How To Keep Your Hamster Warm During Winter

Winter in South Africa can be frigid in certain regions, particularly when a cold front passes through. And just like humans, hamsters also feel the cold and need protection to prevent hypothermia, known as torpor in hamsters.

What Does It Look Like When A Hamster Has Gone Into Torpor?

Understanding torpor in hamsters is crucial. When a hamster enters this state, it may seem like it's in a deep sleep, unresponsive and cool to the touch. This can be mistaken for hibernation, but torpor is different in that it can be fatal if the hamster isn't warmed up in time.

How To Bring A Hamster Out Of Torpor

Although you might panic and feel the urge to warm your hamster as quickly as possible, it is essential to do this gently and slowly.

Your body temperature is the safest way to warm your hamster, so the first thing you need to do is hold your little furry friend against your skin, cupped in your hand or covered with a small blanket. Your chest area is a good spot for it to regain warmth. You may also use a warm water bottle covered with a blanket. It is crucial to refrain from using boiling water, as this will cause severe burns to your hamster.

Patience is key when warming a hamster from torpor. Rub its back gently until it responds to your touch and voice. Keep it against your skin or on a warm water bottle until it's fully responsive. This process may take some time, so it's essential to be patient.

Only when your hamster is fully responsive should you offer it lukewarm food or water. This helps it warm up from the inside as well. Be sure to check the temperature with your finger to ensure it's not too hot.

The next step is to prevent this from happening again. You can cold-proof your hamster's habitat in the following ways:

 

1. Insulation

Insulating a habitat

If you have a proper hamster habitat, cover half of the habitat with a thick blanket during the day and three-quarters of it during the night. Lift the habitat 1.5 to 2 cm off the surface by placing a narrow wooden plank on the right- and left-side underneath the habitat. Placing a habitat directly on a heating pad will cause damage to the wires and increase the risk of fire. Place a 20- or 25-watt heat pad under the habitat in the play area. The play area is where your hamster's exercise wheel is positioned, along with its sand bath and food bowl stand.

The heat pad should never be placed directly underneath your hamster's sleeping spot or nest, as this will cause your furry friend to seek a cooler area in its habitat, increasing the risk of hypothermia and potentially going into torpor.

Insulating A Bin-, Glass-, and Wire Cage

Bin Cages and Glass Tanks

• Place your hamster's bin cage or glass tank on a thick blanket, space blanket, or a sheet of polystyrene to prevent cold from entering from the surface on which it stands.
• Line the sides and back of the bin cage or glass tank with cardboard on the inside for extra insulation.
• Wrap the sides and back of the bin cage or glass tank with blankets.
• Place a heating pad or a covered hot water bottle on the mesh on the top of your cage or tank, and cover the mesh partially with a blanket. The heating pad or hot water bottle should be covered with a blanket to prevent heat from escaping the habitat.

Wire Cages

While we do not recommend wire cages for hamsters, we understand that some owners start with these. To cold-proof your hamster's wire cage, do the following:

• Cut cardboard linings to fit the sides, back, front and top of the wire cage. Leave an opening at the top of the front of your cage so that it still receives enough ventilation. Avoid using sticky tape, glue, or Prestik to secure the linings to the cage, as these materials can be harmful to hamsters if ingested. Use zip ties to fasten each cardboard lining and cut off the excess tie.
• Cover the cardboard linings with a blanket, leaving the opening of the top of the front of your cage open for ventilation.
• Place the wire cage on a thick blanket to insulate it from the bottom as well.

IMPORTANT:

• Heating pads should never be placed inside the habitat, bin cage, or glass tank, as your hamster will chew on them, which will have fatal consequences.
• Ensure your hamster can't reach hot water bottles or blankets that cover its habitat or cage.
• Never put a blanket or a fleece hide in your hamster's enclosure. Your hamster will chew on it, and because it is very difficult for a hamster to remove material from their pouches, it increases their risk of developing blocked and inflamed pouches as well as eye and ear infections, which require treatment by an exotic veterinarian.

 

2. Bedding

Whether your hamster lives in a proper habitat, a bin cage, a glass tank or temporarily in a wire cage, it is essential to ensure that your little furry friend has hamster-safe bedding.

• Fill one-third to half of a 120cm x 50cm x 50cm or 100cm x 50cm x 50cm with bedding. The bedding should be 25 to 30cm deep to allow your hamster to burrow and be adequately protected from the cold.
• If your hamster's cage is smaller than the above dimensions, fill at least one-third of the cage with bedding 25 to 30cm deep, depending on the height of the cage.

 

Hamster-Safe Nesting Material

Hamster-safe nesting material is like extra warm blankets for your hamster. It differs from bedding in that it complements the bedding and makes it extra snug, but it is not suitable to use as bedding alone.

Add hamster-safe nesting material in your hamster's habitat every night during the winter and when you spot-clean the cage or habitat.

 

3. Hides

Ensure that your hamster has at least two hides in its habitat. We understand that this may be difficult if your hamster lives in a wired cage. In this case, create a cosy and cost-effective hide for your hamster. 

Cut an opening on one side of a small cardboard box to create a cosy and cost-effective hide for your hamster. Ensure the cardboard box is large enough for your hamster yet fits easily into the cage. Place the cardboard hide on your hamster's bedding. Use Chipsy Snake substrate or dried cocopeat as a substrate for the remaining surface of the wire cage.

 

4. Positioning

Last but not least, ensure that your hamster's habitat, bin cage, glass tank, or wire cage is kept out of drafty areas. Put your hamster in the cosiest room of your house. If that is not possible, a floor fan heater or a Wall Plug Heater for rooms is a safe and effective way to keep the area where your hamster stays warm. To prevent the air from drying out too much, place a small bowl of water near your hamster's cage, or a desktop humidifier may also be helpful. Never leave heaters and humidifiers on if you are not at home.

If you require any additional assistance with cold-proofing your hammie's home or have further questions, please email us at info@pawsomepals.co.za. We will be happy to help.