Have you ever watched your hamster running frantically in its wheel or around its cage? If so, you may have noticed that they can reach astonishing speeds when they need to. So, what is the running speed of a hamster?
A hamster can run up to 10 km/h, with the Syrian hamster being the champion of hamsters in this discipline.
What speed can a hamster reach while running?
If we must answer simply and directly, the speed of a hamster generally ranges from 5 to 10 kilometers per hour. And do not underestimate the smaller ones in the bunch, such as dwarf hamsters and Syrian hamsters. They are also capable of reaching that pace!
In fact, you might be surprised to learn that Syrian hamsters are the real stars of the track among all hamster species.
Of course, not all hamsters run at exactly the same speed – and that’s what makes them charming, right? Every hamster is unique!
The hamster, aka Speedy Gonzales
We mentioned the Syrian hamster earlier, this rodent athlete who, due to the size of its limbs, is crowned as the fastest hamster. With legs larger than those of a dwarf hamster, the Syrian can cover a greater distance in less time than its little cousin. However, don’t be fooled, the dwarf hamster may be smaller, but it remains extremely agile, even if it needs to take a bit more time to rest between sprints.
Don’t be misled, hamsters haven’t always lived in cages since the dawn of time. They are equipped with everything needed to dodge, hide, and escape their predators – so, in reality, hamsters are more agile than they are speedy.
But by the way, why do hamsters run?
To keep it simple, hamsters essentially run for two main reasons. Before the explanations, a hilarious video:
The fear of predators
The first reason for their frenzied running (and it’s a real effort for these little beings) is the pressure from predators. By “pressure from predators,” understand that hamsters have not always been domestic pets. They had to survive in the wild, and their running is a pure instinct for survival.
So, if you wake up one night because your hamster has decided to go for its nightly jog on its wheel, it’s because somewhere in their instincts, they feel the need to do so.
Unfortunately, hamsters are part of the prey, which means that when they lived in the wild, they were quite vulnerable. Therefore, they had to develop quick reaction times and be able to sense when they were in danger, in order to know when to take off.
Notice that your hamster takes breaks when using its wheel! Why? Because in the wild, they would have had to pause to determine where their predator was hiding, which would have given them time to plan their next move.
Their territory
The second reason hamsters run is related to territory. Before being your favorite pet, they were used to being foragers in the wild. They needed to find a safe habitat, not too far from a food source, and close to other hamsters for breeding.
Of course, depending on the hamsters, the spaces necessary for them to live happily vary. This is something we clearly see in the different cage sizes we buy for our pets. So, even though these creatures are quite small, they can really cover a lot of ground when they need to.
Hamsters are very active creatures, working hard to collect food and store it for long-lasting supplies. Of course, your pet hamster doesn’t need to do this, but you might notice it hiding food under its bedding, creating a little reserve for tough days.
Provide everything it needs to run!
It is clear that your hamster is full of energy. Therefore, it is crucial, if you have one, to ensure its cage is well-equipped. The goal is to keep it occupied and allow it to release all that energy (positive, of course).
A hamster wheel is a classic. There are also many chew toys for hamsters. These are great for their teeth and make a wonderful distraction. They allow the hamster to play while being stimulated.
When cleaning the cage, a hamster ball is essential. It allows your hamster to run and expend its energy. Moreover, it makes it easier to locate them compared to total freedom of movement. The ball is truly a must-have!
In conclusion, a little advice: if you take your hamster out of its cage, be careful not to lose sight of it. Because, let’s be honest, it could be hard to catch!