Are Hamsters Affectionate? Can They Feel Love?
In films and media, hamsters are always depicted as furry balls of energy. They are always shown to be either running on the wheels or climbing around the cage energetically.
However, little is known about their emotional state. Are hamsters affectionate? Are they capable of showing love to their owners or other hamsters? More importantly, how can you tell if your hamster loves you?
Join me below as we explore if hamsters can feel love, their capability of showing affection, and how to tell if your hamster loves you.
Happy reading!
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Are Hamsters Affectionate? Do They Display Love?
The short answer is yes but that depends on how you define affection.
If you are talking about physical affection such as snuggling and cuddling, then I’m afraid not all hamsters love cuddles, unlike domestic pets such as dogs and cats.
Hamsters don’t necessarily crave human affection as they are being hunted in the wild and thus are equipped with strong defense mechanisms and survival skills.
However, hamsters are capable of showing affection in other ways, which we will be discussing in detail under How Do Hamsters Show Affection To Humans.
Having said that, I also know a hamster owner who had the most affectionate hamster ever! The little hamster pup got used to my friend after only having it for 2 days. He would climb up her hand and loves being petted.
You’re lucky if you have an affectionate pet hamster but if your hamster isn’t as affectionate as you thought, don’t fret, that’s just how hamsters are.
Do Hamsters Feel Affection?
Having owned multiple hamsters throughout my life, I’ve always had a burning question — can my hamsters feel that I love them?
After all, having spent so much time tending and caring for them, you wish your furry pet knows that you love them, right?
The answer is yes but it’s not as straightforward as how humans feel love.
Unlike animals with higher emotional intelligence, hamsters cannot communicate love the way dogs and cats do. Before we delve deeper, let us understand how humans feel love.
Humans feel loved when a chemical called oxytocin is released in the brain, creating warm and fuzzy feelings. Also known as the love hormone, oxytocin increases when you’re cuddling, kissing, and hugging someone you loved.
Research at the Ohio State University found that hamsters injected with oxytocin are found to heal 25% faster than other hamsters.
Oxytocin is a hormone that is linked to companionship and love. This result suggests that hamsters can indeed feel love after all.
Another study also linked oxytocin to tamer hamsters, suggesting that showing affection regularly to your hamsters might tame their aggressive behavior.
Factors Affecting Hamster’s Level Of Affection
The level of affection each hamster displays differs depending on its breed, age, gender and breeding conditions.
1. Breed
# Syrian Hamsters
Syrian hamsters are the most common hamster breeds as they are known to be friendly and easier to tame compared to other hamster breeds.
Since they have gentler temperaments, they also tend to display more affection when compared to other hamster breeds.
#Robo Hamsters
Roborovski hamsters aren’t the most friendly hamster breeds as they tend to be cold and aloof. Some hamsters might not even like human interaction and prefer to live in their own world.
However, with proper training, Robo hamsters are capable to show love to their owners too, only if they trust you and bond with you.
#Chinese Hamsters
Chinese hamsters are very agile and move around quickly in the cage. They are shy in nature but will turn friendly quickly. Train your Chinese hamster by feeding and talking to them daily. They will open up once you are close enough to them.
2. Age
Hamster pups can be trained and tamed by their owners since young but adult hamsters might develop their own personalities and can be harder to tame.
You can train hamsters from a young age by interacting with them regularly, feeding treats with your palms, and talking to the hamster pups so it recognizes your scent and voice.
By doing that, chances are your hamster will be more affectionate.
3. Gender
According to NC3Rs (National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research), female hamsters are usually more aggressive when compared to male hamsters.
Female hamsters are also more likely to incite fights when aggression occurs.
Male hamsters are more docile and more likely to show affection to their owners compared to female hamsters.
4. Breeding Conditions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has discovered the cruel and horrifying treatment to pet hamsters in pet stores which includes confining hamsters in small enclosures, breeding them unethically in backyard mills and etc.
Breeding hamster unethically in mass creates more aggressive hamsters as they need to fight each other to survive in the small cages.
Meanwhile, hamsters bred in clean and conducive environments tend to have milder temperament as they are provided with sufficient space and food.
Naturally, hamsters bred in unethical rodent mills will display lower levels of affection as they are taught to compete for food and survival.
I would suggest to adopt a hamster instead so you can give these furry balls a new home, and a second chance to live a new life.
How Do Hamsters Show Affection To Humans?
1. Your Hamster Responds To Your Voice
If you’ve had experience with hamsters, you will notice that some hamsters seem emotionless and cold when you brought them home for the first time.
Personally, I’ve had experience with a hamster who will stand on both its legs and listen to me intently when I talk to her.
That’s an endearing sight and that’s how I know that she loves listening to my voice as she has never reacted like that with another person.
Try talking to your hamster every day. It might not seem to work at first but don’t be disappointed, your hamster will feel your love and react to it one day!
