If you have a hamster, then you know that they are always chewing on things. Why do they chew on bars?
Is it because they want to eat them or is there another reason?
In this blog post, we will explore why hamsters chew bars and what you can do about it.
Why do hamsters chew metal bars?
Hamsters chew bars for a number of reasons. For example, they may be bored and want to find something new in their cage, or chewing the bar can help keep teeth from growing too long by filing them down with abrasive material.
Hamsters are known for gnawing on anything that isn’t nailed down including household items like furniture so it’s not surprising when we see them munching away at metal cages as well—especially if there is nothing else available.
Are chewing metal bars bad for hamsters?
Chewing on things is a natural behaviour for hamsters since they are omnivores.
However, while a chew toy with a plastic ball may be harmless and not have any bad side effects, chewing on metal bars could do damage to the hamster’s teeth and could even lead it to inadvertently ingest heavy metals like lead or zinc from the bar over time.
How to stop hamsters from chewing metal bars?
Hamster’s teeth are continuously growing and they need to chew on something continually in order for these teeth to wear down properly.
If there is nothing for them to chew then their teeth will grow too long and they may not be able to eat which will eventually kill the hamster.
In the wild, animals have access to plenty of things other than metal bars but domesticated hamsters often don’t receive enough stimulation in a cage so it is important that you provide them with safe items for chewing.