Hamsters are cute, excitable, curious, and a lot of other things, but one thing they aren’t is suicidal. It’s impossible for hamsters to be suicidal because they don’t have the mental capacity capable of taking their own life.
But what happens if they’re exhibiting unhealthy or dangerous behavior? It may look suicidal, but it’s often the result of something different.
That’s why in the following article we’re going to cover the misconception of suicidal hamsters, odd or unusual behavior, and more. So keep reading to learn why your hamster may be trying to kill itself and how to prevent that from happening.
So let’s dive into the first section of why you think your hamster may be trying to kill itself.
Why is my hamster trying to kill itself?
Your hamster may be exhibiting dangerous or unhealthy behavior, but it’s unlikely that they are intentionally trying to kill themselves because hamsters aren’t capable of such thoughts.
If your hamster is jumping from high ledges, running into walls, not eating or drinking, and exhibiting other dangerous behaviors, it is likely a symptom of a deeper, underlying cause or medical condition.
These dangerous behaviors are often the result of negative feelings that your hamster is experiencing, such as stress, anxiety, or fright. Hamsters don’t do well with new or strange environments and their uncomfortableness tends to come out in the form of odd behavior.
As a result, if you think your hamster is trying to kill itself, you should try to identify why they are stressed or anxious and remove that negative stimulus from their environment.
And if you are concerned about their behavior, we always recommend taking your furry friend to the veterinarian for a regular check up. Sometimes the behavior is the result of an underlying medical condition that may not be apparent to anyone but a trained professional.
Do hamsters kill themselves?
No, hamsters will not kill themselves because they aren’t capable of having those types of thoughts like other more advanced animals or humans.
But just because a hamster can’t intentionally kill themselves doesn’t mean they aren’t susceptible to mental conditions and thoughts that can act as a precursor to dangerous or unhealthy behavior.
Hamsters can feel stressed or depressed when they don’t feel safe, engaged, or happy in their environment. And those negative feelings can exhibit themselves in different ways.
So while a hamster may stop eating or drinking or being active, it is likely a result of these negative feelings, but they aren’t intentionally trying to kill themselves, even though the end result may be the same.
That’s why it’s so important to attempt to discover the underlying issue and resolve it as soon as possible.
So now that you know that hamsters won’t kill themselves, let’s talk about some of the most common causes of a hamster’s death and then how you can work to prolong their life.
Common reasons for a hamster’s death
Hamsters tend to die in odd ways and there is lots of content on the topic, which we won’t cover in this article. While suicide isn’t a reason why your hamster may die, there are lots of natural reasons for them to leave us.
Here are the most common reasons why your hamster may die and then we’ll dive into each one.
| Reasons for hamster’s death |
|---|
| Age |
| Tumors |
| Diabetes |
| Stress |
| Cancer |
| Diarrhea or wet tail |
Age
The most common cause of death for a hamster is old age, but old is a relative term. The average life span of a healthy hamster is 2 to 3 years, however they can live up to 4 years with a well balanced diet and good genes.
At some point all hamsters will eventually die of old age, but there are ways to ensure they live a long and happy life, which includes a healthy diet and plenty of active and engagement.
Regular vet checkups and monitoring their behavior for any odd or unusual signs that can indicate an addressable problem are also extremely important to identifying any medical issues early on. The sooner a condition is caught, the more likely it can be effectively treated.
Tumors and cancer
It’s not often that we associate small animals with tumors, but they can develop in hamsters just as they do in humans. However, most tumors are benign or non-cancerous, which generally means they will survive with no serious complications. Tumors can also be removed in specific cases, often costing between $50 and $200.
The more serious type of tumor is malignant or cancerous, which are often fatal in all types of mammals, including hamsters. These cancerous tumors are often not addressed in small animals with shorter lifespans because the medical attention necessary is often a stretch for an animal with a lifespan of only 2 – 3 years.
As a result, if a check up from your veterinarian discovers a cancerous tumor, the best thing you can do for your furry friend is to make them comfortable, give them plenty of treats, and ensure they live out the rest of their life the best they can.
Diabetes
Similar to other mammals and humans, hamsters can also be susceptible to diabetes, which is the result of their body not producing enough insulin.
Common signs of diabetes in hamsters include drinking excessive amounts of water, weight loss, poor physical condition, and lethargy.
If your hamster starts to exhibit any of these symptoms it’s important to get it addressed with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Unlike a cancerous tumor, diabetes can be treated and addressed to prolong your hamster’s life with the condition. Hamsters with diabetes can live anywhere from one to five years.
Typical treatments include dietary changes, medicine, or even insulin injections to keep your furry friend safe and healthy. However, if left untreated, diabetes can prove to be fatal, which is why it’s so important to catch the issue and treat it as soon as possible.
Stress
As we’ve mentioned earlier in this article, stress is a serious condition for hamsters because their tiny bodies are very susceptible to heightened levels of cortisone. And stress can manifest itself in many different ways.
Hamsters often become easily overwhelmed in their surroundings and if not addressed quickly, they will start to feel stressed and anxious, which can lead to negative behaviors, physical issues, and even prove to be fatal.
