The Surprising Jumping and Climbing Skills of Hamsters
Hamsters are energetic small little pets, sleeping all day long and very active and noisy at night. Jumping and climbing are instincts for hamsters.
As naturally active animals, hamsters love to explore by jumping and climbing surfaces. This makes them energetic, healthy, enhancing their metabolism and growth.
Hamsters can climb various surfaces and can jump up or even to a lower spot. They are really good at climbing on the wire of their cage, and they don’t uncomfortable even upside down. Hamsters will also jump when they feel threatened or uncomfortable in your hands.
In this article, we explain some hamster behaviors that you’ll find helpful. This post tells it all: how high they can jump to surfaces climbed and reasons for jumping.
Can Hamsters Jump and Climb?
Some hamsters can climb and jump certain heights (usually from a high elevation to a lower one). While most hamsters are agile and lively, the types of activities they enjoy vary from one hammy to the other.
Some are highly energetic and adventurous. They can jump from and climb to heights that may prove dangerous and unsafe, resulting in an injury in case of a fall.
Why do Hamsters Enjoy Jumping?
I have observed firsthand how much joy my pet gets from jumping. Hamsters are naturally curious creatures, and jumping is a way for them to explore their environment and satisfy their inquisitive nature. Jumping is also a form of exercise that helps them expend energy, stay fit, and healthy.
Additionally, in the wild, jumping is an important survival skill that allows hamsters to escape from predators and find food. Therefore, it’s not surprising that hamsters enjoy jumping in captivity, as it satisfies their innate instincts and keeps them mentally and physically stimulated.
How High Can Hamsters Jump?
Hamsters can’t jump as high as mice or rabbits because their legs and paws aren’t shaped like their counterparts. A dwarf hamster can jump about 7 to 11 inches from the cage’s base, while Syrian hamsters can jump higher than 15 inches.
A hamster can jump based on its mood. If your pet is in an active and happy state, it’s going to jump high compared to when they’re not active and in no mood to jump. Your hamster’s jump will often determine their level of happiness.
Hamster Breeds that are Good Jumpers
In my experience as a hamster owner, I have noticed that some breeds are particularly good jumpers. Here are a few hamster breeds that are known for their jumping abilities:
- Syrian Hamsters: Syrian hamsters are larger than other hamster breeds, and they have powerful legs that allow them to jump higher. They can jump up to 15 inches in height, making them impressive jumpers.
- Roborovski Hamsters: Roborovski hamsters are small but mighty. They are incredibly energetic and agile, and they love to run and jump. They can jump up to 12 inches in height, despite their small size.
- Chinese Hamsters: Chinese hamsters are another breed that is known for their jumping abilities. They have strong legs that allow them to climb and jump with ease. They can jump up to 9 inches in height.
- Winter White Hamsters: Winter white hamsters are another breed that is known for their athleticism. They are agile and quick, and they love to jump and climb. They can jump up to 8 inches in height.
If you have one of these breeds, you may notice that your hamster is more active and enjoys jumping more than other breeds. However, it’s important to note that every hamster is unique and may have different preferences and abilities. Regardless of your hamster’s breed, providing them with plenty of toys and climbing structures can encourage them to jump and stay active.
What Surfaces Can Hamsters Climb?
From cage walls to stairs, ladders, cardboard boxes, and others, hamsters are natural climbers and love exploring every nook and cranny they can find!
Meanwhile, slippery surfaces, such as glass terrariums or plastic that are hard for hamsters to dig in their small claws for grip, won’t allow these small animals to climb. However, this won’t deter them from making attempts, being curious species.
Can Hamsters Climb on Walls?
Yes, hamsters can climb on walls. They can climb anything within their reach. One of the reasons they climb is to flee from predators and get food. Hamsters are often seen climbing their cage walls. Since their wire cages have mesh structures, they enable the hamsters to climb these walls easily—like ladders.
Hamsters exhibit a wide range of behaviors, which can be interesting to watch. You may have seen your pet repeatedly climbing the walls of its cage before falling. This can continue for several minutes or an hour, making you worried.
