How long can you leave a hamster alone? Holiday tips and expert advice

Taking a break to relax and recharge is something we all look forward to. However, if you have small pets such as a hamster, you also need to make holiday arrangements for them too. Whether you’re home or away, the health and wellbeing of your hamster is your responsibility as a caring owner.

“Despite being quite solitary creatures, our hamsters rely on us to meet all their needs. Providing they have their daily portion of hamster nuggets, some Timothy hay, a little fresh food, fresh water in a sipper bottle, suitable bedding – and they are in a safe, secure, spacious enclosure – they can be left for a day and overnight, up to 24 hours,” advises Burgess in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes. “If you’re going to be away longer than that, you’ll need to make arrangements for a hamster-savvy friend or neighbour to take care of them, consider hiring a professional pet sitter or look at boarding options.”

Ensuring your hamster has everything they need while you’re away is essential – and preparation is key.

Hamster holiday prep – your small pet is relying on you to make sure everything’s covered!

• FOOD Hamsters are hoarders, stuffing food in their cheek pouches and carrying it to their hideout to eat later – a natural behaviour that, in the wild, enables them to eat their foraged dinner in safety, away from predators. Check they haven’t stored away any fresh food which could spoil if you’re away overnight. Provide your hamster with two portions of their hamster nuggets – one portion in a ceramic bowl and the other portion scattered around their enclosure and mixed in with some Timothy hay for them to forage for. Pellets are better than muesli mixes as they ensure your hamster has a balanced diet. Veterinary charity PDSA advises: “Hamster pellets contain all the nutrients your hamster needs, and each pellet is the same, so they can’t pick out their favourite bits and leave the rest.”
• WATER Fresh water is essential for hamster health. The RSPCA advises: “Hamsters need a constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water, preferably from a bottle with a valveless sipper tube. Change their water regularly, clean the bottle and nozzle properly and check the water bottle every day for leaks or blockages.” Hamsters aren’t able to apply strong suction, so that’s why a valveless sipper bottle is required. It’s a good idea to provide two bottles, just in case one stops working. You can test water bottles by placing your finger on the end of the bottle’s tube, pushing slightly. If the water flows out and makes your finger wet, then it’s working correctly.
• TEMPERATURE While you’re away, keeping a constant, warm temperature in your home is a must – 18° – 21°C all year round. If temperatures drop, hamsters will start to hibernate, which is dangerous for their health. Rehoming charity Woodgreen advises: “Pet hamsters should not hibernate. During the process of hibernation, an animal’s metabolism slows down to allow them to reduce the amount of energy they’re using. It can actually be very dangerous for hamsters to do this. When hamsters get too cold, they can go into a state called ‘torpor’. This puts them at serious risk of hypothermia, and the result could be fatal.”
• BEDDING Hamsters like things clean, dry and tidy – and having a hygienic environment is essential to their health and wellbeing. So, before you go, remove any soiled bedding and replace it with fresh paper bedding.
• ENRICHMENT Hamsters love to chew, and this natural activity helps keep their teeth in good shape. Provide your hamster with apple, pear, hawthorn or poplar twigs – wash and bake for an hour on a low heat first. Gnawing and shredding stuff is a natural hamster behaviour, so provide a variety of things for them to get their teeth into, such as cardboard, coconut shells, hay bars, pumice stone and seagrass toys. Hamsters also love to climb, so a selection of wooden ledges, blocks, ladders and bridges will be appreciated. Hamsters also enjoy rolling around in a sand bath to keep their coat in good condition – set up a shallow tray filled with some chinchilla sand. Sand baths are also a fun and clean way for your pet to enjoy themselves as they would in the wild.
• COMPANY While hamsters are naturally solitary and like to sleep during the day, they do get used to routine, and bond with their human owners. Unsurprisingly, they’ll feel unsettled when you’re not around. If you’ve arranged for a friend, neighbour or pet sitter to come to your home to care for your hamster, ask them to spend at least 15 minutes with them, chatting and offering tiny amounts of fresh food such as a little piece of tomato, cucumber or bell pepper. Evening visits are best for hamsters, who are active at dusk and during the night.
• CHECKLIST Create a detailed checklist of what has to be done at what time of day for whoever is caring for your hamster. This should include mealtimes, water checks, cleaning – and checking that your hamster is behaving normally and looking healthy and happy. The RSPCA advises: “Hamsters have high metabolic rates and can lose condition quickly if they're unwell. They don't show outward signs of pain, so may suffer before you realise. Stressed hamsters are likely to become ill, so keep a close eye on them and look out for them behaving differently – such as developing repetitive behaviour – as this can show that something's wrong.”

What does your hamster chum need to be happy? Find out with our hamster top tips! >>

If you’re going to be away for longer than 24 hours, here are some hamster holiday care options

• FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS – Ask a trusted, animal-loving family member, friend or neighbour if they’d be willing to visit every day to take care of your hamster while you’re away – and arrange some meet and greets so they can get to know each other. Make sure you have plenty of hamster nuggets, fresh food, hay and bedding and take time to explain your usual routine – hamsters can find change stressful. Leave your vet’s number handy, just in case.
• HIRE A PET SITTER – Paid pet sitters will pop in once or twice a day to check that everything is okay. Some sitters will even stay in your home while you're away to take care of your pets. It’s well worth asking around for recommendations.
• BOOK A BOARDING KENNEL – Search for people in your area who provide holiday care for small pets and ask your pet-loving friends for recommendations. If you’re taking your hamster somewhere new, a small, plastic pet carrier will provide suitable accommodation for a short journey, either placed in the footwell of your car or secured in the boot. Help your hamster to feel safe inside by providing a cosy nest box filled with fresh paper bedding for them to snuggle into – and a little of their old bedding so it smells familiar – and cover with a light blanket to help them feel sheltered and protected. Be aware that hamsters are very sensitive to noise, so keep the stereo turned right down, and drive carefully, avoiding sudden movements or sharp stops that will scare your timid pet! You’ll also need to take their usual enclosure, food, water bottles and enrichment items too.
• ASK YOUR VET – If you’re struggling to find a suitable person or place to look after your hamster, then it’s worth asking your local vet as they may have boarding facilities for small pets. This is likely to be the most expensive option, but you can relax, knowing your pet is under the care of small pet professionals while you’re on your hols.

Did you know that hamsters use all sorts of ways to communicate how they’re feeling? Understanding if your hamster is feeling happy, scared, curious or cross can help you provide them with all the things they need >>

NEED SOME EXPERT HAMSTER FEEDING TIPS?

If you are at all unsure about the best way of feeding your hamster or have any concerns about specific nutritional requirements, ask your local veterinary practice for advice. You can also call our expert team on 44 (0)0800 413 969 who’ll be happy to help. They’re available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can use our online form to get in touch.

SERVE UP ONLY THE VERY BEST DINNER FOR YOUR SMALL PETS!

Our small pets deserve a high-quality diet that’s created just for them. At Burgess, all our food for hamsters is made at our factory in the heart of Yorkshire, using only ingredients that meet our stringent specifications.

With a long tradition of supporting British farmers, we actively source all our ingredients as close to our mill as possible and have launched many innovations.

*It’s no surprise that 92% of UK vets recommend our Burgess Excel small pets range!*

CARE MORE Find lots of useful advice on caring for your hamster from Burgess, the pet experts >>

Join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers, competitions and expert advice from our in-house vet, Dr Suzanne Moyes.

12 facts you may not know about Burgess Pet Care! >>

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