![How Long Can You Leave A Hamster Alone? [And Tips To Do So]](https://peteducate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/How-Long-Can-You-Leave-A-Hamster-Alone-And-Tips-To-Do-So.png)
Even though a hamster lives in a cage, it is not an entirely hands-free pet. They have certain needs that simply must be met. But how long can you generally leave them alone before issues can typically arise? Or before they are going to need your help and support. Here is what my veterinarian recommended.
So, how long can you leave your hamster alone? Your hamster should not be left alone for more than 48 hours. Your hamster may have a full bottle of water and plenty of food, but you need to be checking these items regularly for unblocked access and freshness. Your hamster also could need medical care or get itself into an unsafe situation in its cage and need your assistance.
Hamsters are small, curious, cage-living pets that can thrive in a variety of home environments.
If you are looking for a pet that doesn’t need grazing space like a horse, or daily walks like a dog, then a hamster may be very appealing!
But this doesn’t mean that they can be bought, set up, left, and forgotten.
Quite the opposite.
They need regular attention and care to truly thrive.
It may mean looking at our personal lifestyles and schedules; it may even mean adapting them a little too.
Nonetheless, let us now delve deeper into why these hamsters need regular, almost daily checkups.
We will then look at how to safely leave your hamster for longer durations and provide tips that may be able to help you extend your time away.
How Long Should You Leave Your Hamster Alone?
A hamster should not be left alone for more than 48 hours. Even when hamsters have plenty of food and water, they need to be checked on by their owners or another caretaker to make sure they are eating, drinking, and exercising.
A hamster is a small but active animal; because of its size and active nature, it can quickly become malnourished or dehydrated if they are not eating and drinking.
Checking your hamster’s food and water at least every other day for freshness as well as signs of being eaten is ideal.
If you are away, then make arrangements to have your hamster checked on at least every 48 hours.
Another reason not to leave your hamster alone for more than 48 hours is to help your hamster remain tame and friendly.
A hamster can learn to enjoy being gently held and interacted with, but if it is left unhandled for long periods of time, it may be more likely to bite the next time you want to play.
Hamsters love to run on wheels, climb, burrow, and even attempt a cage escape now and then.
For this reason, checking on your hamster daily helps you to know that they are still safely in their cage and not caught up on any play equipment.
A hamster that has escaped without notice for more than 48 hours will be much harder to track down than one that has only just made a breakout.
Some people believe their hamster may get lonely if it is living alone, but hamsters are generally solitary animals.
It is wise not to try and introduce two hamsters into the same living space. Instead, make sure you hold or interact directly with your hamster at least once every 48 hours.
Times It Is Smart To Leave Your Hamster Alone
While daily checking on your hamster and regular holding is best for your hamster most of the time, there are occasions where it might be wise to leave your hamster mostly alone.
Times where leaving your hamster alone in a quiet place is a good idea:
You Just Brought Your New Hamster Home
Your new hamster needs quiet alone time to adjust to its new cage and routine.
During the first 48 hours of having a new hamster at home, it is best to simply do regular visual checks on your hamster without disturbing them.
After a couple of days, your hamster will feel comfortable and more ready for interaction.
Your Hamster Has Been Showing Signs Of Feeling Unwell
If your hamster is sick or injured, it is best to provide fresh food and water, then monitor with quiet visual checks.
Trying to hold and play with an ill or injured hamster can create stress that slows down healing.
You Are Feeling Unwell
While cases of human to hamster disease transmission are rare, it is still best to avoid holding your hamster when you may have extra bacteria on your hands and face.
Respiratory infections for hamsters are very hard on their small airways and lungs.
This may mean calling in a friend or family member to offer or lend a hand of support to your hamster here.
How You Can Safely Leave Your Hamster Alone
Sometimes the need to leave our hamster completely alone is inevitable.
A short weekend away or a family event can mean that we need to leave our hamster alone.
To safely leave your hamster alone, you can do a few things:
- Leave your hamster only dry shelf-stable food.
- Make sure your hamster’s water bottle is full of fresh water.
- Leave your hamster’s current bedding in the cage until you return.
- Double-check your hamster’s cage for escape routes
Leave Your Hamster Dry Food
When you are home with your hamster, they may often enjoy fresh green treats, small bits of fruits and veggies, and even live mealworms.
Because hamsters like to store their extra food in special areas of their cage, we want to avoid having the hamster store fresh food that is likely to spoil while you are gone.
For times when you know, you will be leaving your hamster alone, opt instead for dry shelf-stable food that will hold its nutritional value and not rot while sitting in your hamster’s cage waiting for your return.
This is a good time for special seed treats like sunflower seeds!
Leave Your Hamster With A Full Bottle of Fresh Water
Just like your hamster needs plenty of food, they also will need water while you are away.
