Hamster balls are controversial at best. Some owners believe they are a tool allowing their pet hamster to get some exercise safely, and that it is cute to see the little animals run around in them. Unfortunately, these balls raise many safety and welfare concerns, so more and more experts now strongly advise against them.
Let's look at some of the reasons why hamster balls may not be such a good idea after all and why they are so controversial. Are these hamster balls really against all natural hamster instincts and behaviour?
Table of Contents
What is a Hamster Ball
A hamster ball is a large, transparent ball that allows a hamster to move around inside. They are often used for playtime, and manufacturers sell them as ways to allow the hamster to explore its surroundings, get some exercise but allegedly safely and removing the risk of the hamster escaping.
They are sold under various names: exercise ball, adventure ball, toy ball, running ball and are sold in various pet shops or even supermarkets. Most balls have 2 openings, for pet access and for cleaning. The most basic ones are transparent plastic, but you can even find them in colour, or even with flashing lights. You can find them in various sizes and dimension.
Hamsters are very often represented in or with them, and several toy versions are also on the market with a toy hamster instead of the real pet.
Is it OK to put a Hamster in a Hamster Ball?
Opinions do vary on the matter. Some hamster owners believe that it is safe for their hamster to play in a hamster ball, arguing that it provides them with exercise and stimulation.
Some owners think that the hamster is safe as long as they are constantly supervised and that they are happy using them to explore the house. Same owners will comment that their little pets really enjoy their time in them and show no sign of distress.
It is worth remembering that a hamster coming to check inside the ball cannot be translated as them enjoying them. Hamsters are explorers, naturally curious, they might investigate any mug or any hide you give them, it does not mean they actually want to be locked up inside them for any length of time.
Another way to put it is ask yourself: how can your hamster really tell you they want/need to get out? The answer is simple, they can't.
Are Hamster Balls Dangerous?
Studies have shown that there are multiple reasons why hamster balls are not safe nor should they be used at all:
Insufficient ventilation and heat trap
The animal quickly experience difficulty breathing in such a tight confinement.
A stressed hamster has elevated breathing levels which makes the whole experience even worst for them.
Infection from urine and faeces
Once trapped in the ball, hamsters cannot go to the toilets as they want, but in their state of panic, they are likely to urinate or defecate. The dirty interior becomes full of bacterias, harmful for the little animals.
Very high risk of injury, and death
Their little feet are easily stuck in one of the holes and a too common accident is they end up spraining a limb, breaking a toe or even fracturing a leg, leading in the worst case scenario to amputation.
It is sadly worth insisting and remembering how often that happens to these poor animals.
Very stressful for a hamster
The pets are trapped in that small confined space and unable to stop to have a rest. Once that ball is rolling, the hamster simply cannot stop it.
They have no access to food and worst no access to water.
The poor animal then completely panics, run trying to escape and gets more and more distressed.
Hamsters have also very poor eyesight anyway, so they can hardly see anything inside the ball and cannot use their natural behaviours using their sense: whiskers, smell and hearing. They cannot follow their instinct which is to burrow and hide.
As they can hardly see anything, it's a horrible shock for them to bump into walls and obstacles.
Other animals – cat, dog, coming near is of course really frightening for a prey animal.
The lids are often unsecure, or will pop open after a crash and it's not that unusual for hamsters to escape.
How Long should a Hamster be in a Hamster Ball?
Ideally they shouldn't be put in a ball at all, but in an extreme case, never longer than 10 minutes at a time and they must be supervised at all time.
How Can Hamster Balls be Used Safely?
In short, by not locking a hamster in it.
Apart from all the reasons listed above, even if it wasn't such a stressful environment for a hamster, it's impossible to find a ball that would be:
- big enough so the hamster doesn't hurt himself by having to arch his back (the same way as you wouldn't give them a wheel too small) and hurting his spine,
- with enough ventilation to not be so uncomfortable,
- but with holes small enough there's no risk of breaking a toe or limb.
If you must use a ball once, at the very least
- it should be big enough (dwarf hamsters need at least 8" in diameter, Syrians at least 10" to be able to run with a straight back).
- for a maximum of 10 minutes -under constant supervision – clear and not coloured.
- obviously nowhere high, the last thing you want is the poor animal falling from any height.
- and never outside! Domestic hamsters have no protection against outside germs and shouldn't be left in that dangerous environment. If they escape, they have very little hope of surviving for long.
Your hamster will be a lot happier if you leave him free roam in a safe room, or in a playpen – even in a dry bath with toys and enrichment.
How to Repurpose your Hamster Ball
Of course it seems a bit wasteful and not environmentally friendly to just bin a hamster ball once you have realised your hamster is better away from it. You can find a few use for it:
- If you put the ball on a stand keeping it straight, it can be used to grow herbs in it.
- It can be transformed as a hide for your hamster. Simply take one half of the ball, cut if needed (as long as there are no sharp side that could injure the pet) and burrow half in the substrate.
- You can connect with tubes too to make it even more interesting.
- It can also be transformed as another type of hide, by removing both entrance lids and hang in the cage. Just do make sure the holes or slits on the sides are covered or filled, so the hamster cannot trop a leg or injure himself.
Conclusion
Hamster balls are cruel and dangerous for all the reasons above. Hamsters are prey animal, their instinct is to run and hide when they are in open areas, and being trapped in a ball give them no chance to do so.
Your hamster does need enrichment and running floor time, but playpens are a much better option. Add hides and enrichments – they can be inexpensive, such as empty tissue box (as long as they are cardboard), tubes from kitchen rolls etc. It is very important to give your animals a chance to explore and exercise, but the answer is not with hamster balls. They simply should not be used at all.
Hamsters balls have been banned from a few countries by now. For example, Germany qualifies them as "harmful", the UK RSPCA advises against them too. Animal welfare organisations are calling for a straight ban.
The story of the German environmentalist and artist who walked all the way from Germany to Scotland in a giant "hamster" metal ball is a funny anecdote, but even him did not have the same experience as a little animal would have.