Why hamsters squeak

Almost all animals have a distinct sound. We know that dogs bark for many reasons, cry when they want something, and growl when they are aggressive, but not many people know what sounds hamsters make. The most common noises that hamsters make are squeals, screams, and squeaks, but they can also hiss and grind their teeth. However, we do have a general idea of what might be going on with your hamster when it makes certain sounds. If your hamster is grinding its teeth, it means that your hamster is probably irritated and wants you to leave it alone.

They usually scream because they are afraid of something, and the scream is loud and distressing. The most common sound all hamsters make is squeaking. Here are 12 reasons why your hamster might be squeaking, which will help you understand your hamster better. Hamsters sometimes squeak when they are happy.

For example, hamsters are known to squeak when they get a treat, or when you pet them. If you have more than just one hamster, your hamsters could squeak because they are happy to see each other, or just because they are playing. You can tell that your hamster is squeaking because it is happy if you see it stretch or yawn while squeaking.

If your hamster is new, socialization will make it calm down. When you get a hamster for the first time, it might be hard to figure out on your own how to tame it. The first thing you should do when you bring a hamster home is to let it adjust.

Try giving it a week before you handle it. A good place would be a study if you work from home or a bedroom. You will have to take the time to get to know your hamster and learn how it communicates. You will notice that your hamster has become more comfortable once it leaves its cage on its own. Do not handle your hamster before it leaves the cage on its own, you will just make it more afraid of you.

You should talk to your hamster, but not too loudly, so it gets used to your voice. You might feel awkward talking to your hamster, so try reading it a book, or if you have kids, read them a goodnight story with the hamster present in the room. You can convince your hamster to trust you by offering it a lot of treats. Start by offering them through the bars or at the edge of the cage.

After a while, you will be able to place your hand inside the cage and put the treat on your hand. Instead, let it get interested and explore your hand. Hamsters may also squeak and squeal when they are fighting for dominance. If you have a couple of Dwarf hamsters housed together then you should keep a watchful eye out to ensure that they are getting along ok.

Screams — Very rarely you might hear a hamster scream. It is loud and unnerving but essentially born out of fear. Hissing — Hamsters can be aggressive, but just like cats they will often give off warning signals beforehand. If your hamster does not want to be touched or cuddled then it may try to hide or flee, show its teeth or crouch down low. But if persistent hands keep hounding it down, it may retaliate with a hiss.

But be warned, because a hiss, invariably leads to a nip. Grinding of teeth — This chattering sound generally means that your hamster is irritated and wants to be left alone. By baring their teeth and grinding them they are giving a visual and oral warning, generally before they plan to attack. A happy, healthy hamster might show their appreciation by letting off some short, shrill squeaks of excitement.

They also create a clicking noise, known as bruxing, which is when they rub their lower and upper teeth together. This is often a ritual they partake in when they are feeling calm and content. Hamsters sneeze and cough for the same reasons that we do. They may be irritated by something like dust or a strong smell, which can cause them to cough or sneeze intermittently. Alternatively, persistent coughing and sneezing combined with a runny nose and eyes can indicate that your hamster has an allergy to things such as food, chemicals in the air or items within their cage.

If it is causing them serious health problems, then you should seek veterinary advice. Hamsters can get colds and catch these from their owners. Therefore, if you are suffering with a seasonal cold or flu it is always best to limit handling your hamster to a minimum and always remember to wash your hands before and after picking them up.

For the majority of the time, hamsters are quiet, unobtrusive pets, that really only let us know of their presence when they are gnawing on their bars or running in their wheels. And although they might give off behavioral cues such as jerking, grooming or sniffing, it is unlikely that they will verbalize their feelings.

If, however, your hamster does squeak, squeal, scream or hiss then you must not ignore the message that they are trying to convey. When a hamster is in a heat, she uses the sound to communicate with her mate or friends. You can call it a mating call sound or happy chirping. When your hamster chirp or squeak slowing, it might be happy seeing you. Single chirp sound is also a greeting sound.

Hamsters squeak when they are happy to see their masters. This is the perfect time for you to go and do some hearty talking with your Syrian hamster. You must have noticed, when you pick your hamster, sometimes it makes a loud squeaking with aggression. Do not worry; it is not necessarily going to bite you. It is a sign of their aggression. It might also not be in the mood to meet or entertain you.

When your Syrian hamster is agitated, it sounds between a single chirping and the loud chirp. There are various reasons for this particular squeak. When the hamster is new with the environment, it tries to dominate other hamsters or its cage mates. The squeaking might be the result of bickering and fighting. Often, a new hamster tries to acknowledge its environment. Aggressive squeaking might be the reason for its restlessness due to place change.

Once, the hamster settles down, it stops making noises. This states that your hamster has accepted its new home. If your Syrian hamster is squeaking persistently even after you have tried to soothe it, it might be worth talking to your vet. Persistent squeaking means the hamster is unwell or something is wrong. If your hamster is making a noise as you see in the video it could have a respiratory infection that needs to be treated. Other things to check are the cleanliness of the cage, if their drinking water is clean or not, if their food is hygienic or spoiled.

Perhaps, the food bowl is empty or the hamster is thirsty. Perhaps the cage is not comfortable or the hamster need some out of the cage time. Hamsters are a very joyful animal. Nevertheless, they need special care.