The key to handling your hamster is first making sure that he or she wants to be played with! Before attempting to touch or picking up your hamster, wash your hands or at least make sure there are no scents that may resemble a food smell. The smells may cause your hamster to bite, and they can bite hard!

Don't Wake Me or I'll Bite!

Also make sure that you do not startle your hamster such as when they are sleeping or from behind, or they may get defensive and bite.

But don't let these warnings scare you, because with a little time and care, your hamster will love your company and once it's taimed they will hardly ever show you any aggression towards you. You just have to be brave and get them adjusted to you.

Once they get used to you, handling is pretty much all common sense. Don't squeeze them too hard or give them the feeling that they are being attacked. Try to play with them in an open area so that they can't run into a small hiding place you can't reach in.

Potty training?!

Yes you can potty train your hamster, and it's amazingly easy. You can find the hamster bathroom sets at just about any of your major petstores. It will also include a small starter set of litter that will last you a few weeks. Just pour the litter into your bathroom, and then all you have to do is take a piece of your hamster's feces and put it into the litter.

Potty Litter

What happens is your hamster will smell their own "stuff," and naturally use it as their bathroom! This helps their cage stay cleaner and makes your clean up easier. Nothing more, nothing less!

Keep in mind that they will still probably go to the bathroom in other places, however they will tend to do it less often in other places and more often in the bathroom that you provide for them.