Why Is My Hamster Running Around Like Crazy? (9 Clear Facts)

It can be quite disconcerting to observe your hamster running around like crazy. Once you make this observation, you will want to know what may be causing the hamster to run around in that manner, and what you can do about it. This article has the answers.

Why is my hamster running around like crazy? It may be due to stress, boredom or illness. If the hamster is female, it may be due to being on heat. Too high or too low temperatures may also make a hamster run around like crazy.

Much depends on whether the phenomenon has arisen all of a sudden, or it is a chronic thing.

If it has arisen all of a sudden, you will naturally find yourself wondering, why is my hamster so hyper all of a sudden? Or why is my hamster running around a lot lately?

But if it is a chronic issue, then the question to ask may be, what does it mean if my hamster is running around like crazy all the time?

And any other behavioral changes that the hamster is exhibiting are also relevant.

Suppose, for instance, my hamster is acting crazy while also exhibiting cage biting behavior. This has a different implication from another case in which the hamster is only running like crazy, without cage biting behavior.

How long you have had the hamster is yet another relevant consideration.

Take the case of a new hamster going crazy (and running around in circles). This has different implications from another one in which a hamster you have always had starts running around like crazy.

Is It Normal For A Hamster To Run Around In Circles?

Some degree of running around in circles is normal for a hamster.

Even in the wild, hamsters run considerable distances every night: often up to 5 miles per night.

Thus it would be unreasonable to expect a hamster not to be running at all. Running is in hamsters’ genes.

But not all running is normal, in a hamster.

Sometimes, you find a hamster running in frenzied manner, as if it is crazy. This is the sort of thing that can get you wondering, why is my hamster all of a sudden crazy? Or why does my hamster go crazy, all of a sudden?

Generally, if my hamster is really frantic and running around his cage, it would be something to worry about.

This applies in the case in which you find an extremely frantic or energetic hamster won’t calm down. So you start asking, why is my hamster running around like crazy?

Generally though, some degree of running around in a hamster is normal. But if the running around is accompanied by other signs such as head tilting, cage biting and so on, then it may not be normal.

Why Is My Hamster Running Around Like Crazy?

As noted earlier, it can be quite distressing to observe your hamster running around like crazy.

Once you note that, you will naturally find yourself with questions like, why is my hamster running around the cage frantically?

If the hamster is specifically running around in circles, the question becomes, why is my hamster running around in circles, frantically?

And in case the running is specifically on the wheel, the question may be, why is my hamster running so fast on the wheel?

As it turns out, there are several things that can make a hamster run around like crazy.

The hamster’s running around like crazy may be due to stress. It could also be due to boredom. In other cases, it can be a sign of illness. There are also situations in which the running around is due to being on heat, for female hamsters.

Hamsters that are either too cold or too hot may also develop a tendency to run around frantically.

Let us now look at each of these factors in turn.

Stress As A Reason For A Hamster Running Around Like Crazy

There are situations in which you find a hamster running around like crazy due to stress.

Indeed, if you research on how do you tell if my hamster is stressed, you will see that running around frantically is one classic sign.

That is also what you learn, if you research on what does it mean when your hamster runs back and forth? And research on what does it mean when your hamster is going crazy also reveals the same…

But you need to be aware of the fact that the running around can also be due to excitement. So the relevant question becomes, is my hamster stressed or excited?

All in all though, if my hamster is running around frantically, I would entertain the possibility of it being due to stress.

What may be stressing the hamster could be anything from noise to the presence of something that scares the hamster.

It can also be due to being in too small a cage. Cage rage in hamsters often causes stress, which in turn causes frantic running behaviors.

Thus if you were wondering, why is my hamster frantically running, then you need to know that. It could be due to stress.

Boredom As A Reason For A Hamster Running Around Like Crazy

If a hamster is experiencing boredom, one of the signs may be that of running around like crazy.

A hamster needs an outlet for its energy. It also requires mental stimulation, by way of playing with toys and so on.

If a hamster doesn’t have the right level of mental and physical stimulation, it may get bored.

The boredom may then manifest through behaviors like this one of running around like crazy.

But it can be quite hard to differentiate the running that is due to boredom from that which is due to stress.