2. Your Hamster Seems Tamer In Front Of You
In the wild, hamsters are prey animals, which means that they are hunted and killed by another animal for food.
As such, some hamsters might show aggression in order to protect and defend themselves. When you’ve bonded with your furry hamster, it will seem tamer in front of you.
For instance, it will be more relaxed and climb on you naturally without showing its aggressive side. These are signs that they have developed an affection for you as their owners.
3. Your Hamster Will Not Avoid You
When your hamster starts to like you, it will not avoid you.
This is evident as most hamsters will try to avoid strangers or things they are uncomfortable with when they are placed in a new surroundings.
This is very normal as hamsters need time to be familiar with their surroundings and the people around them.
So, when your hamster starts to hang around you more often, that’s a sign that your hamster had develop an affection for you.
Can A Hamster Fall In Love With Another Hamster?
Even though hamsters might show affection to their human owners, things are different when it comes to their fellow hamsters.
Generally, hamsters don’t prefer the company of other hamsters. They also don’t show affection to other hamsters as well.
Of course, this depends on the breed of the hamster but generally, hamster prefers solitary life, especially Syrian and Chinese hamsters. Make sure you place Syrian and Chinese hamsters alone in their cages.
Never place 2 or 3 Syrian hamsters together as they will fight and this might result in the death of your hamsters.
Are Hamsters Nice?
It can be difficult to give a definite answer as it all depends on how you define nice.
Yes, hamsters are cute and cuddly. They are also often mistaken as easy to care for and are touted by pet shops as the best starter pets for children.
Their furry and cute appearance also gives off a false impression that they are tame and easy to handle.
In reality, not all hamsters are as nice as they look.
Since hamsters are prey animals, they are not as domesticated as dogs and cats which are used to human interaction. Hamsters in the wild are being preyed on so they are constantly on the run to defend themselves.
Some hamster breeds are also more aggressive than others. You’ll also need to take into account their gender and living conditions to determine how friendly they can be to humans.
If you’re looking for tamer hamster breeds, go for Syrian hamsters. Syrian hamsters are known to be the friendliest hamster breed. Syrian hamsters are also easier to tame compared to other breeds.
Are Hamsters Loving Pets?
Just like humans, each hamster has a different personality when it comes to behavior and temperament.
It’s difficult to generalise hamsters as loving or aggressive as hamsters behave differently under different circumstances and living environment.
However, with tender loving care, hamsters can be loving to their owners. Treat your hamster with love and be patient with it. With enough patience and training, I believe your hamster will feel your love and show affection to you one day!
FAQs
Are Hamsters Cuddly?
Hamsters are cute and cuddly as they are furry and small. They don’t require a lot of space and attention to care for unlike more common pets such as dogs and cats.
Their furry coat and tiny size makes them excellent pets to cuddle and hold for adults and kids alike.
Do Hamsters Like To Be Stroked?
Yes, absolutely.
Hamsters thrive with affection and love being petted. Use your index finger and middle finger and gently stroke your pet hamster on the back.
Trust me, they will love it! But be careful, don’t touch any food items before petting your hamster. Your hamster will be prone to biting if they smell food on you.
Do Hamsters Show Affection By Biting?
Biting is often associated with aggression but you might be surprised that hamsters do sometimes bite to show affection.
Hamsters might nibble on your finger because it is curious or it wants your attention.
However, if your hamster bites you hard, it might be showing discomfort or anxiety as hamster bites when it feels threatened.
Check out the video below to see how this little hamster licks its owner affectionately.
Do Hamsters Get Attached To Their Owners?
A hamster can get to know his or her owner over time and be given enough bonding time.
According to the book by Betsy Sikora Siino, hamsters will only bond with 1 or 2 people in their lifetime. That means your hamster might only bond with you and your partner, but not everyone in their life.
Do Hamsters Miss You?
Unlike household pets such as dogs and cats, hamsters don’t rely on attention to thrive.
They do not miss company necessarily and can live a solitary life, especially Syrian hamsters. Unlike other animals that live together, hamsters are not social animals and they survive in the wild by burrowing and hoarding food.
Do Hamsters Like To Be Held?
Most hamsters do not like to be held. There might be exceptions if you’re the owner and your hamster trusts you.
Otherwise, hamsters will usually bite if they are startled or unfamiliar with your scent.
If you wish to hold your hamster, interact with your hamster frequently until your hamster starts to bond with you.
Final Thoughts
Are hamsters affectionate? Yes, they are.
Just like other mammals, hamsters are capable of displaying love although affection might be displayed a little differently in human terms.
Unlike dogs and cats, hamsters might not have high intelligence levels to respond to the affection shown by their owners. But that doesn’t mean they cannot feel affection from their owners.
Therefore, it is important to interact with your hamster frequently so your hamster trust you enough. When your hamster is comfortable being with you, naturally you’ll be able to tell its personality and quirky traits.
