Hamsters are generally quiet animals that are not known for being loud, but as any hamster owner will tell you, these little animals are capable of making several unique vocalizations. There are many reasons for these vocalizations, and as an owner of a hamster, it’s a great idea to get acquainted with the sounds that they make.
While many of these sounds are not well researched and can mean different things depending on the context, getting to know these sounds can still help you get to know your hamster better and cater to their needs more accurately. Context is important when considering the sounds that hamsters make, and also, getting to know the accompanying body language will go a long way toward deciphering what your hamster is trying to say!
In this article, we’ll look at the seven most common sounds that hamsters make and what they usually mean.
The 7 Hamster Sounds and Their Meanings
1. Squeaking
When you mention the sounds that hamsters make, squeaking is usually the only sound that comes to mind. This is the sound that they make most often, and they squeak to convey a variety of different emotions. Happiness is the most common, and especially when they are young, they will squeak out of pure joy when being fed, running on a wheel, or receiving a new toy to play with.
That being said, hamsters will also squeak when they get injured or irritated and are known to squeak when hungry. Again, context will usually tell you the reason for their squeak!
2. Hissing
Hissing is the first and most common sign of discomfort in your hamster. They will often hiss if they feel threatened or angry, and this is common when introducing new hamsters to your home. After socialization, they should stop making this sound as they become more comfortable with their surroundings. If you notice your hamster hissing while they are alone, there may be something in their immediate environment that is making them uncomfortable, like a new toy or cramped living conditions. Check their cage and see if removing a new toy or changing things around calms them down.
3. Clicking
Also known as “bruxing,” hamsters sometimes rub their teeth together, causing a clicking sound. This sound is usually a good sign of a content and happy hamster, similar to a purring cat! When you hear your hamster clicking their teeth, you can rest easy, knowing all is well in their world!
4. Crying and Screaming
A crying or screaming hamster is a sound that nobody wants to hear, especially the hamster’s owner! It is a rather disturbing sound, to say the least, and will cut right into your ears and heart. This screaming is also fairly rare, and hamsters will usually only make this sound when they are particularly alarmed, frightened, or in real pain. A highly stressed hamster, a hamster that has been dropped or is in pain, or a fighting hamster will occasionally scream or cry, and it is not in any way a pleasant sound!
5. Sneezing
Just like humans, hamsters may sneeze and cough in reaction to something in their environment. Some dust or an unpleasant smell may cause them to react with small coughing or sneezing fit, and it is usually nothing to worry about. That said, some hamsters will cough or sneeze due to allergies, or they may even have a common cold and should be taken for a checkup if they are sneezing incessantly.
6. Chirping
Just like birds, hamsters chirp too! They will usually make this sound for the same reason as squeaking: They could be excited and happy or possibly in fear or anger, and context is important to ascertain the reason.
7. Cooing
While this sound is fairly rare in hamsters, some hamster owners report their hamsters cooing quietly at times. This is a soft, quiet, vibrating sound that is the sign of a content and happy hamster. Have you heard your hamster cooing? Please let us know in the comments!
Final Thoughts
Getting to know the different sounds that your hamster makes is an important method of getting to know them better and will help you meet their needs more accurately. Remember that context is important with the sounds that they are making, especially when squeaking, so it is up to your experience as the owner to ascertain whether they are excited or terrified!
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
8 Responses
Hi, I just got my hamster a few days ago, and he seems very healthy, but I’m just concerned that he’s making chirping sounds in his sleep while he’s rummaging around, and his breathing seems very heavy sometimes. I’m not sure if this is normal. Thanks so much!
Hello Kiki,
thank you for your question. Congratulations on your new hamster! To answer your question, if your hamster makes noises when sleeping and breathing heavily, that surely isn’t normal. This could point to some sort of respiratory disease.
We suggest you contact your veterinarian and get your hamster checked up as soon as possible.
I have a female teddy bear hamster who is just the light of my life but when I get near her cage she starts making a strange noise that’s very hard to describe. it sounds like loud chirping, huffing and cooing all at once and it’s around the time when she gets to go in her ball, but when she’s in her ball all she does is run into a door no matter if it’s opened or closed. she sees the door and darts for it! is that normal?
Hello Star,
thank you for your message. From what you described, your hamster’s behavior doesn’t seem to be normal. We would like to recommend you setting up a video-call appointment with one of our veterinarians at PangoVet.com. They will be happy to consult your hamster’s behavior and possible health concerns and give you some good tips on how to handle this situation.
hi my hamster isnt a loud one ı probably never heard him making noises .And hes been with me for 6 months.Today ı heard him almost moaning in his sleep.Little short moans but it got me worried.Maybe he was dreaming but ım worried maybe hes hurt? can you help please.Also he was usually sleeping in his house but today he took his things and toook them in his wheel.and hes sleeping there
Hello there,
thank you for question. Hamsters are known to be delicate creatures so everything out of ordinary could indeed be sign of some underlying health issues. Making short moans in their sleep could mean respiratory issues and changing of sleeping location could mean there is something wrong with their shelter.
Our first suggestion would be to clean their cage properly and focus especially on the house, since hamster moved out of there for some reason. As for the sounds your hamster make, you can monitor them closely. If this was just a one time thing, you probably don’t need to be concerned, however if the issues persist it would be best if you would take your hamster to a vet.
Hope this helps!
I’m getting a hamster, so this will be extremely helpful!
Thanks Wade, glad we can help!