Hamster

What Is a
Hamster?

Imagine a friend who is soft and warm and fits in the palm of your hand. A
gentle soul, he is most content among those who respect his quiet nature, his
diminutive size, and his unique view of the world. He’s fundamentally a vegetarian
(though he might say yes to a bite of meat now and again, if it’s offered)
who demands a clean home and regular exercise, yet he tends to be a bit too susceptible
to stress. Though a homebody at heart, he can also be an inquisitive guy
with a desire to explore the world beyond his cage door. Much to his benefit, as
we will see, he also doesn’t happen to have much of a tail.
The little friend of whom we speak is, of course, the hamster. And when you
gather together all his special characteristics, you can’t help but see that there is
far more to him than meets our human eyes.


A Misunderstood Family

Many among us believe we know what hamsters are. After all, what is there to
know? They’re just those little animals that you put in a cage and keep in the
kids’ room. They’re pretty easy to take care of, and they like to run on those
wheels. Not much to it.

But if he had the voice and the language skills, the hamster would be the first
to tell us that he is far too often misunderstood—even underestimated—by the
two-legged creatures who call themselves his caretakers. He would be the first to
tell us that although living with humans is a fine fate for his kind, he would be
even more comfortable if people would take a little time to get to know him
before welcoming him into their homes. Perhaps then, even though he enjoys
immense popularity, he might earn a little more respect as well.


Answering the Question

The first step toward increasing our understanding of hamsters is to explore
their family tree. But here, too, some misunderstandings might arise. The most
logical answer to the question “What is a hamster?,” you see, also happens to be
the simplest answer. A hamster is a rodent. That’s what he is.

Uh oh.

Many a would-be hamster owner may not be all that pleased to hear that
answer. When we think rodent, we think of mice in the kitchen cupboard
munching the Cheerios or rats in the garbage can scavenging for Thanksgiving
leftovers. We don’t tend to think of a soft, cuddly companion sharing our children’s
bedrooms. But to leap to such unsavory conclusions is to underestimate
what is, in truth, a fascinating, even amazing, branch of the animal kingdom
that has lived closely with humans throughout much of our history. Frankly,
that fact alone deserves our respect.
So our first step toward understanding the hamster the way he would like us to
understand him is to explore his extended family, his roots: the family of rodents.


The Rodent Clan

In the vast sea of species that comprise the animal kingdom, the hamster is a
member of the rodent order of mammals. The rodents, in fact, are the largest of
all mammalian orders. Approximately 50 percent of all mammalian species are
Our relationship with rodents has not always been friendly, partly because they like to eat the grain we store.

Rodents are essentially named for their world-class gnawing abilities. The
word “rodent” comes from the Latin word rodere, which means to gnaw.
Rodents are able to gnaw so effectively because their teeth are designed for a special
style of jaw movement that has ensured their survival through the ages. They
have one pair of upper and one pair of lower incisor teeth. Both pairs grow constantly
throughout the animal’s life and require regular gnawing activity to
remain trimmed to a manageable length.

In terms of physical characteristics, most rodent species are relatively small
and compact. They use their delicate “hands” to carry out a variety of functions,
including collecting and manipulating food, and grooming. Some rodents, such
as the hamster, are also graced with ample cheek pouches, in which they can
store large amounts of food to carry to secret caches, where they can store the
food for a time when food is not so plentiful.

Rodents’ teeth, combined with the various species’ evolutionary gifts (which
typically include staggering reproduction rates), and their uncanny ability to
reap the benefits of close proximity to humans, have led these animals to be
regarded almost exclusively as pests (particularly rodents of the rat and mice
varieties). But let’s give credit where it’s due. Theirs is an amazing family of animals
found all over the globe in all geographical regions and climates.


Pest or Companion? You Be the Judge

We humans have collected a great deal of information about the various species
of rodents, because, much to our chagrin, where there are humans, there are
probably very opportunistic rodents close by. The two cannot be separated. That
is simply a fact of life and always has been.

