Have you ever looked into your hamster’s cage and seen them sitting still and shaking for a while?
It can seem like a really odd behavior so it’s normal to wonder why your hamster is frozen and shaking.
Hamsters will sit there frozen and shaking when they’re on high alert and they’re trying to figure out what’s going on. They will also freeze in place and shake when something surprises or scares them as well.
So if you do see your hamster display these behaviors every now and then it’s natural to be worried.
However, there are some things that you can try to do to help your hamster when it comes to getting them to stop freezing and shaking so much.
Table of Contents
Reasons Why A Hamster Will Sit Frozen And Shaking
When a hamster is sitting there frozen in place then they might be doing that because they are on high alert.
So if they are playing around in their cage and then you see them start to freeze up, they’re usually trying to sit still so that they can look and listen to the environment that they’re in.
That way they can assess the situation and figure out if there’s a threat present and they should run away, or if there’s nothing to worry about and they can continue on with their day.
When a hamster is really scared of something then they can start shaking as well.
That fear can cause them to start trembling as their stress level starts to rise.
Although in some cases hamsters will also shake when they’re starting to feel cold too.
So if the room that they’re in is a little colder than usual, then they might not be shaking because they’re scared, but because they feel cold.
If a hamster is both frozen and shaking at the same time, then something may have caught them by surprise and really startled them.
So even though they may feel scared, sometimes they’re still brave enough to sit still where they’re at so that they can try to figure out what startled them and what’s going on around them.
Is It Normal For A Hamster To Freeze And Shake?
If you’ve ever seen your hamster frozen and shaking, then it’s natural to wonder if this is normal behavior or not. Even though it can seem like a strange behavior it’s usually very normal for them to do this.
Hamsters can freeze and shake a lot especially when something really scares them.
What may have scared them usually doesn’t matter to hamsters, they’re still going to display this type of behavior.
Even if what startled them isn’t really a threat because when something scares them they won’t know the difference at the time.
So because most things can scare a hamster, that means they’ll do it regardless of if they’re used to you and their environment or if they’re not yet.
You have to remember that hamsters are prey animals. So a big reason why they will sit still in place is that they might think that something is a threat to them.
For example, if they’re sitting there frozen from being scared then they might think that a predator is around.
Sometimes when a hamster thinks that a predator is nearby they will freeze in place to try to hide from it.
Hamsters have a natural instinct to sit still where they’re at almost like they’re frozen so that they can avoid what they think might be a predator.
That way they can make it a lot harder for a potential predator to see them. Many things can make a hamster do this though.
Things like loud noises, sudden movements, or even other pets that are in your house can cause them to freeze up and start trembling out of fear.
So if you see them frozen and shaking then they could just be scared of something that they saw or heard.
Should You Be Worried If Your Hamster Is Frozen And Shaking A Lot?
It’s normal to worry about your hamster when you see them sitting still and shaking a lot.
However, most of the time it’s generally nothing to be too concerned about. It’s hard for them to verbally communicate sometimes, so it’s just one of the many ways a hamster can express how they’re feeling at the time.
This is something that you may see often because hamsters will show these behaviors a lot throughout their lifetime.
It’s something that you’ll see after you first adopt them and bring them home for the first time, and you can also see them display these behaviors even after they’ve become used to you as well.
So as long as your hamster acts normal and seems healthy while they are freezing and vibrating and while they’re not doing this then it’s usually fine.
That being said, if you do notice that they do it all the time and then you start to see some signs of health issues, then it might be time to take them to the nearest vet.
That way the veterinarian can take a good look at your hamster and possibly tell you what the issue is.
But if your hamster seems to be normal and healthy and they’re still freezing up and shaking, then there are some things that you can try to get them to stop.
What Can You Do If Your Hamster Is Frozen And Shaking?
So if you want to try to get your hamster to stop freezing and shaking so much, then there are some simple things that you can try.
The first thing that you can do is to reduce quick movements. Some hamsters get really scared of quick movements and they may even think that it’s a predator trying to come to get them.
So if you make sure to move a little bit slower around their cage then they won’t get scared as often.
You can also try lowering some of the loud noises that are in the same room as your hamster. That can be a loud TV, some loud music, or even other pets that you keep in your home.
Another thing that you can try while they’re frozen and shaking is to slowly go up to them and interact with them so that they know that everything is okay.
You can do this by slowly approaching their cage and giving them treats from your hand. This will really help them calm down.
Also, while you’re around them or at their cage try speaking to them in a softer tone so that you don’t surprise or scare them.
The last thing that you can try, and this one is really important, is to make sure that they have a few places to hide for when they get scared or stressed.
If you have a few little hideaways or huts for them to go to when their stress levels get too high it’ll be easier for them to calm down.
Sometimes you just have to let your hamster go through these freezing and shaking behaviors, but as long as they’re still healthy and you’re taking good steps to help them, then everything will usually be alright.