Why Is My Hamster Squeaking? Reasons & What to Do

Understanding your beloved hamster a little better will give you the ability to care for them and know exactly what they need, when they’re asking for it. While a squeak may mean they’re just happy to see you, it can also be a sign of distress. It’s key to helping when they need it that you know the difference between these communications.

It can sometimes take looking at a wider picture and assessing if anything looks wrong or out of place if they don’t seem to be squeaking because they’re excited or relaxed.

Every hamster is an individual and may use their voice to communicate at different times so it’s all about learning what your furry friend is trying to tell you.

Hamsters can squeak quite often when they’re happy about something. It’s a delighted little noise that’s high pitched and usually quite short and sharp. To understand when this kind of noise is done out of happiness, you must look at the context it has happened in.

If you’ve just cleaned their cage and popped some new hamster toys in there, it could quite easily be a noise of delight while they explore the new gifts you’ve given them. Whereas a worried hamster will hide away from scary things so if they’re running around and checking out their new toys, it’s probably out of excitement.

Similarly with food, if you give your beloved pet some fresh fruit to have a nibble on or if you start to rustle the bag of their favourite treats, they might squeak out of happiness.

Understanding when they’re happy is about looking at everything else that’s happening around them. Happy squeaks usually only occur once or twice so if it’s long and drawn out, it’s likely to mean something else. Pay attention to their body language too, if they’re having a cuddle with you and give a nice big yawn and a stretch with a few squeaks, they’re happy and relaxed with you so there’s no need to worry.

Why does my hamster squeak more than once? If a squeak is longer than just a couple of short ones and is more drawn out, your hamster is likely telling you that they’re annoyed or unhappy about something.

If you try to handle them or spend time with them when they’re tired, they can squeak at you to show frustration and express to you that they just want to go and sleep. It’s best to give them space from handling, and to check that there is plenty of water, snacks and toys to appease them.

If you’re parent to more than one hamster, their squeaking is likely to be communicating! Just like how you and your friend love a natter, your fur babies will have a chat through squeaks. Make sure to keep an eye on this exchange, as hamsters are known to be territorial, so it’s important to make sure the exchange isn’t aggressive so both your fur babies stay safe. Communication between hamsters is dependent on breed, so make sure to learn about the different breeds in this guide.

Sometimes if you’re slightly out of sight your hamster may use their squeaks to try and draw your attention to something. As their parent, you are their primary caregiver so when they need something, they’re likely to want to get your attention on them. It could be something simple like their water bottle being empty, something may have turned over in their cage and they want you to fix it. Or maybe you’re a little late getting up and they’re demanding their food bowl be filled! The presence of cage accessories, especially new ones, might take your hamster by surprise with a squeak. When hamsters enjoy spending time with you, they can even squeak to ask to be let out of their cage to interact with you – such a cuddly little cutie.

Not much is known about hamsters' sleep cycles and what their brains do while they sleep.

Many parents assume they dream like our doggy friends but, there’s little to no research around this. A few little squeaks and some movement seem to be normal when they’re asleep but if this happens every night, it could be a sign that something isn’t quite right.

Noticed regular squeaking through the night? If a hamster has a respiratory infection, you may sometimes be able to hear a noise like them squeaking as they breathe. This could be viral, or it could come from sleeping on bedding that isn’t suitable for them. Hamster bedding should be dust free, so they don’t get any nasty respiratory issues.

Bedding like high quality hay or Carefresh Confetti is ideal for them to sleep on. If you continue to hear noises whenever they sleep, you should get in touch with your vet to perform a full health check and make sure they’re well.

Frustration and fear are also common reasons why a hamster might squeak at you. If you’ve just welcomed them home and go to interact with them, they might use this to tell you that they’re not ready for close handling.

If you go through the process of their basic needs, from being fed and watered and they’re still squeaking for attention, it could be a sign of pain and discomfort., particularly if your fur baby is squeaking through the night. It’s best to check for any injuries and seek advice from the vets at the Community Pet Clinic.

While it may seem like they’re angry with you, most of the time when a hamster squeaks in frustration at handling, it’s more than likely a fear response.

A hamster doesn’t want to avoid being picked up because you offended them in any way, it’s just they don’t feel comfortable with it yet. A squeak is nothing to be worried about, it’s actually a very good sign that they’re communicating with you, letting you know it’s too much too soon. You can use it as a measure of how comfortable your new friend is with you.

Firstly, your hamster needs to feel safe and secure in their home! A comfortable, clean and well-equipped cage will do wonders for your new fur baby feeling safe with you and in their environment. Keep an eye on your hamster’s behaviour to observe how they react to their surroundings; if they don’t like something, you’ll be able to tell! Then over time, you can gradually adjust their home to fit their needs.

When it comes to handling your hamster, this should be gradually introduced. Let your hamster familiarise themselves with your scent before beginning to handle your fur baby. Tools like pouches and gloves specifically designed for hamster handling are a gentle and effective way to introduce touch and interaction between you and your furry buddy! Then you can start approaching them with your hands. A good way to make them more comfortable is to use hamster friendly treats and let them approach you. Make sure to reward them for approaching you, but also after any handling sessions so interaction is seen as a positive act!

At the end of the day, your hamster’s comfort is paramount! Plenty of quality time (if they appear to like it), food, water and enrichment opportunities for burrowing and snuggling, should reduce your hamster’s squeaking. If you’re worried about your hamster, it’s always best practice to speak to your local veterinarian to make sure it’s nothing sinister.  

For all of your hamster essentials to make sure your beloved companion has everything they need to be happy and healthy, take a look at our wide range of products in-store and online to suit every furry individual.