Rodents are smart critters who learned long ago that it was much to their
benefit to live in close proximity to humans—a testament to rodent adaptability
and even intelligence. Once humans made their grand entrance within the animal
kingdom, many other animal species realized that where there are humans,
there is food and shelter, too. As human populations have spread across the
globe, they have invariably overtaken lands that were originally occupied by
nonhuman species—or inadvertently transported those species with them.
Many of these species have not survived our encroachment or their own immigration,
but others have, and with great success. Case in point: the rodents.
Given their proximity to humans, it is to the family’s misfortune that rodents
have also come to be known as carriers of disease and parasites, thanks primarily
to the fleas they carried that led to the spread of the plague throughout Europe
during the Middle Ages. Because of this guilt by association, to this day the
possibility of a rodent invading our food supply, home, and/or workplace has
caused humans great concern. When we see the first telltale sign of a gnawed
cardboard box in the pantry, we panic, sterilize our homes, and start setting out
poison and traps. Of course, in many cases all we really need to do is think
ahead and work to prevent these uninvited guests from entering our homes in
the first place by storing our food correctly in secure, airtight containers.
And yet, it seems that various rodents—including the hamster, and even the
mouse and the rat—have had the last laugh, as they have become domesticated
household companions to humans. Here we humans are, feeding them, sheltering
them, and in some cases even buying them toys and helping them increase
their numbers by breeding them purposely. Perhaps these animals have much
more in the brain department than we give them credit for.

What Makes a Hamster a Rodent?

As we already know, a hamster is part of the rodent order of mammals. They
are covered with fur, are warm-blooded, and give birth to live young. Much to
these animals’ great benefit, with few exceptions, hamsters have only the tiniest
stub of a tail. This makes them more acceptable as pets to people who are
haunted by images of rats, regarded with such disgust by many for their long,
naked tails.

Let’s explore a little further how rodent characteristics manifest in the members
of the large extended family that we call hamsters. The more you can learn
about these traits, the better equipped you will be to provide your hamster with
all he needs for the healthiest, most
satisfying, longest life possible.


The Teeth

We can always tell a rodent by his
teeth. While the various rodent
species are typically recognized by
their differences in color, size, coat
type, tail, behavior, sleeping habits,
social structure, and dietary preferences,
all share a common characteristic
in their front teeth, their
incisors. Take a look at any hamster,
LaFawndah shows off her rodent teeth. especially at mealtime as he carefully
nibbles a tasty morsel of food held in his delicate grasp, and you’ll see clearly the
miracles that are rodent teeth.

The rodent incisors are marvels of engineering that continue to grow
throughout the individual rodent’s life. The jaw is structured to ensure that the
animal can constantly gnaw, to keep his chisel-like incisors properly filed.
This gnawing action also enables those incisors to contact the lower set of
teeth at just the right angle to finish the job. Marvels of engineering are not typically
what most of us think of when we think of hamsters, but there they are.
If the hamster’s ever-growing incisors are not properly filed in the course of
his day-to-day activities—which will happen to the unfortunate rodent with a
misaligned jaw—the animal will starve to death and suffer a great deal of pain in
the meantime, as his teeth continue to grow and pierce various regions of his
mouth and face.


The Hip Glands

The typical hamster has two large glands on each side of his body, close to his
hips. Males have larger glands than those we find on female hamsters. The
glands secrete an oily substance that acts as a territory marker (perhaps an issue
more important to the males of the species). The hamster’s fur usually hides the
glands, but sometimes a wet spot or matted fur will indicate their location on
the hamster’s body.

You may sometimes spot your hamster rubbing up against the sides of his
cage or enclosure; this is an instinctive, territorial behavior. Hamsters in the
wild, you see, rub themselves against the walls of their burrows to mark their
presence and stake their territory. Hamsters have a mild musk scent that can
sometimes be detected when their glands are actively secreting. Because their
eyesight is not typically their strongest sense, hamsters rely upon these scent
markings to designate and recognize their territory.


Rodent Reproduction

To ensure that their species survive through all eternity, especially when confronted
daily by pest-extermination companies and successful predator species
ranging from foxes to coyotes to bears to humans, rodents are phenomenally
quick breeders. They need to make sure that even if many, many individuals die,
their species will survive.

This characteristic is one shared by the hamster members of the rodent family—
which comes as no surprise to those unsuspecting owners who didn’t realize they
had a male and female in that cage rather than the two females the pet-shop clerk
promised.