Some of the most common reasons for stress in hamsters are other animals, including other hamsters, small cages, poor or insufficient diet, little to no toys or ways to stay active, loud noises or disturbances, too much light, and more.
If you find your hamster is exhibiting odd or unhealthy behavior, it’s important to take the right steps to address the issue and get them back to a happy and healthy state.
Diarrhea or wet tail
Diarrhea or wet tail in a hamster is a very serious condition that often proves to be fatal if not treated immediately. The condition often stems from an intestinal infection, bacteria, poor nutrition, or even stress as mentioned in the previous section.
If you find your hamster having diarrhea, it’s important to take them to the vet immediately because diarrhea is a severe condition in small animals. The cost to treat wet tail is anywhere between $50 and $150.
Hamsters with wet tail often exhibit other symptoms, such as lethargy, not eating or drinking, watery eyes, a poor physical state, and most notably diarrhea.
Don’t wait to treat diarrhea or wet tail in your hamster because it’s a serious condition that can be fatal if not treated as soon as it is identified.
How to keep your hamster healthy
While we’ve covered a lot of ways that your hamsters can fall or exhibit an early death, luckily there are lots of ways to keep them alive for a long time.
So let’s talk about the most important and effective ways to keep your hamster healthy.
Diet
The most important factor in a hamster’s health is their diet because a well-balanced diet will keep your hamster healthy, while a poor diet lacking in nutrition can be the cause of an early death.
A well-balanced diet should include specially designed pellets that include all the necessary nutrients and vitamins, occasional fruits and vegetables, and other foods that can be served as treats.
It’s important to give your hamster the right foods that make up a well-balanced diet because otherwise they can get diarrhea or lack the necessary nutrients to fight off infections and bacteria. A poor diet can also lead to diabetes, stress, and obesity, all of which can prove to be fatal.
Exercise
There’s a reason hamsters are synonymous with always running around and staying active. For their size, hamsters are some of the most active animals in the world often running for hours each day on their wheel.
The physical and mental well-being of your hamster hinges on their ability to stay active in their cage, as well as out of their cage for a short period each day, either in a hamster ball or small play pen.
Other types of toys, include tubes and tunnels, cardboard rolls and anything else that you can give to your hamster to keep them active and curious.
Exercise and activity is one of the most important components of keeping your hamster happy and healthy, so take the right steps to give them everything they need.
Engagement and bonding
Another important aspect of keeping your hamster happy and healthy is building a strong relationship with them so they can trust and feel comfortable in your home.
Building that relationship means spending quality time with your hamster so they can get to know you better and build that trust to ultimately feel safe when they are with you.
The most effective ways to do this are to treat them with gentle care and affection, take them out of their cage and hold them for at least 30 minutes each day, talking to them, and giving them the occasional treat or snack to build that bond.
Veterinarian checkups
Finally and arguably one of the most important parts of giving your hamster a long life is regular veterinarian checkups. Regularly monitoring the health of your hamster and catching any potential medical issues early on is the key to living a long life.
During any checkups, your vet will perform an examination of your hamster, ask you questions about their activity levels and diet, and look for any signs of illness, such as tumors or odd behaviors.
If your vet finds any worrying conditions, they can give you the appropriate recommendations to treat any issues quickly and correctly. Regular checkups are a great way to keep your furry friend happy and healthy.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on the Internet when it comes to whether your hamster is trying to kill itself.
No, hamsters cannot become suicidal because they don’t have the mental capacity or ability to think about taking their own life. However, they may exhibit behaviors that seem suicidal, those behaviors are likely inadvertent and stemming from other issues, such as stress, anxiety, mistreatment, or poor diet.
Your hamster may be going crazy in their cage because they do not feel engaged, they’re scared, not comfortable, don’t feel safe, of they’re lacking stimulation. To make sure your hamster doesn’t go crazy, ensure they have a well-balanced diet, plenty of toys to stay active, and they get out of their cage each day for at least 30 minutes.
Your hamster may be trying to escape their cage because they are naturally curious and active animals and aren’t locked in a cage in the wild. Eventually your hamster will become familiar and comfortable in their cage, but it’s important to give them plenty of toys and activities in their cage, a well-balanced diet, and enough water. Also, make sure their cage is the appropriate size.
If your hamster is in pain, they will likely exhibit odd or worrying behaviors, which can include not eating or drinking, wheezing, making scared noises, trembling or shaking. Hamsters that are in pain may also stop grooming themselves, hide, and stop being active in their cage. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to take them to the veterinarian right away for a checkup.
Additional reading
If you’re interested in reading more about a hamster’s health, check out the following articles:
- Hamster’s Health and Welfare – RSCPA
- Common Hamster Health Issues – Chewy.com
- How to Care for Your Hamster – PetMD
Conclusion
And there you have it! There were a lot of topics covered in this article, but the most important note to take away is that your hamster isn’t suicidal and isn’t intentionally trying to kill themselves.
Hamster are delicate animals that require plenty of activity, a well-balanced diet, and a strong bond with their owner. If they are lacking in any of these areas, they may exhibit dangerous or unusual behavior that owners often mistake for trying to kill themselves.
So make sure you follow the recommendations in the sections above to give your hamster a long and fulfilling life in your home.