Why Does My Hamster Always Run Away From Me?

Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 06:33 pm

You want to play with your hamster and he keeps running away from you, you wonder why this is happening and what to do.

Hamsters are very fast and in excellent condition, as they run several miles every night on the exercise wheel in their cage.

That’s why if you try to catch him, he runs and runs away and you get annoyed because of his behavior.

Why does my hamster always run away from me?

Hamsters constantly run away from you when they are scared when they are under stress or when they are not yet used to your presence. The hamsters need some time to get used to the new environment and to you as the owner before they will allow you to hold them and not run away.

In today’s article, you will find out why the hamsters run away from you and how to catch your pet.

Why Does My Hamster Always Run Away From Me?

There are several reasons why a hamster keeps running away from you, for example when is scared, shy, or just doesn’t have enough trust.

Therefore, let’s consider in detail each of the possible reasons why the hamster keeps running away from you.

When a hamster is shy, it runs away from you

Hamsters, apart from being very timid, are also very shy, which is another reason why he constantly runs away from you.

Especially the hamsters that you bring to your home for the first time will be very shy and will not want to be with you, they will constantly run away from you.

When a hamster is shy it just takes some time to get used to the new environment and it will stop running away from you.

Hamsters are timid

When you bring the hamster into your home, it is afraid and constantly runs away from you.

This behavior of hamsters is completely normal because this is their nature, they are very gentle and scared.

Hamsters are prey all their lives in the wild and therefore they are always afraid of predators, although in the cage and your home there is no need for such a thing.

Also, when a hamster gains its trust in you, it will stop running away and you can play and have fun with your pet.

When a hamster is nervous, it runs away from you

When hamsters are nervous, they don’t want to play with you and may run away, that’s a completely normal reaction.

If the hamster allowed you to hold it in your hands, when it is nervous it will not want to and will constantly run away from you.

In this situation, you should let your pet calm down, wait and you will see that when he calms down, he will allow you to hold him and play with him again.

Hamsters can be annoyed by a variety of things such as the presence of other pets and loud noises.

Poor eyesight can cause the hamster to run away from you

Hamsters naturally have very poor eyesight which they make up for by using their senses of smell and hearing.

Hamsters can only see a few inches in front of them and they can easily think that you are someone else ie a predator and they will constantly run away from you.

Especially if the light is very strong, they will see you even less and run away from you.

Hamsters can best notice you at dusk or dawn, ie when the light is weaker. Hamsters need time to notice that it is you and not some predator that has come to kill them.

Using their senses, hamsters will feel that it is you if you approach them slowly and if you gently start talking to them, it is best so that they do not run away from you.

Also, when you extend your hand to take it, do it slowly so that it can recognize you through the smell and not run away from you.

Dominance in the relationship

Sometimes it happens that hamsters run away from you because of dominance.

Those runaways from you want to show dominant behavior and declare themselves in a relationship with their owner.

However, the dominant behavior of the hamster in relation to its owner happens very rarely, but if something like this happens, it can start biting you.

If the hamster’s behavior does not change over time, it is best to talk to a veterinarian to help you overcome this problem.

If there is trauma, the hamster will run away from you

Hamsters may constantly run away from you if they have any current trauma.

For example, when you buy a hamster if it was traumatized when it was given to you from the pet store, it may have been placed in your cage or box in a rough and mean way.

Hamsters are gentle and timid, it doesn’t take much for them to feel threatened for their safety.

However, this trauma will pass in a few days and he will allow you to touch him again and will not run away from you.

The same thing can happen in your home if you ever show aggression toward your hamster it will remember it and run away from you all the time.

That is why it is important to always treat hamsters calmly and gently, however they also have feelings that can be hurt.

Happiness

Sometimes hamsters will keep running away from you because they are happy!

Yes, that’s right, a hamster can be too happy and just run around and constantly eat something or play.

To know if he runs away from you because of happiness or sadness, you will notice best by his actions.