Most hamsters reach sexual maturity within a few weeks after birth, and, if
left to their own devices, they will begin reproducing at the first opportunity.
They often produce large litters, and may find themselves caring for two or three
generations just weeks apart in age.


Types of Hamsters

As we can see, hamsters embody the classic characteristics of their extended rodent
family. For some reason, however, we have decided to designate them as pet rather
than pest. As a result, we have seen the hamster family grow in type as well as
numbers, often with the determined and very calculated assistance of humans.
Today, hamsters who have forged long-term relationships with humans come
in all sizes, colors, personalities, and geographical preferences. So before one
simply lumps all hamsters under a single name and assumes that all are identical
in behavior and lifestyle, it is wise to take a look into the world of these animals
and see what differences exist between the various hamster.


The Classic Golden (a.k.a. Syrian)

The most well known of all the hamster species, the one most commonly kept as
a household pet, is the golden, or Syrian, hamster. When parents regale their
children with loving stories about their own childhood hamster, an animal with
Esther is a classic golden hamster.

As his name suggests, the classic golden hamster is gold: typically, gold on his
back with white on his underside (a pattern that is perhaps designed to camouflage
the animal in his desert homeland), with large, dark eyes that help him
navigate the terrain during his nocturnal forays. But in light of the popularity of
this attractive pocket pet, humans have selectively bred the golden to alter what
nature made. This has resulted in vast differences of appearances within the
species.

Technically, there is only one species of pet golden. But, thanks to careful
breeding practices, there are now a number of varieties. Colors abound, including
cinnamon, cream, white, black, silver, and more. Purists believe the original
golden remains the most genetically healthy, because the colors are often produced
by breeding related individuals. Coat patterns abound as well, evident in
the spots and patches seen on so many contemporary hamsters. But of course,
one would never find such patterns on hamsters in the wild.
Also absent in the wild are longhaired hamsters or those with short, soft, velvety
coats. Yet pet hamsters with these characteristics do exist in captivity today,
thanks to breeding practices that encourage the long hair of the so-called teddy
bear hamster, and the shiny, velvety texture of the satin, both of which have
become quite popular pets. There are also longhaired and shorthaired rex hamsters,
whose coats are wavy and tend to stand out from the animals’ bodies. Rex
hamsters also have curly whiskers. And finally, breeders have even produced
hairless hamsters with nothing but curly whiskers.


Classic Golden Facts

Classic golden hamsters are usually about 6 to 8 inches long
(although they can grow as big as 11 inches) and weigh 3 to 5
ounces. They are thought to be colorblind and probably see
their world in shades of black and white. Typically nocturnal by
nature (but, in keeping with their rodent roots, somewhat
adaptable to the daytime schedules in their human households),
golden hamsters are most active in the hours between
7 and 11 p.m.


Bring on the Dwarfs

While the golden may be the classic, there is a new kid on the block who is taking
the hamster world by storm. Actually, make that several new kids. These are
the various dwarf hamsters, adorable little critters who are becoming more and
more popular in hamster-owning homes nationwide.
A relative newcomer to captivity, the dwarf thus far seems to be taking to life
among humans quite well, earning positive reviews as a family pet. Dwarf hamsters
can range in length from 2 to 4 inches. There are several dwarf species,
identified by their small size, delicate feet, and compact, ball-like physique, as
well as their desire to live with others of their kind—an arrangement the solitary
golden hamster simply cannot tolerate. Most of them are quite beautiful in
addition to their “cute” factor.

While some owners say dwarfs are more prone than goldens to bite the hands
that feed them, others enjoy the fact that dwarfs, who may be more challenging
to tame, tend to be more sociable with others of their own kind. Their fans do
tend to claim, however, that dwarf hamsters can be quite docile and friendly with
the humans in their lives, if those humans are willing to maintain regular socialization
practices and handle them very gently. But such endorsements must be
tempered with the warning that hamster congeniality usually has more to do
with an individual hamster than with the species at large. And always, it is rooted
in positive experiences with humans and other hamsters, and positive associations
forged from being handled gently and socialized carefully from a young age.


