taking instructions from PetCo employees that were just trying to sell products. Some day when I have more time to invest in a small pet, I will absolutely give it another go bc I know I could be so much better! Until then, I'll just keep learning from your videos and enjoying watching your interact with all your little cuties! Thanks for being an amazing human 🧡

[KatB]

I work at a big box pet store... we had a hamster come in with some neurological issues, so he wasnt able to be sold and his fate was a trip to the vet... I knew from the moment him and I locked eyes that he was mine and that I was his... he's been at home with me for 2 weeks now, he's already awake when I come in after work, he knows my voice and will come out of his burrow to greet me. I love this lil man so much, and I'm so glad I was there to be able to give him his best lil life❤️❤️❤️

[write_read]

My hamster passed away some weeks ago. She was such a fascinating hamster because she loved everyone from the very minute. She bonded with me from the first day and would sit and eat on my hand. When I put her back in the cage she would jump at the glass to be let out again. (She had a large custom cage so I knew this wasn't a boredom sign). I miss her.

[aaronykk]

I just like to think that we’re so lucky to have these beautiful creatures! they do not deserve to be popular animals for everyone..🙃

[PetConnectionInternational]

These are just generally awesome tips for any small rodent, I recommend basically the same things for bonding with gerbils, love the tissue, jug and bonding pouch ideas though! I haven't really considered them before, they're definitely some great tools to have handy ☺️

[miriamdavis]

I had a hamster in my 20s and he was truly one of a kind. I felt such a deep connection with him more than any dog or any cat I had before. He was my baby! I loved him so much! He was the sweetest, so chill so nice! He got really old and started to get a lot of health problems I cried so much when he died. I loved him so much I had him tattooed on me. After him, I had other hamsters and it was never the same. Until recently, I adopted this female hamster and she is so sweet. It's still recent but so far so good. She reminds me a little of my lovely hamster and that brings me so much joy.

[kaykrafts]

I’ve had my hamster for 3 weeks and she recently started taking treats from me and climbing on my hand! Thank you for the tips:)

[amerisartanimation]

This was good to see, I needed some hamster content as my sweet little bean passed this morning. She lived for 2 and 1/2 years, and she always loved it when I made her noodles to munch on. I was fortunate enough to be able to snuggle her as she took her last breaths. We’ll miss you, Cookie. <3 She could have had an awful life living in a crittertrail, but thanks to this channel she lived a long, happy life in a huge tank.

[z_]

Me and my hamster watched this together. He was on my hand, so still. We loved the vid.

[caz]

Just like humans, animals have unique personalities. Thanks Victoria for another great video ... you are a hamster whisper and I'm very greatful for all of your advice and i've put into practice. I absolutely love sprinkling the herbs, I'm looking forward to your next video. I have a ghost Syrian hamster and watching these videos has enabled me to give him a good, happy life x

[jantonon]

This is so helpful! My first hamster had no problem being handled, my second was very skittish and it took a couple months to handle her. Both of my babies passed at just over 2 years of age, and I brought home my 3rd hamster about 5 weeks ago, and she’s my first biter! She got me once already, so I’m trying to take it slow. The only time I can pet her is when she’s preoccupied with stuffing her pouches from her food bowl. She’ll take treats from my finger but that’s about it. I sat with her in the tub but she started screeching after a bit so I put her back in her enclosure. I’m in it for the long haul!

[MINNIX]

i feel like every hamster owner should be like Victoria, i seriously adore ur videos and pets

[gabideeh]

This channel has changed my perspective on animals. I used to love to going to pet smart and looking at the animals there but now I know where they actually come from. I rescued a Syrian hamster a few months ago and if it weren’t for this channel he’d be living in a small cage.

[elenipapachatzaki]

it was a huge surprise to me how easy it was to tame my hamster, it only took 2 days for him to feel very comfortable with me and he was way more stressed when picked up with a mug than with my bare hands, also he hated bathtub bonding so instead I put him on my lap and he sat there very gladly before starting to run around the room

[pancakespets]

This was a very helpful video Victoria! You have really helped me with my hamster care, and got me interested in owning hamsters and helping to educate people about hamsters! Now my hamster is living in a 100x50x50cm enclosure (which I am hoping to upgrade soon), 10 inches bedding, 11 inch wheel, and plenty of herbs and enrichment. I can't thank you enough! 💕