The hamsters are constantly moving and running inside the cage, but I noticed that sometimes they stand on their back legs.
I was immediately curious and asked myself why they do it, and what is the meaning, and therefore I did a little research.
Why do hamsters stand on their back legs?
Hamsters stand on their back legs when they want to explore their surroundings, or when their owner approaches. When hamsters are in danger from predators or a loud noise, they stand on their back legs again to take a defensive position.
In today’s article, you will learn about all the reasons why hamsters stand on their back legs and similar related issues.
Why do hamsters stand on their back legs?
When hamsters stand on their back legs, it means that they want to see what is happening around them or to find out if there are predators nearby.
When hamsters stand on their back legs, they take a defensive position, and maybe they just want to attract attention.
So let’s read together about all these and other reasons why your pet sometimes stands on its back legs.
Hamsters stand on their back legs to attract attention
When hamsters stand on their back legs they want to attract attention most of the time when their owner enters the room.
Indeed, hamsters have poor eyesight and will not see you well, but their sense of smell will help them recognize you as you approach.
In such moments, your hamster is happy to see you and he stands on his back legs, which should make you happy.
Hamsters usually stand on their back legs at night, while during the day they rarely do so, probably because they are nocturnal.
Hamsters stand on their back legs when they want to defend themselves
Not always when hamsters stand on their back legs is a happy moment, maybe they prepare for defense.
If hamsters notice other animals or people they don’t know, they will stand on their back legs and simultaneously hiss to let everyone around them know that they are ready to defend themselves.
If your hamster is not tamed yet, then it will stand on its back legs because it will be afraid of you, so at first you should be careful when approaching your pet.
Your pet, when you bring it into your home, does not know that you are not a predator and will stand on its back legs to defend itself, then it may even bite you if you approach it.
At that moment when the hamster is sure that his owner does not mean him anything bad, then things will change.
When hamsters feel threatened they stand on their back legs
If hamsters feel threatened by the environment they stand on their back legs to find out if there is any danger near them.
Hamsters are constantly prey, so they are taught to be constantly alert, any loud sound can scare them and they stand on their back legs to find out what is happening around them.
Hamsters have very good senses of smell and hearing and they can detect any movement in their vicinity very quickly.
Hamsters stand on their back legs when they are curious
Hamsters are very curious animals that like to explore their surroundings and want to know when something unusual is around them.
Whether it’s movement or a smell they will immediately notice and get on their feet.
Once they find out what it is about and if they see that there is no danger to their lives, they will resume their usual activities such as running and playing around the cage.
Standing on the back legs of hamsters allows them to be safer and more secure in their space.
Hamsters stand on their back legs when they smell food
Hamsters have a very good sense of smell and therefore when they smell food they stand on their back legs.
They can smell food from another room in your home, and they will stop and stand up to find out where the smell is coming from.
Whether the hamster is hungry or not, whenever it smells food it will stand on its back legs.
Hamsters stand on their back legs to stretch
Hamsters are constantly running and playing around the cage, but if they don’t have enough activity they will stand on their back legs to stretch.
This happens if the hamster is bored and does not have enough toys or if there is no exercise wheel.
That’s why you should always provide them with enough activities inside and outside their cage.
Read more: How Do Hamsters Defend Themselves? Let’s Find Out
Is it OK if hamsters walk on both back legs?
If the hamsters walk on both back legs then it is not right and means that they have a problem.
They know that they have a problem with their front legs, it’s probably an injury, and that’s why they rely only on their back legs.
The most common reason is broken front legs and then the hamster is forced to walk only on its back legs.
Hamsters can break their legs if they fall from a height greater than 25 cm, or if they get their legs stuck in the exercise wheel.
Hamsters can also break their legs if they get caught in the bars of the cage, especially when climbing into the cage, as they like to climb to the top to try to escape.
But not always a fracture is the reason for walking on two legs because hamsters can have other problems such as dehydration, arthritis, scurvy, or if they have a stroke.
In any case, if you notice that the hamster goes on two legs for a long time, then you should take it to the vet to examine it and help it with treatment.
Read more: Why Does My Hamster Never Stay Still? Let’s Find Out
Why is my hamster dragging its back legs?
If your hamster is dragging its back legs it is a serious problem and you should take it to the vet immediately.
Reasons for dragging the back legs in hamsters can be:
- legs injuries
- legs trauma
- spinal cord injury
- heart problems
- pneumonia
Dragging the back legs of hamsters must not be neglected as it can lead to serious problems that can lead to fatal consequences for their lives.
Read more: Why Is the Hamster Wobbling and Falling Over? Let’s Discover
Why is my hamster standing on its back legs and shaking?
If you notice that the hamster is standing on its back legs and shaking at the same time, this is a sign that it is scared and under stress.
When you notice such an occurrence then you should find out what is the cause of stress and help your pets.
Stress is very dangerous for hamsters and can make them sick, and if nothing is done then your pet can get sick and ultimately have fatal consequences.
FAQs
How can you tell if a hamster is happy?
When hamsters are happy they groom themselves, play around the cage, collect food, and enjoy burrowing in the bedding. All these signs show that you take good care of your pet and it is happy in your home.
Do hamsters enjoy being picked up?
Hamsters may want you to hold them in your hands, but many hamsters refuse or partially want you to hold them. It all depends on the hamster itself because some bond easier and others harder with their owners, which is normal for these pets.
Do hamsters need time out of the cage?
All hamsters need to play and run outside the cage, for at least half an hour a day. When you let them out of the cage, the hamsters are happy and enjoy it which is good for their mental health.
Conclusion
Hamsters stand on their back legs to find out if they are in danger from predators, but also when they are happy, or rather when their owner approaches them.
Standing on both back legs helps hamsters at some point to stop and find out what is going on in their surroundings using their senses of smell and hearing.
This behavior of hamsters is a completely natural way of their behavior because once they analyze the environment, they continue to run and play and do their daily activities.
