Do hamsters smell? Hamsters have a scent that is recognizable to any human nose. The smell originates from the scent glands on their back, which they use to mark their territory.
The notion is that rodents, in general, are hereditary smelly animals. If you want to adopt a furry friend, it only makes sense to worry about this.
We will give some aspiring and current hamster parents insight into the hamster smell and how to manage it.
So, do Hamsters Smell?
No! Hamsters are very clean, hate dirt, and don’t smell awful. They keep cleaning themselves by licking their paws and grooming their coats.
This is an innate behavior to minimize their natural scent and prevent detection from predators in the wild.
It’s a whole different story for the cage, which is susceptible to foul smells. But that is something a regular cleaning routine can handle, so you can return to enjoying your space.
Who Smells More? Male Or Female Hamsters?
It’s no doubt that both male and female hamsters smell, but this results from varying reasons. And when it comes to the answer, it can be a debate.
Female hamsters send off an abnormal scent during their heat period. It might be helpful to find out when female hamsters come into heat, just as a head up.
This is usually every four days. Furry parents think it’s similar to burning rubber. However, the density of this smell further depends on the type of species.
It’s probably a good time to find out the types of hamsters and which species might work for you.
Female Syrian hamsters are popular for their more pungent, acrid smell than their dwarf counterparts.
How about the males?
They lick their scent glands in sexual excitement to produce more of their scent and attract the females.
Additionally, they tend to mark their territory aggressively during particular times of the year. The result is stronger-than-usual smelly beddings.
Unlike the females, the dwarf males smell more than their Syrian equivalents.
If you are reading, you are probably searching for ways to keep this behind your everyday worry.
How To Keep Your Furry Baby Always Smelling Great
In a real sense, your work mainly revolves around their cage.
Your hamster will do the heavy lifting for you by keeping its body clean and fresh. It dedicates a great deal of time to cleaning itself using nails or paws for self-grooming.
Below are tips to keep your pet and the cage smelling clean.
Clean The Cage
If you notice any foul smell from the cage and bedding materials, this is often caused by a urine build-up.
Hamsters are intelligent and don’t urinate near their sleeping place. They go as far as possible due to their over-sensitive noses and to inhibit predators from discovering their sanctuary.
As a pet owner, performing frequent cleaning on the cage can significantly minimize this odor.
However, there’s a catch. You must ensure you don’t intrude into your pet’s privacy too much.
Removing your hamster from its cage frequently frightens it. It’s advisable to have an alternative fun and comfortable environment where it can stay as you clean.
Your nostrils and the sensitive hamster will definitely appreciate a bedding change and a thorough clean with pet-friendly disinfectants weekly.
While at it, focus on the area they like urinating at. These places may require regular cleaning with bedding replacements after two or three days.
Also, clear any feces from the cage daily and disinfect items like food dishes, water bottles, and toys. Always consider a cage that’s effortless to clean during purchase.
Watch Out for Your Hamster’s Diet
Certain foods make your pet’s urine smell worse than normal.
If you notice this, pay attention to the food they have recently taken. This allows you to make changes to their diet.
However, this should be done gradually by removing items individually. Typically, when your furry friend feeds on vitamin supplements, it changes the color and odor of their urine.
And speaking of diet its good to find out what you hamster can and cannot eat. A little extra research goes a long way.
Examine Your Pet for Any Illness Signs
Health issues can make your hamster’s urine smell bad and have an unusual color.
This is especially true if your pet has a bladder or kidney infection.
Suppose the smell of urine changes, and it has nothing to do with diet or cage hygiene. In that case, it’s best to take your pet to a veterinary doctor to eliminate any deadly or adverse illnesses that may threaten its lifespan.
Opt For High-Quality Bedding
Unknown to many, your hamster’s bedding can affect the urine smell. Choosing highly absorbent and scented paper beddings masks the odor more than corn cob and wood chip choices.
The ideal bedding should also be non-toxic. Take note of the number of beddings used since insufficient beddings can’t absorb urine. That means the liquid will linger, resulting in an unpleasant odor.
Fish Out and Remove Any Hidden Food
A smelling cage can be caused by hidden food.
This particularly applies to fresh food like cabbage, which rots faster to release an irritating sulfurous smell. On the other end, dry food rarely smells unless wet.
Can You Bathe Your Hamster?
Traditionally bathing your hamster is highly discouraged. The same applies to make it wet simply.
Water, particularly soapy water, can do more harm than good. It clears the natural oils on your hamster’s fur, keeping them warm.
Besides, water makes them prone to sickness. That said, avoiding water is best.
But if you must, utilize a lightly moistened tissue to rid ingrained dirt on the affected place. Position them in a warm environment afterward.
The best alternative is san bathing your hamster. In the wild, hamsters use sand baths to clean their skin and fur and spread the natural oils on their bodies.
Can You Get Rid Of Something Smelly On Your Hamster?
On one of your escapades, your pet can get into something with a folly smell. Or perhaps they are too old or ill to maintain their regular grooming.
While they hate dirt and love cleaning their bodies, they can only do it when they can.
Either way, you can’t leave your hamster smelling as it interferes with comfort. Get a fine-toothed pet brush made specifically for small mammals to clear the unwanted dirt.
Long-haired Syrian hamsters can easily trap debris due to their fur length compared to dwarf hamsters.
If the brush is not feasible in such a situation, you can always trim the fur carefully.
So, Do Hamsters Smell?
We hope we have answered this question in the best way possible. Hamsters have a natural scent that often doesn’t smell foul.
However, they can release an unusual smell for various reasons, depending on the species and gender.
The provided tips, including cleaning the cage, clearing feces and hidden food, sand bathing, and eliminating smell-causing diets, keep your pet and his tiny home smelling great.