Hamsters are known to be very clean little creatures, but sometimes they can get smelly and make your living space unenjoyable. However, considering how adorable they are, you can’t afford to hate them for that; hence you need to find a way to stop your hamster from stinking.
You need to ensure that your hamster stays clean and smells great so you can have a great time playing or cuddling. So, in the article below, we have prepared how you can stop your furry friend from stinking.
Keep reading to learn more!
7 Ways How to Stop Your Hamster From Stinking
1. Clean Your Hamster With a Damp Cloth
Hamsters clean and groom themselves naturally. Cleaning them directly with water can make them catch a cold, and they might lose the healthy protective oils from their coat.
Although it is not recommended to clean your hamster due to its heavy coat that might take a long time to dry, you can use a damp cloth.
Use room temperature water and add an unscented dog or cat shampoo. Wet a cloth on the water and gently rub its fur. When you are done, use a clean and soft towel to dry your hamster from dampness. This way, your pet will be fresh and clean before returning it to the cage.
2. Clean Your Hamster’s Cage Daily
Cleaning your hamster’s cage daily is the most effective way to stop your furry friend from stinking. Wash your cage thoroughly, including everything in it. Remove any dirty bedding and replace them with clean ones.
Additionally, if you notice the toys are soiled, take them out of the cage and clean them thoroughly. Don’t forget to clean your pet’s food bowl and water bottle daily, as these are major causes of stink in your cage. Besides, clean bowls and bottles reduce the risk of food contamination.
3. Use a Sand Bath
Sand baths are effective ways to clean and remove stinks from your hamster. Sand baths are a natural way to help hamsters stay clean by keeping their skin and coats clean without water.
So, ensure your hamster rolls in the sand bath at least three times per week to remove dirt naturally and absorb the sand bath smell.
Ensure the sand bath you buy is dust-free to prevent your hamster from inhaling it, as it might cause serious respiratory problems.
4. Choose the Right Bedding for Your Hamster
Choosing the right bedding for your hamster can significantly help stop it from stinking. And the right bedding should not be too shallow to enable your hamster to nest and burrow easily. The bedding should be at least 2 inches thick to help absorb bad smells.
Furthermore, ensure the bedding is water-soluble so that if the hamster ingests it, it will be easy to digest and expel. You can lay the bottom of the cage with newspapers that do not contain ink or harmful chemicals.
In addition, You can also use wood shavings or wood pulp, as they are good at odor control. However, you should avoid cedar and pine shavings because they can be abrasive.
5. Improve Cage Ventilation
Small and stuffy places smell bad compared to large and well-ventilated spaces. If your hamster’s enclosure is smelly and located in a small, stuffy room with no good ventilation, you need to move it to a large room with good ventilation.
Remember, a smelly enclosure will make your hamster pet absorb the foul odor. However, ensure the room where you place your cage does not have irregular lighting and temperature fluctuations.
6. Deodorize Your Hamster’s Enclosure
Your hamster’s cage should be deodorized more often, but first, you need to keep your hamster in a safe place, like a travel cage, and remove everything in the cage. However, you must clean the enclosure first before deodorizing it.
Deodorize the enclosure with commercial cleaning products that have enzymes. Products containing enzymes are the most effective in removing foul odors. You can also use household items like vinegar and baking soda.
Sprinkle the products in the enclosure and then wipe them with a warm and clean cloth or sponge. Let the cage completely dry before returning the hamster and other items in the cage.
7. Watch Your Hamster’s Diet
Some foods might negatively impact your pet’s digestive system and make your furry friend stink. Since your hamster feeds daily, it’s essential to consider what you are feeding him. A healthy diet should be well-balanced with the right amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Also, ensure to give your hamster the needed amount of food, as it might hide the excess food to eat later, and this might cause a bad smell.
Final Words
When your hamster stinks, it’s probably not its fault but the things surrounding it, like bad diet, bedding, and dirty enclosure.
So, you must find ways to stop your hamster from stinking, like deodorizing its cage and changing dirty dabbing. So, the above seven ways will help prevent stinking if you have a smelly hamster.
