When your hamster begins to shake and shiver, it’s time to figure out what’s going on. If you are sitting and asking, “Why Is My Hamster Is Shaking?” this article will offer insight into the problem and solution.
It can be challenging to see your hamster in visible and constant distress.
This is why more and more hamster owners look for an immediate solution when their pet starts shivering inside the hamster cage.
The benefits of taking action can include:
- Improved Health
- Improved Quality of Life
- Stronger Bond with the Hamster
Don’t take this occurrence lightly because it may be a sign of something horribly wrong in your current setup.
This guide is going to help answer the question “Why Is My Hamster Is Shaking?” along with providing a clear-cut set of solutions that can be implemented right away.
Best Heating Pad for Hamster Cages (EDITOR’S CHOICE)
- Durable construction provides uniform, evenly distributed heat
- Package Dimensions: 35.56 H x 2.54 L x 16.51 W (centimeters)
- Package Weight: 0.181 kilograms
Last update on 2023-05-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Fluker’s Heating Pad is one of the finest solutions on the market right now. It’s a perfect fit for hamster cages that are set up in colder environments and need to be kept warm as the temperature drops.
This heating pad is durable, easy to set up, and offers a consistent source of heat that’s necessary during wintry months.
Since it comes in various sizes, you can easily find the right heating pad for your hamster’s cage and make sure it fits snugly.
Why Is My Hamster Is Shaking?
Too Cold Inside the Cage
There’s usually one reason for why a hamster shakes inside the cage. It’s because the hamster is feeling cold and the temperature has dropped to the point they’re visibly shaking.
The amount of shaking can vary from hamster to hamster and the amount of fur protecting their skin.
It’s important to note, each hamster is going to have a unique reaction to declining temperatures. It’s important to understand the reasons for their reaction and come up with a solution immediately.
The reasons hamsters do this include:
- Conservation of Energy
- Biological Reaction to the Temperature (i.e. Hibernation Mode)
- A Simple Sign of Distress
A lot of hamster owners don’t realize this but a hamster cage does get cold.
This is why you have to take the time to understand what’s needed to keep the hamster cage warm throughout the winter months. Otherwise, your hamster will shake because it’s cold and you won’t know what to do.
There are several options available to those wanting to make sure their hamster is as cozy as possible regardless of the temperature.
Tips On How To Keep Your Hamster Warm
Tip #1: Set Up a Heating Pad
One of the best solutions a hamster owner can use is a heating pad.
Heating pads for hamster cage are ideal because they’re consistent, durable, and will take seconds to put together.
You will know the heating pad is going to deliver a set amount of heat and it’s going to be specialized to meet a hamster’s needs. Without a good heating pad, you may struggle to regulate the temperature.
The benefits include:
- A Targeted Heat Source
- Consistent Protection for the Hamster
- Easy to Set Up
There is never a good reason to go with other solutions because they won’t last for a long time nor are they going to keep your hamster safe.
This cost-effective investment is great for a shaking or shivering hamster.
If your hamster is in distress, you have to take action by finding a permanent solution. In most cases, the only way of doing this is by investing in a high-quality heating pad for hamster cages.
This will let you rest easy knowing the hamster is protected regardless of whether or not it’s cold outside.
Tip #2: Increase the Room’s Temperature
What is the room temperature right now?
If the room temperature near the hamster cage is too cold, it’s going to have a dramatic impact on the hamster’s health.
In general, you want to keep the hamster in a cage that’s set at room temperature. This is cozy, easy-going, and will ensure the hamster is in good shape regardless of what’s happening outside.
If you let the room temperature drop, it is going to harm the hamster and the will feel it right away.
When testing a room’s temperature, you should take regular readings to see when the hamster is the coldest during the day. This will allow you to rework the temperature in your room to make it more hospitable.
It’s recommended to focus on understanding what can be done to keep a hamster warm. You don’t want them shaking at various times during the day because you assumed the temperature was okay when you last checked.
This happens all the time and it can harm the hamster.
Your goal should be to take continuous readings and gradually increase the room’s temperature. Do it by 1-2 degrees and see how it affects the hamster. A slight change can go a long way in helping hamsters warm quickly.
Tip #3: Buy Quality Hamster Bedding
A long-term change that can be made is to invest in warm hamster bedding.
Hamsters don’t have the luxury of finding warm heaters out in the wild. As a result, they end up looking for warm bedding material that can be used when they burrow up. This means you will want to re-enact the same idea using high-grade hamster bedding materials.
If you give them an option to rest in a warm place, it will eventually help with their shivering.
While this doesn’t always work depending on how cold it in the room, it’s still an option you want to present to the hamster for its quality of life.
There are many different types of hamster bedding to keep hamsters warm.
This means you have to sift through each option, understand what works best for your hamster’s breed, and then make an investment.
Not only should the hamster bedding be warm, it should also be well-sized. You don’t want something that isn’t big enough for the hamster and will leave it cramped for space or uncomfortable.
Stay focused on going with a long-lasting hamster bedding material that will deliver results for as long as you want it to.
Tip #4: Reposition the Hamster Cage
Repositioning the hamster cage when it’s cold is a smart idea.
This is going to allow you to better understand what the best room is for a hamster cage. Unfortunately, most people set up hamster cages based on their preference (i.e. a pre-determined pet room).
However, hamsters are living organisms, which means you have to keep their needs in mind. Sometimes, the first room you put the hamster cage in won’t work.
There are several advantages of repositioning the hamster cage.
The benefits include:
- Cheapest Solution Available to You
- Quick to Implement
- Can Be Tested in Various Spots at Home
By understanding these benefits, you can start to work on figuring out which room is the warmest for a hamster cage.
The best way to do this is to take a temperature reading in each room.
You should keep track of which room is warm and which one is cold. This can help shed light on which room is the right one for your hamster.
Of course, you should also test it in different conditions, especially when the temperature outside drops rapidly. Sometimes, the fluctuating temperature is also going to cause the hamster to shake.
Final Thoughts
For those finding the answer to “Why Is My Hamster Is Shaking?” it comes down to the cage becoming too cold.
Your goal has to be to increase the room’s temperature right away.
This can be done in a multitude of ways as mentioned in this detailed article. Whether you are investing in a high-quality heating pad (highly recommended!) or changing where the hamster cage is positioned, the idea is to focus on how the hamster is feeling.
Don’t assume the hamster will be fine because they can end up having to deal with a long list of symptoms.
Take action right away and make sure the hamster cage is in a warm room. It will make life easier for both you and the hamster as time goes on.
To learn more about how to take care of a shaking hamster, please read through the following articles – the best ways to keep a hamster warm in a cold house, which hamster wheel to invest in, buying the right sand bath for hamsters, and how to help a hamster with drying skin.