Is my tame hamster possibly hibernating?

In the great outdoors, hamsters will retreat for a cosy hibernation, but can your tame pet do the same? It is possible, and you might be shocked because the little creature seems to be dead. Do not panic, your hamster has not joined its ancestors.

What is hibernation?

For wild hamsters, hibernation is a way to survive the winter - a period of cold and food scarcity. During hibernation, the heart rate, breathing rate and body temperature go down. This means that the animal needs less energy (food).

However, not all hamsters hibernate, and with their tame counterparts it is even more exceptional. If your hamster does it anyway, it is a bit of a scare at first. The little one seems to have died ... It barely responds when you touch it. Fortunately, you can easily check whether your hamster is still alive by holding a mirror in front of its nose. When it fogs up, the animal is still breathing. So do not write off your hairy friend too quickly!

When does a hamster hibernate?

Hibernation has nothing to do with the seasons, but it does have to do with the temperature. When it is nice and warm inside the house, your hamster will just stay awake, even if it is bitterly cold outside. However, if it is colder than ten degrees Celsius indoors for a number of nights, your pet may go into hibernation.

Golden hamsters in particular like higher temperatures and get sleepy more quickly when their environment is cool.

How do you prevent or stop hibernation?

A hamster that hibernates can easily be woken up by raising the temperature. Do not force your pet, but give it time to wake up. Do you want to avoid hibernation? Then place the hamster cage in a warm place, do not let the temperature in the room drop below 15°C and avoid draughts and humidity.