Hamsters are small and very mobile, they can get squeezed into different places due to their size. Hamsters can get squeezed between cage bars, under doors, or in their tunnels and play areas.
When the hamster manages to get free and get somewhere, it is very difficult to find it and bring it back.
That is why it is best when buying a cage that there are no gaps or that they are at a small distance, or rather less than an inch so that hamsters cannot slip through it.
Hamsters manage to squeeze through small openings and holes due to their small size and with the help of their fur, although at first glance it seems that the hamster will not be able to get through.
In today’s article, you will find out if and how hamsters manage to pass through holes, under doors, and similar places.
Can Hamsters Squeeze Through Holes?
Hamsters excel at their escape and squeeze-through-holes skills, as they can flatten their bodies which allows them to get through more easily.
They can flatten the body and when they want to cool down, actually hamsters use this flattening to save themselves from predators.
This ability of theirs helps them escape from predators and squeeze through very small spaces.
The body of hamsters is flexible and allows them this leveling because their shoulders are connected to the rest of the skeleton with flexible ligaments.
They can move through tight spaces without having problems with their body.
Do hamsters squeeze through cage bars?
Yes, hamsters can squeeze through cage bars if they are 1-2 inches wide.
Hamsters try to squeeze their head first, if they succeed then they will squeeze their body without any problem.
If the cage bars are 1-2 inches wide, then even Syrian hamsters can fit through them, even though they are the largest of all the other hamster breeds.
The appearance of hamsters can be deceiving because they look fat and can still pass through the bars.
Their advantage is the fur that makes up most of their body, while the skeleton or bones are smaller.
If the hamster has other types of enclosures that do not have bars then the hamster will not be able to escape.
If you want to use a cage with bars then you will need to buy a cage with narrower bars, narrower than one inch.
When you have a cage with bars, you should occasionally check that there are no crooked bars because the hamster will notice it in a short time and escape from the cage.
You can also use a glass tank because then the hamster will not be able to escape from it. After all, it cannot climb on glass.
The glass tank offers more safety, but has poorer ventilation and airflow, possibly it can have a mesh cover to have enough fresh air flow.
Can my hamster squeeze under the door?
Hamsters can be squeezed under the door, but only if the door has space at the bottom, otherwise they will not be able to pass under it.
The hamster will pass under the door more easily if the floor is made of wood, while if it is covered with a carpet then it will not be able to pass under the door so easily.
Another problem with doors is that interior doors usually have a 2-inch gap in the floor, and at this height, the hamster can fit through and escape.
Therefore, if you have a gap under the door, it is best to put a carpet or something similar under it so that the hamster cannot pass and escape.
The external doors are designed without a gap at the bottom which makes them great when the hamster wants to escape he won’t succeed, he can only get out if the door is open, otherwise, he has no chance to escape.
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More activity will prevent hamsters from escaping through doors and holes less
So that they don’t try to escape so much through the doors, the bars of the cage, and the holes, the hamster needs to have more activities so that he doesn’t have to think all the time about how to escape.
They will always run away, it is their natural behavior, but with more activities, they will do it less.
Hamsters should have enough toys in the cage that, in addition to the exercise wheel, will allow them to have more fun and be more interesting.
Tunnels, hiding places, and other objects are great for entertaining hamsters.
Let the hamster occasionally free roam or run around the room so he can enjoy and explore, which will make him happy, tire him out, and not want to run away all the time.
Offer them occasionally some food that they like the most because it will fulfill them and make them happy, and luckily, the hamster will want to run away less.
Pay attention to him by talking and holding him in your hands, so that he feels that you love him and that he means a lot to you, which is certainly good for him, and it is also good for improving the relationship with your pet.
How to secure the room so that the hamster can not squeeze?
When keeping a hamster it is best to secure the room so that it cannot escape.
No matter what kind of cage you have, or if you have a glass tank when the time comes to let the hamster out of the cage, and this should of course be done once a day, the hamster can slip out of your hands and escape.
So here are some tips to prevent the hamster from escaping the room:
- Safe room – will help if in the room there is not much furniture and holes, because if the hamster escapes afterward it is difficult to bring him back although there are ways for such situations.
- Walls with holes – watch out for holes in the walls where electrical outlets or similar elements are.
- Close doors and windows – all doors and windows should be closed to prevent the hamster from escaping.
Bookshelves and desks are places where a hamster can hide and escape, and then it will be difficult for you to find them.
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Can hamsters squeeze through bigger or smaller holes?
As we said hamsters can easily squeeze through holes that are slightly larger than their head.
Although it seems that they cannot pass through the holes, hamsters do it very skillfully, so the appearance of hamsters can be deceiving.
You can check how big a hole a hamster can fit through by taking a cardboard box and making a hole through it.
Make several holes of different sizes so that you know which hole the hamster can and can’t pass through, which will help you in the future to know how to secure the space to make it more secure.
Although this does not necessarily mean that with certainty the hamster will never succeed in passing where it failed before, especially when they are in danger it can pass through even narrower holes.
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Conclusion
Hamsters always try to escape if given the chance, they have the instinct to escape and always will.
If they find a hole or gap larger than 2 inches through doors or other places they will squeeze and escape, and then you will have a hard time getting them back.
Therefore, always pay attention to gaps such as under doors, cage bars, and similar places where he could slip.
Even though hamsters look big, they still have a body that is flexible and they can flatten it and escape, they are only willing to put their head through and then they will pass with their body as well.
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