When the hamster is happy, it will be calm and will not be stiff and scared, it will constantly eat something and will show similar symptoms of happiness.hamster always run away from me

Stress can make your hamster constantly run away from you

If the hamster is under any stress, it may constantly run away from you until the stress is over.

When a hamster is under stress, it can be noticed by some symptoms such as the following:

  • quick and sudden movements
  • freezing in one place
  • constant washing of the face
  • showing teeth

When the hamster is under stress and constantly running away from you, you need to help him overcome the stress and then he will not run away from you.

Take care of him calmly, take care of him and he will notice it and calm down in a few days.

What to do if the hamster keeps running away from you?

If the hamster keeps running away from you, there are several steps you can take to catch the hamster.

However, it would be best if you did not use force, because you will only worsen the condition and emotions of your pet, and it will start to bite you.

Here are some steps that will help you to deal with the hamster more easily in such situations.

When he’s out of the cage

When the hamster is out of the cage and constantly running away from you, it will be a little more difficult for you to catch it and put it back in the cage.

First, try to move slowly so as not to frighten the hamster, and in the meantime talk to him gently and calmly and try to catch him with your hands.

If he runs away again, then try to make him stand in a corner and put a box that is familiar to the hamster to get inside.

Instead of a box, put the cage near him and open the door, if he is tired he will want to go back to his home.

How to catch a hamster inside the cage

If you need to pick up a hamster that is inside the cage and it keeps running away then it is best to use food to get it to calm down and allow you to catch it.

Place one of his favorite foods in your hand and wait for him to come to eat.

This may not work the first time, but after a few times it should be successful and the hamster will allow you to catch it.

You can also do the food trick if you place the food in a box where he will enter to eat and you will catch him along with the box.

Read more: Can I Let My Hamster Run Around My Room? Find Out Now

Why did the hamster suddenly start running away from you?

If the hamster allowed you to play and hold it in your hands and suddenly starts to run away from you, it may be due to an injury or illness.

If the hamster is sick, it will run away from you and won’t let you hold it, because in such moments hamsters don’t want someone to catch them, then they need to be alone until they get well.

When a hamster is injured it will hide due to its natural instinct to not show that they are injured due to the danger of predators.

But when they are injured, they also don’t want someone to hold them and that’s why they will constantly run away from you.

Read more: Why Do Hamsters Run In Circles? All You Need To Know

Frequently asked questions

How long should I wait to pick up my hamster?

The biggest mistake is if you immediately try to catch and hold the hamster when you bring it into your home. Since they are timid, you need to leave them for 24 hours to get used to you. You can then try to take the hamster in your hands, and if it runs away then leave it, obviously it needs more time to get used to you. Syrian hamsters are easier to hold than dwarf hamsters.

What is the fastest way to tame a hamster?

In order to manage to tame your hamster and allow you to hold it in your hands, you must first get used to your presence, i.e. your voice. Then you have to start slowly getting him used to hold him in your hands with food on your hand that he will come to take and eat. Only then can you start holding and playing with it.

Why is my hamster so scared of me?

The most important reason why hamsters fear you is because of your size. We are much bigger than them and they see us as a danger to their life and that is why they run away at first. Over time, the hamster will get used to you and gain trust, he will understand that you do not want to do him any harm, and then he will allow you to play with him.

Conclusion

Hamsters are very timid and shy animals that can very quickly experience stress and do not want you to hold them in your hands, while they will constantly run away from you.

Since hamsters have very poor eyesight, they cannot immediately see that you are coming toward them, they think that you are a predator and run away from you.

In order to catch a hamster that keeps running away from you, you need to be gentle and talk to it calmly, and you need to move slowly toward it when you want to pick it up.

Food is also a good way to catch a hamster because it will come to eat and then it’s time to catch your pet.

In any case, hamsters are very sensitive and they sometimes need time to trust you and stop running away from you, and then they allow you to catch and play with them.

Read more: Why Do Hamsters Always Try To Escape? Let’s Discover