The Russians

In the early 1900s, a gentleman
named W. C. Campbell discovered
a unique and very tiny hamster who
would go on to immortalize his
name. Today the Campbell’s, or
Russian, dwarf is probably the most
popular dwarf hamster on the pet
market. The dwarf we call the
Russian hails not only from Russia,
but also from China and Mongolia,
and his popularity derives from his
soft coat, the dorsal stripe that runs
down his back, his small size, his
round physique, and all the attributes
that have led to the popularity
Koutouzis is a Russian dwarf hamster. of dwarfs in the first place.

As happens with any hamster who enjoys popularity, the Campbell’s Russian
is found in many color variations and usually has a sleek, shiny coat, similar to
that of the Syrian hamster.
The Campbell’s Russian is not, however, the only Russian dwarf out there.
The winter white dwarf, also know as the Siberian dwarf, is similar to the
Campbell’s, but, as he would be the first to tell you, is not the same. He is the
smaller of the two Russians, and he is called winter white because if kept in a
cool environment, his typically gray coat can turn pure white. He is also known
to be amiable and relatively easy to hand tame.


The Roborovski Dwarf

Another type of dwarf hamster you are more and more likely to find these days is
the Roborovski dwarf. He is the smallest of the dwarfs. He is also the dwarf most
likely to win sprint medals at the Olympics because he tends to be the fastest.
Keep this in mind when you are choosing his home (a glass aquarium tank is
probably a better choice than a traditional cage). You’ll also need an extra-safe
security plan when you would like to spend time with him outside his habitat.
If you ever need to identify an escaped Roborovski, you can recognize him by
his white eyebrows and his lack of the dorsal stripe made popular by his Russian
cousins.


The Chinese Dwarf

To the untrained eye, this dwarf
hamster may resemble a mouse, the
primary reason for this being the
presence of a tail. He is usually
found in one of two color variations:
brown with a white stripe
down the back and a white stomach,
or white with brown patches.
The Chinese hamster’s body type
tends to be long and thin, and his
personality depends largely on how
he is tamed as a youngster.
You may not quite know what
you are getting with a Chinese
hamster. Some are quite friendly,
others . . . well . . . not so much. So
it is essential that you look for
breeders who hand tame their Zippy is a Chinese dwarf hamster.
20 Part I The World of the Hamster
babies. This is not as difficult as it once was, because the Chinese dwarf is not
nearly as rare on the American pet market as it was when dwarfs were first making
a name for themselves as pets.

Wild Hamsters

With many rodent species that are typically kept as pets, you can sometimes
choose between domestically bred animals and those who are captured in the
wild and sold as pets. This is not the case with the hamster. Pet hamsters have
been bred to be pets, pure and simple. However, there is one wild type of hamster
who has quite a bit of experience with humans—most of it negative. This is
the largest member of the hamster family, the common hamster, and he is not
one you are likely to find as a pet. He is the only hamster seen readily in the wild
today—although, unfortunately, not quite as readily as he once was.
A striking animal with an almost raccoon-like coat of black and brown, the
common hamster is quite large for a hamster. This animal was once abundant
throughout Russia and Central Europe, but his preference for a vegetarian diet
proved to be his population’s undoing. Naturally drawn to the crops cultivated
on farms, the common hamster was targeted, as so many rodents are, as an
enemy of farmers. The result has been a severe decline in the numbers of common
hamsters in their native territory. Although common hamsters are not as
plentiful in the wild as they once were, humanity discovered long ago that
totally eliminating rodent populations is nearly impossible.

Periodically, there is talk of recruiting the common hamster into the ranks of
pet hamsters, where he would join the golden and the dwarf. To date, that seems
highly unlikely, given the common hamster’s somewhat irritable and classically
wild temperament when forced into captivity. Nevertheless, he remains an
object of fascination to pet hamster enthusiasts. The common hamster embodies
the typical hamster characteristics to which hamster owners have become
accustomed—plus, as a bonus, he has a talent for swimming.
Other wild hamsters that are not typically kept as pets include various hamsters
who live in Africa, Asia, and Western Europe. Some of these animals even
have tails. These include Chinese hamsters, native not only to China, but to
Europe and Russia as well; mouselike hamsters, who call the Middle East home;
and white-tailed hamsters, native to South Africa and commonly referred to as
the white-tailed rat. Like their cousin the common hamster, these species do not
have the temperament or the physical adaptability to thrive in a captive environment
with humans.