How To Keep Hamster Warm In Cold House

Winter is brutal for homeowners who own hamsters.

To ensure your hamster stays healthy throughout the winter months, you must maintain its body temperature. Fortunately, you can adopt a few effective heating methods.

So, how do you keep hamster warm in cold house?

Hamsters are rodents that originated in Mongolia and Siberia.

These small creatures are usually kept as pets, but they can also be kept as laboratory animals.

Hamsters like to live in warm environments and will regularly snuggle up to their owners to keep warm.

However, if your hamster is living in an unheated room or outside in cold weather, it will need something extra to keep them warm. Here are some easy ways to keep your hamster warm in cold weather in the following.

Let’s start now.

What Temperature Is Too Cold for Hamsters?

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Temperatures ranging from 68 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit are optimal for hamsters’ survival.

Temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit may cause the body of your hamster to go into shock.

This is because their body naturally seeks shelter from the cold by curling into a ball and slowing down their metabolism rate to conserve energy.

When the temperature drops below this range, this slows down even more, which can cause hypothermia and death if the body’s temperature doesn’t increase.

If your room temperature falls below 60 degrees in the winter, you may want to keep your hammy indoors instead of out to avoid this problem.

Sudden temperature dips are likely to result in death for your hamster because their bodies can’t handle the change in temperature very well.

This is never a good indication for a hamster because hamsters normally eat continuously throughout the day.

What Happens If a Hamster Becomes Very Cold?

If they get too chilly, they stop eating and drinking until they warm up again, which can result in dehydration and starvation.

Although they may recover after a few hours of being indoors in a warm room, this can be dangerous if not treated right away because the animal could be susceptible to more health issues from not eating or drinking enough fluids.

This can also happen if they get too cold while outside in the cold.

If you’re keeping your hammy outdoors in the cold during the winter, make sure it has access to shelter and a warm blanket at night.

This may be quite upsetting for everyone since it can mean that your hamster isn’t feeling well.

If you feel your hamster is hibernating, look for short periods of activity during the day rather than long periods of inactivity during the nights.

If you are unable to tell if your hamster is sick or not, contact your vet immediately.

How To Keep Hamster Warm In Cold House

Use a Hot Water Bottle to Provide Heat.

In frigid weather, wrap a hot water bottle in a cloth and place it next to your hammy’s sleeping area to provide heat for the animal at night.

Make sure it doesn’t burn the bedding though.

If you place the bottle directly against the bedding, it could overheat and burn the bedding instead.

Remove the bottle once it gets too hot, or replace it with a new one if it completely cools off. Never leave the water bottle unattended while in use.

This will gradually warm your hamster’s surroundings and keep him comfortable during cold nights.

If it’s more convenient, you can store hot water bottles in the freezer and use them overnight for your hamster when the temperature drops below freezing outside.

Wrap a Towel Around the Cage

By wrapping a towel or blanket over the top of your cage, you can insulate the cage and provide warmth for your furry little friend inside.

Make sure to tuck the edges under the cage as well to make sure it stays in place and doesn’t fall off in the middle of the night.

Alternatively, you can use an insulated cover to protect your animal from cold temperatures too.

This can help ensure that your pet remains safe at all times. If your hammy gets really cold, it may burrow into the bedding to get warm, so make sure that there is enough of it to provide adequate coverage without too much excess bedding taking up space.

Concentrate on positioning your selected heat source in the warmest area of your home, such as the living room or kitchen.

Also Read: Can Hamsters And Squirrels Live Together?

But be cautious where you put your heating pad as you don’t want to place it directly on your hamster’s bedding as it may burn them or cause them to overheat.

Close All Windows and Doors.

In the winter, try to keep all windows and doors closed to keep the cold air out and the warm air inside your house so your hammy can stay warm and comfortable inside their cage.

This will help keep the heat from escaping from your home as well. If you can, avoid opening the refrigerator door as this will cause cold air to flow into the room too.

Also, be sure to turn off any fans when it’s not in use so air can circulate throughout your home and keep the room at a comfortable temperature for your hamster.

This may even eliminate the need to turn up the heat or air conditioner during the day if your hamster is comfortable with their room temperature being lower than usual.

Purchase a Small Cage Nest

Many hamster owners are surprised to learn just how small the average size of a nest is for their pet.

While a single layer of nesting material may not provide enough warmth for them, a small nest of shredded paper can provide a cozy home for them to sleep comfortably at night.

Be sure to position the nest away from their heat source though so that the heat doesn’t radiate through the paper and melt it in the process.

A bed of pine shavings will also work just as well as an alternative option .

When the temperature lowers, the hamster will be less inclined to move around as much and may be more likely to sleep for longer periods of time.

Remove Your Hamster from Draughts

Draughts from windows and doors will make your house colder and potentially make your hamsters feel chilly as well.

If drafts are present, you should shut these off as much as possible to avoid your animals from getting chilled.

Additionally, if the weather is especially cold, you may want to open a window slightly to let in some fresh air and prevent suffocation inside the home.

Remember, however, that drafts are dangerous for your little friend so be careful when opening a window for any reason.

Check your hamster’s room for any drafts and do your best to eliminate them as best as you can.

Locate a Warm Spot

Some rooms are cooler than others due to natural sunlight and other environmental factors.

As a result, you should try to place your hamster in a room that is warmer and more stable in temperature (especially during the winter).

Heat rises, so keep your hamster’s cage up above room temperature.

Make the Hamster Move

It is suggested that you move the cage around every so often to keep the animal active and also to prevent boredom and stress from setting in.

This isn’t the best long-term option, but it will keep your hamster healthy during the transition period until a more permanent solution can be found.

If at all feasible, you should try to re-locate the cage next to an air vent or heater vent to help regulate the temperature better.

A good hamster ball can keep your hamster entertained and give him some exercise at the same time.

This will not only provide them with the stimulation they need to stay healthy, but will help keep them away from potential hazards such as electrical cords and cat litter pans.

Turn the Heating Up

One of the simplest methods to keep your hamster warm is to turn up the heater to a higher temperature during the winter months. The warmer the air is in the room, the more heat it will provide for your pet.

This, however, will waste a lot of energy and will increase your heating bill considerably.

It also doesn’t help if your hamster chooses to spend all of his time in his cage or hide in the bedding during the day instead of venturing out to explore his surroundings.

Also Read: Why Is Hamster Peeing In Ball?