If you have a pet hamster, you are aware of how adorable it can be. I had a hamster when I was little, and I still adore him.
I recall that one of the many inquiries my parents made at the veterinarian was how long the pet could survive without food.
If you share the same situation, you may be considering taking a short trip away from home.
What kind of food must you give your hamster? Will your hamster be alright? There are a few important things to remember.
Table of Contents
How Long Can Hamsters Stay Without Food?
The majority of hamsters can go three to four days without eating.
The reason for this is that hamsters are often desert creatures in the wild, which means they probably already have some food concealed in their cage that you aren’t aware of!
It’s crucial to keep in mind that the 3–4 day rule is dependent on a variety of variables, including:
- What their age is
- How well-being is your hamster
- The room’s temperature at the moment
- How nicely you have looked after them
Hamsters typically survive for two to three years, however, younger hamsters and those older than two years need more care.
For ill hamsters, the same holds true.
Age and health may demand a different eating schedule or a greater need for food and fluids, thus these are factors to take into account.
The length of time that your hamster can go between meals depends on what they consumed at their most recent meal.
They will experience longer-lasting satiety if they regularly ingest protein-rich meals made up of items like grains, seeds, and pellets as opposed to merely fruits and vegetables.
How About Water?
It’s more difficult to say how long a hamster can survive without water if you ask this question.
A hamster generally needs 10 ml, or a third of an ounce, of water per 100 grams of body weight every day.
Fluffy, for instance, was a mature Syrian hamster.
He was roughly 170 grams in weight. He so required 17 ml of water each day.
You might not be able to recall your hamster’s weight off the top of your head.
Making sure your hamster has a full water bottle before you travel is therefore a smart idea.
A full bottle will last a regular hamster for two to three brains based on the size of the majority of hamster water bottles.
The length of time a hamster can survive without water will also depend on its nutrition.
For instance, fruits and vegetables are primarily water anyhow, so feeding your hamster a lot of them won’t do any harm.
As a result, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables might sustain the individual for around a week.
What Role Do Age and Health Play in This?
Your hamster won’t live as long as an adult if he’s still a “child” (less than 3 months old).
Young hamsters require more food and attention since they are weaker than adults.
They still require additional food, water, and rest even if they have grown to their maximum size since their bodies are still undergoing significant changes.
What if your hamster is older though?
Depending on how effectively their immune systems were cared for when they were young, hamsters can survive for two to three years.
Therefore, if your hamster is close to reaching the age of two, we will likely be slower and weaker and require more attention.
He’ll be just as challenging to let alone as a juvenile hamster.
Similar to humans, your hamster will do better if left alone for a few days if he is healthy and free of any evident ailments or disorders.
If the hamster is ill, we do not advise leaving him alone; instead, if you must go, insist on finding someone who can check on him frequently.
What Occurs if a Hamster Doesn’t Consume Food or Water?
Like all other creatures, hamsters require food and water to thrive.
His daily caloric needs vary greatly depending on his age, species, degree of exercise, and size.
A larger hamster needs more food and water to get through an ordinary day, and if your pet spends a lot of time rolling around, he may also want an extra snack.
Any mammal will suffer if they don’t consume enough food and liquids, or worse, do neither at all.
Hamsters are no exception. He’ll begin to feel the consequences of hunger and dehydration the next day, and things will only get worse.
He may overheat as his body loses fluids, which causes further discomfort.
Can I Go a Week Without Seeing My Hamster?
Some hamster owners have gone away for a week and come back to find their hamsters in good or acceptable shape, so it is conceivable.
However, you should only do this if you have no other choice because your hamster is probably acclimated to your schedule and will miss having you around for social interaction.
A hamster may get into a lot of trouble if left alone for an extended period of time, so keep that in mind.
While you are away, your hamster can attempt an escape maneuver.
Therefore, if you do go away for that long, be sure to take the essential security measures.
To make sure their hamster wouldn’t gnaw through the cage and escape, one pet owner placed their hamster’s cage in a bathtub while they were away.
Make sure you take the required precautions and offer adequate food and water for nourishment while you are gone if you must leave your hamster for a week or just a few days.
The Dangers of Overly Leaving Your Hamster Alone
There are dangers related to leaving your hamster alone aside from the potential for running out of food and water, which shouldn’t be an issue if you adhere to the above instructions.
The first is that hamsters are widely recognized for being skilled escape artists, so there is a chance that your furry companion will try to flee while you’re away and cause mayhem around the house.
If your hamster is known for enjoying exploration, you might want to think about keeping their cage in the bathroom so that if they escape, there won’t be any wires for them to gnaw through or other potential dangers.
While the finest hamster toys are great for keeping your child active and cognitively engaged, avoid giving them any toys that have strings they may tangle in or that have little bits they could ingest.
Make careful to thoroughly examine your hamster when you get home.
A runny nose, wheezing, any bald areas where there should be hair, loose feces, and a lot of food and drink left in their cage are all indications of suffering or disease.
And don’t wait to take them to the veterinarian if you have any concerns.
FAQs
What Can I Do if My Hamster Is Hungry for a Long Time?
More than three days without food might cause your hamster to become emaciated.
If not treated appropriately, it can be deadly as their muscles and organs won’t operate properly.
Immediately take a starving hamster to the veterinarian.
To keep the hamster’s organs functioning normally and aid in their recovery from malnutrition, the veterinarian will provide fluids via an IV.
Try giving your hamster modest amounts of pellets and seeds if it hasn’t eaten in a day or two.
The hamster’s digestive system should improve as a result.
If you discover that they aren’t eating, visit a veterinarian immediately.
Does a Hamster Miss Its Owner?
You might be concerned that if you leave your hamster alone for an extended period of time, it will get lonely and miss you.
Although we can’t be certain, we can say a few things about hamsters and people.
By nature, hamsters are solitary creatures. Therefore, if you frequently leave your hamster alone, they won’t feel neglected.
However, hamster owners may develop ties with their pets by giving them regular attention and affection.
Your tiny hamster could actually miss you if they are accustomed to a regular routine of love and care from you and it abruptly ceases for a few days.
However, if he is accustomed to spending days at a time by himself, it won’t have much of an impact on him.
Final Thoughts
Despite the fact that your hamster would most likely last three to four days without food or water, you shouldn’t test the hypothesis.
Plan your travels carefully while you’ll be gone, and attempt to limit the amount of time he won’t see anybody.
Keep in mind that leaving him alone too much, even if he isn’t mistreated and has sufficient to eat, may cause him to act out in a negative way.
He can start nipping or exhibit other aggressive behaviors as he loses his memory of what it feels like to be pet by people.