The Hamster Language - Sounds and Actions
These are my observations of a hamster's sounds and body language.
| ACTION | DESCRIPTION | MEANING | SITUATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grooming | washing of feet and hands then fur grooming | content and secure, but not clean enough | after waking up, before playing, during playing |
| Listening | standing tall on back legs with ears up | curious and healthy | something interesting has captured the hamster's attention |
| Frozen | stationary and stiff to the touch, with ears up, for several minutes | complete attention given to something | out exploring and finds a noise or smell that is more important than moving |
| Sniffing | continuous close sniffing | curious and learning | the hamster has found an interesting smell or is exploring, may be followed by nibbling or licking to check for food |
| Big Sniff | loud, deep sniff | investigating a new place | exploring a gap that the hamster can not fit down |
| Scent Marking |
when a syrian rubs his hips, or a dwarf rubs his belly, against objects | this is my territory | to mark his cage and the hamster's territory |
| Clicking | very quite, repeated clicking | happy and content | when happily sorting food and bedding in his cage, or when playing with a human and in response to a human clicking |
| Sneezing | small repeated noise | unknown | many, often in the cage |
| Squeaking | loud single or quickly repeated noise | agitated or wanting attention | 1. dwarfs play fighting for dominance, or a real fight 2. occasionally when a hamster is startled 3. sometimes just to attract a human's attention for food or play 4. when dreaming |
| Teeth Grinding |
grating, chattering sound | irritated, leave me alone, display of aggression, warning before biting | combing a hamster's fur when he want to play, disturbing a sleepy hamster, or aggressive display by a territorial hamster who smells or meets another hamster |
| Nipping | quick but gentle nipping or pinching of a human's skin between his teeth | annoyed or wanting attention | if a hamster is sleepy and does not want to play or if he is active and wants you to put him down so that he can play |
| Open Mouth Crouch | in a crouched position with the mouth open, front paws might be raised | defensive upset or frightened, but not bad enough to make a noise |
when a hamster is startled or scared |
| Hissing | the loudest noise, a hiss or scream made in a crouched position, mouth wide open, teeth showing, front paws raised | very upset and frightened | when a hamster is very startled, scared, or stressed and more likely with an untamed hamster |
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