If you’re fond of laughing at, stroking, or applauding your hamster for its athletic skills, soon enough, it will realize that climbing cage bars is the right way of drawing your attention. Ignoring your hamster when it’s engaged in wall climbing will stop it from performing the act.
Your hamster may climb walls due to stress faced by other hamsters or predators. It may be climbing walls as a means of escape from them. They may climb bars of the cage if there’s soiled bedding, feces, or spoilt food, which gives an unpleasant smell to hamsters.
Tips to Encourage Your Hamster to Jump
As a hamster owner, I love watching my little pet jump and play. Here are some tips that have helped me encourage my hamster to jump and have fun:
- Provide a variety of toys and climbing structures in the cage. Hamsters love exploring new things, and having plenty of toys and structures to climb on will keep them entertained and active.
- Use treats as a reward for jumping. I often hold a treat just out of my hamster’s reach, encouraging them to jump to reach it. This not only provides a fun challenge for them but also helps build trust between us.
- Create a safe and soft landing area. Hamsters can jump higher than you might expect, so it’s important to provide a cushioned landing spot in case they fall. I use a thick layer of bedding or a soft towel to create a safe area for my hamster to land.
- Supervise playtime outside of the cage. When letting your hamster play outside of their cage, make sure to supervise them to ensure their safety. Provide a designated play area with plenty of toys and climbing structures, and always keep an eye on them.
- Provide a wheel for exercise. A wheel is a great way for hamsters to exercise and expend excess energy. Make sure to choose a wheel that is appropriate for your hamster’s size and breed, as some wheels may be too small or too large.
By following these tips, you can encourage your hamster to jump and have fun while also ensuring their safety and well-being. Remember, every hamster is unique, so be patient and try different techniques to see what works best for your pet.
Can Hamsters Climb on Trees?
While hamsters are good at climbing up, they aren’t as skilled in climbing back down as they can fall. This is because they find it easy to climb horizontal surfaces than vertical surfaces.
From How High Can Hamsters Fall Safely?
Hamsters are poor judges of heights. They’re prone to falling or jumping from heights due to their poor vision. But being curious creatures, they want to inspect everything. Hamsters can fall safely from 7 to 15 or more inches.
What this means is that the height of the fall shouldn’t be above 25 cm. That’s the average height a hamster can jump and safely land from. Any height above that will likely result in serious injuries.
Ensure the small animal doesn’t hurt itself while jumping. Provide it with enough bedding to fall on. It can help to cushion your hamster against injuries.
Why Do Hamsters Jump?
Most times, hamsters jump when they don’t feel safe or comfortable. Your hamster might jump out of your hands if it’s had enough of your handling and wants to be kept back in its cage.
Whether tame or difficult type, they’re likely to get tired of handling. Difficult ones will jump out of your hold more often. Hamsters rarely jump for food or towards anything. They instead climb to get food or get shelter since their limbs are mainly built to climb and run.
Be close to its cage or soft surface when handling your hamster because they may want to get loose from your grip. Hamsters can jump out of your hand if you interrupt them while preoccupied or on to something.
For instance, you picked up your pet while eating or cleaning up itself—it will definitely return to it. An excellent way to distract the hamster in your care is to treat it to some meal or food.
Have you noticed your pet jumping too high lately? It might probably be unwell. You need to find the root cause of jumping action in the hamster. Hamsters may jump after eating cranberries.
These small animals can randomly jump in their cage. Active hamsters like smaller Roborovski or Campbell hamsters jump around their cage due to their highly energetic and incredibly agile natures.
Experienced hamster breeders advise providing your hamster with a good exercise wheel, which will help it expend excess energy and less likely to jump. Sometimes they jump for no exact reason; they can’t resist the natural urge to jump.
Wrapping Up
Jumping and climbing are natural phenomena in hamsters. While these activities seem regular in them, it’s crucial pet owners pay close attention to these activities. If jumping is beyond normal, then there is a likelihood that your hamster is irritated or feeling uncomfortable.
It would be best if you studied situations where the hamster jumps happily or out of frustration. It helps in getting rid of severe physical or mental issues faced by the hamster. Happy jumps will do you and your pet a lot of good!
Also, never forget, your hamster’s personality will determine how often they jump and how they jump.
