Can hamsters freeze? These 10 things are important

During the cold season, the question inevitably arises whether your hamsters can also get cold despite their fur-covered bodies.

And if so, at what temperatures do hamsters freeze?

Now there’s the answer – including 10 tips on how to keep your hamster comfortable even in freezing temperatures.

Can hamsters freeze?

Yes, as a mammal, your hamster can freeze if the temperature is too low. If necessary, he will then fall into hibernation, which can be life-threatening. This is because hamsters kept as pets are often not adjusted and prepared for the metabolism to shut down.

You should therefore avoid freezing or persistently low temperatures in the apartment at all costs.

But when are the temperatures too low and what can you do to keep your pet warm?

The answer is now available!
At what temperatures do hamsters freeze?

This depends on various factors. Above all, the respective hamster species is decisive:

In Europe native golden hamsters already freeze at temperatures below 18 ° C. For dwarf hamsters the limit is reached at 15° Celsius.

In both cases, normal to comfortable temperatures in the room are sufficient to avoid hibernation. How these can be achieved and what you should continue to pay attention to, we show you here.

10 tips: How to prevent your hamster from freezing.

When it gets colder outside, we humans adapt to it. Sweaters instead of T-shirts, long pants and thick jackets dominate the closet. Hamsters, however, can’t switch to fall and winter wardrobes.

They depend on you for that!

The following tips show what’s important and how you can prevent your hamster from freezing.
Tip 1 – Choose the right location

For the winter you should choose a place where you yourself like it warm and therefore heated throughout. This could be the living room.

Make sure that the hamster cage is not directly next to the heater, but also not in front of a window. Here the temperature fluctuations are the highest, so it can be uncomfortable for your animal.
Tip 2 – Avoid drafts

What is a pleasant fresh breeze in summer can turn into a cold draft in autumn and winter. Just as with humans, the associated chilling is not conducive to good health.

So make sure that the cage is not exposed to drafts! This is often the case if it is placed next to a window or door.

If no other location can be found for the hamster home, you can seal the side walls with Plexiglas. Your hamster will still have a clear view of the surroundings, but will be much better protected from drafts.

By the way, the litter is kept in the cage, which reduces the effort for cleaning.

So you also have a personal advantage.

Alternatively, you can directly choose a hamster home that does not have bars and instead has glass windows or Plexiglas elements.

Tip 3 – Offer deeper bedding

Of course you know very well that hamsters like to burrow. Especially on the first floor or on cold floors, you should provide a thicker layer of bedding in winter.

If the floor is very cold, it is also advisable to place a polystyrene board under the cage.

This way it is insulated from below and cools down less. Overall, an elevated location makes sense in the fall and winter, as warmer air rises to the top. A base or base cabinet will also create storage space for food, litter and toys.
Tip 4 – Provide warm nesting material.

As a counterpart to a warm wool blanket for humans, you can provide your hamster with warm material for nest building.

Cotton flowers or hemp bedding, for example, are well suited. These are soft and easy to transport and install. At the same time they offer your hamster variety and employment.
Tip 5 – give high caloric food

In nature, hamsters would prepare for hibernation by building up a protective layer of fat and reserves. This is because even though the metabolism is reduced to a minimum, the supply must not come to a complete standstill.

Your domesticated hamster doesn’t have to cope with this, but he has the appropriate instincts, and despite the heating, it is cooler in winter, which means that your animal’s energy consumption is higher.

Therefore, offer him accordingly high-caloric food: Grains and seeds, nuts and mealworms are well suited.
Tip 6 – Encourage exercise

If you keep them moving, they won’t freeze as quickly. So give your hamster the opportunity to dig and burrow, run and forage for food. This not only generates warmth, but also exercises the muscles and has a positive effect on well-being.

A suitable running wheel of the right size, opportunities to climb and deep litter for digging are a good basis.

Also, hide food in hard to reach places, this will keep your hamster mobile.
Tip 7 – create small spaces

The hamster home should always be as large as possible. However, it warms up worse and cools down more easily.

Therefore, create smaller sections in the cage!

These can be sleeping houses, cardboard rolls and self-made hiding places. If the temperature in the room does drop, your hamster can retreat into these. Since the small rooms warm up faster, freezing can be prevented in this way.
Tip 8 – heat regularly

Due to rising heating costs, many people hold back on turning on the radiators during the cold season.

This can be fatal for the hamster!

Ensure a constant and pleasant temperature in the room. However, it should not be hot and stuffy – 20 °C is perfectly sufficient.
Tip 9 – Check the temperature

Very few people have a thermometer in every room of their apartment or house. However, besides the hamster cage, such a thermometer is more than advisable to control the temperature.

This is not only true for winter. Because besides cold, heat can also be dangerous for the little animals.

If you can, you should check the thermometer several times a day. This will also give you an idea of how much the temperature fluctuates during the day and night.

Tip 10 – pay attention to the humidity of the air.

Heating air is dry.

This not only has a negative effect on the mucous membranes of humans, your hamster can also suffer from it.

Through regular ventilation, indoor plants and a targeted increase in humidity with damp cloths, water bowls or nebulizers, you can ensure the well-being of all inhabitants.

This does not have a direct effect on freezing, but it does have an effect on health