Even if your hamster’s bottle is relatively full, it is best to dump and prepare a completely fresh bottle before leaving your hamster alone.
If you know you will be away much longer than usual, consider leaving two water bottles for your hamster.
This way, if one bottle malfunctions or leaks, your hamster will still have access to another freshwater source.
Leave Your Hamster’s Current Bedding In The Cage
This piece of advice might seem a bit strange. Shouldn’t we leave our hamster cage fresh and clean for them to enjoy?
The truth is that your hamster probably likes a somewhat dirtier cage than you do.
This doesn’t mean they want to live in a waste dump, but that they enjoy knowing right where their food stash is and the familiar smell of a well-used sleeping den.
By cleaning the cage right before leaving, you may accidentally throw out your hamster’s favorite food stash for when you are gone.
You may also add to your hamster’s stress by making him feel less at home in his environment.
Before leaving, clean out the corner of the cage where your hamster typically uses the bathroom and leave the rest of the bedding for a clean-out when you return.
Double Check Your Hamster’s Cage For Escape Routes
Some hamsters are more like little Houdini escape artists than others.
If your hamster has a history of cage breakouts, it is important to give your cage a thorough inspection before leaving your hamster alone.
Check all plastic parts for wear and tear, position toys in a way that makes it difficult for the hamster to reach the cage lid, and consider securing your lid with extra weight or clamps.
Preventing an escape from happening is more pleasant than going on a hunt for your hamster when you return home.
Besides they sometimes can climb stairs and often can squeeze under doors!
Tips For Leaving Your Hamster Alone
The previous section covered ways to keep your hamster safe when you need to leave it alone.
We wanted to give you a few more general tips for keeping your hamster comfortable when you need to leave it alone.
Maintain The Normal Temperature And Light Patterns Your Hamster Is Used To
When you leave, it can be tempting to lower or raise your thermostat to save energy costs when you are gone.
However, now that you have a pet hamster, you have an animal that must continue living comfortably in your home even when you are gone.
Consider leaving your thermostat on its regular settings so that your hamster doesn’t spend your time away battling with extreme and irregular temperatures.
Maintaining normal light patterns also helps protect your hamster’s health and sleep cycle.
Make Sure Your Hamster Has A Wheel And Plenty Of Toys For Entertainment
A hamster that is used to spending time outside of its cage and exploring with its owner may feel bored when suddenly left alone in its cage.
A bored hamster can quickly become a destructive hamster.
If you are going to be leaving your hamster alone, make sure it has a functioning wheel and high-interest toys to explore while it waits for your return.
Consider Having A Friend Do A Visual-Check On Your Hamster
While you can leave your hamster entirely alone for a day or two, it may just be best for your peace of mind and your hamster to have a friend or neighbor do a visual check on your hamster while you are away.
If your friend or neighbor does not feel comfortable opening the cage or providing food and water, they can at least send you the reassurance that your hamster is still in his cage, alive, and generally doing well.
Nothing beats knowing your fuzzy pal is doing alright and waiting for your return.
To wrap things up, it really is best for your hamster to receive daily care and interaction.
However, if circumstances require you to be away for one or two days, with proper preparation, your hamster should be just fine.
Finally
Leaving your hamster alone for a period of time can be done with a little bit of planning and preparation ahead of time.
Even then, 48 hours seems to be ideal.
And the most important thing you can do is guarantee your hamster has plenty of food and water access and know when you will be able to return and care for your pet.
If you need to be gone longer than 48 hours, you should make arrangements for someone to check your hamster’s food and water levels and be prepared to refill any empty parts.
Besides, while solitary animals by nature – a caged pet becomes entirely reliant on their owners to meet their needs.
Remember that.
Related Questions
How Many Days Can A Hamster Be Left Alone?
A hamster can generally be left between 1-2 days before they need checking up on. Even then, it is essential to provide them with enough food and water while you are away.
Can I Leave My Hamster Alone For A Month?
It will only be possible to leave your hamster alone for a month if you have somebody come and check up on your hamster, replace their food, clean their cage and provide access to fresh water. Without doing any of these things can result in starvation, illness, or even death.
What Do I Do With My Hamster When I Go On Vacation?
You have four general options for your hamster if you go on vacation: take them with you, get a friend to regularly drop by your home and attend to your hamster while you are away, let a friend or family member take them and look after them at their home or hire a pet sitter to undertake the responsibilities. Either way, it is essential that whoever looks after your hamster fully understands what they need to do while you are away.
I am an experienced pet owner with decades of experience owning a number of different pets, from traditional pets like dogs and cats, to the more exotic like reptiles and rodents. I currently own a Cockapoo (pictured) called Bailey. I am also the main writer and chief editor here at Pet Educate; a site dedicated to sharing evidence-based insights and guidance, based on my vast pet ownership knowledge, experience, and extensive research.