Nonetheless, if the hamster has nothing to occupy itself with, then it may easily get bored. And the boredom may manifest through running around frantically.

Illness As A Reason For A Hamster Running Around Like Crazy

There are many illnesses that can make a hamster run around like crazy.

For instance, if a hamster has a vestibular disease, it may start running around like crazy. This would be due to the disorientation that a vestibular disease often causes.

In another case, a hamster that has distemper may develop the tendency to run around like crazy. Indeed, this sort of frenzied running is one of the signs of distemper in hamsters.

Some neurological problems can make a hamster run around like crazy. Like if a hamster has some sort of tumor in its brain, this may cause it to run around.

There are even cases in which a hamster’s running around turns out to be due to routine infections.

So generally illness can make a hamster start running around in circles.

Hamsters are unique in that when they are unwell, they may become more active. That is as opposed to being less active, which is usually the case with other animals.

Any other signs that the hamster may be having can tell us whether indeed the whole thing is due to illness.

Take for instance a case in which the hamster is running around like crazy, and shows head tilting. That may be due to vestibular disease.

Then take another case, in which the hamster is running around like crazy, and having unusual discharges. That may be due to an infection.

Being On Heat As A Reason For A Hamster Running Around Like Crazy

When female hamsters are in heat, they often show signs like running around frantically.

This happens often enough: as hamsters go on heat every four or so days. And that can get you wondering, why does my hamster go crazy every four days?

You then investigate further, and come to realize that the whole thing is due to being on heat.

It is by checking for other signs of being on heat that you can be sure that the hyperactivity is due to that.

Those other signs include the odd smell, as well as the specific postures that hamsters on heat exhibit.

Being Too Hot Or Too Cold As A Reason For A Hamster Running Around Like Crazy

There are cases in which hamsters run around like crazy due to either being too hot or too cold.

The ideal temperature for a hamster is in the 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit range.

If the hamster is in a place with temperatures too far out of this range, it may start running around frantically.

Thus if you were wondering, why is my hamster running around like crazy, this could be one reason.

The way to ascertain if this is the cause is quite easy. You just take a temperature reading (for the ambient temperature). If it is far out of the 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit range, then you know there could be a problem.

And the hamster’s running around frantically may be due to that.

Cases of even a dwarf hamster going crazy and running around frantically due to temperature issues are not that uncommon.

My Hamster Is Running Around Like Crazy – What To Do?

If your hamster is running around like crazy, you first need to figure out what may be the reason.

So you start by establishing whether it is the normal running around, or it is abnormal.

In case it is the abnormal type of running, you try to establish the reason for it. Then you resolve it. So the key question to ask yourself is, how do you calm down a hyper hamster?

And that boils down to identifying what is making the hamster hyper. Then resolving it.

If it seems to be due to stress, you need to identify what the stressors may be. Then you remove those stressors, in order to get the hamster back to its normal self.

If it seems to be due to boredom, you find the hamster things to occupy itself with. Those may include stuff like toys for the hamster to play with.

That is also how you may find yourself wondering, can I let my hamster run around my room, to beat boredom? And the answer is ‘yes’, though this should only be when you are around so that you can supervise it.

In case the frenzied running seems to be due to illness, the best thing to do may be to consult a vet. The vet will then diagnose the underlying illness, and initiate treatment.

If the running around is due to being on heat, you may just have to wait it out. Once the hamster is no longer on heat, she should calm down.

And if the running around is due to being too hot or cold, you need to improve the temperature conditions. Once you get a temperature in the 65 to 75 degrees range, the hamster should be calmer again.

Final Verdict – Why Is My Hamster Running Around Like Crazy

There are several possible reasons for a hamster running around like crazy. It can be due to stress, boredom or illness. For a female hamster, it can be due to being in heat.

And for all hamsters, it can be due to being in a place that is either too hot or too cold.

There is also the normal running around, which all hamsters do on account of their highly energetic nature.

The key thing to do is first establish whether your hamster’s running around is of the normal or abnormal type.

If it is of the abnormal type, try to establish the reason behind. Then resolve the underlying issue – whether stress, boredom, illness, temperature and so on—in order to calm the hamster down.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet hamster a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️