Hamster Enrichment: Gnawing & Chewing Guide

Gnawing and chewing are perfectly natural behaviours, so it should never be your goal to stop them from chewing entirely. A hamster’s incisors are open-rooted, meaning they grow continuously. They need to chew and gnaw on things to keep them from becoming overgrown. Part of keeping their teeth worn is providing a healthy diet, but the other important factor is giving them lots of chewing outlets. One study found that 3.98% of hamsters in the UK suffered from overgrown teeth, a condition that, unlike many other ailments, can be entirely avoidable with the right care.  

Hamsters have a natural instinct to chew, so even if you don’t provide them with something, they will turn to less appropriate materials to sink their teeth into. Just like chewing in other pets like dogs, it’s a soothing activity and helps them to relieve stress and boredom. Chewing is a form of mental enrichment that will not only keep them physically healthy but mentally as well. No matter what you do, your hamster will chew, they need to. Providing enrichment to curb boredom, like the Rosewood Boredom Breaker Woodies 3D Carrot Chew, is an important part of their basic care and not an added bonus. 

The best thing you can do for their health and wellbeing is to provide suitable outlets for the behaviour.  

When trying to find the perfect hamster enrichment toys, they should tick a few boxes to make sure they’re safe. A hamster is like a toddler, anything you put near them will often wind up in their mouth at some point. They explore the world and test new things by chomping down on them, so look for toys made from untreated and non-toxic wood. Plastic toys with loose parts can be dangerous if ingested or damage their teeth. If a toy is made out of a material that isn’t safe for your hamster to chew, then it should not be in their cage.  

Hamster gnawing toys should be big enough to not pose as a choking hazard and made from natural materials that are safe to chew on. In the wild, hamsters will chew on wood to keep their teeth in tip-top condition. Chew toys made from wood and cardboard make for some of the best boredom breakers.  

Finding the right toys made out of safe materials doesn’t have to cause a headache. You can find a massive selection of toys and chews in your nearest store. They’re all made specifically for hamsters, so you can rest easy knowing your furry friend’s health was at the forefront of considerations when making them.  

Natural doesn’t have to mean boring, and this three-pack of Rosewood Carrot Treat & Gnaw for Small Pets is a testament to that. With fun and bright colouring that is perfectly safe for your four-legged friend, they will love them too. These chew toys are a great source of fibre and food for wearing down teeth. They have a flat edge to make it easier for your beloved pet to really get their teeth into. If you want to provide a more mobile chew with a bit of a higher challenge factor, the Rosewood Boredom Breaker Woodies 3D Nibble Stix will be great fun for your hamster. They’re all different shapes and flavours, so your pet won’t tire of them, and the rounded edges mean they’ll have to play chase if they want to have a nibble.  

If your hamster enjoys a chase, the Happy Pet Willow Ball is another hamster safe chew toy that also aids in keeping teeth nice and trim. The ridged edges make it easy to chew as well as move around.  

Whilst all hamster chew toys are safe to nibble on and consume, some take it a step further and can be considered treats as well as toys! These Rosewood Treat 'N' Gnaw Logs are peanut flavoured wooden logs that contain healthy seeds and dried apples, so if you need any extra help encouraging your hamster to chew on something healthy, these are an excellent choice. If your hamster mostly thinks with their stomach, the Rosewood Boredom Breaker Natural Nibble Wood Carrot will not only keep them entertained but well-fed! Packed with a delicious filling to nibble on, it will keep them busy for hours.  

You should not only be providing a single chew toy for your hamster, but they should always have multiple choices to pick from scattered throughout their cage. If a chew is on the other side of their cage, they might resort to chewing their bars if they’re closer and more convenient. Having too few toys will mean your hamster will become bored of them a lot quicker. You can provide a mixture of fun and exciting toys alongside homemade boredom breakers like stuffed toilet paper rolls. Try to have a rotation of different toys every few days or so to prevent boredom and check them regularly so you can throw out any that are broken or have become too worn out.  

You can even attach chew toys like the Rosewood Gingerbread Man Small Pet Gnaw to the bars to make it even more exciting. Having chew at all different heights and levels will prevent your hamster from tiring of one or the other, so get creative!  

A good sign that you’re providing your fluffy family member with all the hamster enrichment toys they need is by checking their teeth. You should be looking at their teeth once every few weeks to make sure they’re not overgrown. If they are too long or misaligned, you should contact your vet, as you may need to adjust their diet and provide more enrichment to keep on top of it. If they damage their teeth on any toys you provide, you should remove them from their cage immediately.  

For healthy teeth and a happy hamster with plenty to occupy themselves with, visit us in store and online to always keep their toys new and exciting!