Anatomy of a hamster

Understanding how your hamster works on the inside can help you keep your furry friend happier and healthier.

Hamster anatomy - Outside


On the outside, you can see a variety of things.

You can see fur, ears, color, whiskers, tail, claws, etc.

You also know that inside of your hamster they have cheek pouches and teeth.

Often times your hamster will be darker on their back than their underbelly.

They have black eyes, whiskers, a short tail, and more.

So what are they there for?

Use Figure 1 as a reference for these parts:

 * Whiskers - Whiskers are controlled by teeny-tiny muscles at the base of every whisker.

They make up for the hamsters poor eyesight by having sensors in them that create a mental image in the hamster's brain of what it is feeling with it's whiskers.

Hamsters, rats, and lots of other small animals with whiskers and poor eyesight will "whisk."

Whisking is the act of moving their whiskers in rapid circles and making a mental image of the object their feeling in their brain.

Other animals that have whiskers, such as cats, do not use their whiskers for sensing.

We don't know exactly what they use them for, but they are not for sensing like hamsters.




 * Ears - Hamsters have large ears for their bodies because they are prey animals, and it is important for them to be able to hear in the wide-open desert.

Often times, when your hamster is hearing a new sound, they will freeze and stick their ears  up.

They are listening and smelling.

Do an experiment.

Hold your hamster on your flat palm.

Start meowing.

See how your hamster will freeze and perk it's ears up, listening for that cat.

They will also be sniffing for a cat.

Once they realize that there is not cat scent, they will return to their usual selves.


 * Nose - Hamsters noses are always moving. This is for a very good reason. Hamsters have a very good sense of smell. And you can tell because when they scent you, they will try to come to you through the cage. If they scent a cat, they will try to hide. This also makes up for their lack of sight. Hamsters also use their noses to greet each other, by touching noses.
 * Paws - Hamsters use their paws like all animals. For walking, climbing, and digging. Hamsters have claws (Figure 1) for gripping the sand when running/scampering and for help in digging. Hamsters have sensitive pads that could easily develop bumblefoot if not properly taken care of. (See "Hamster Care" page)
 * Fur color - The original hamsters were all a dark tan color, made to blend in with the sand. Ever since, hamsters have been changed and bred until many different fur colors were developed, from white to black. Desert/Wild hamsters are still the original colors to help them blend in with their surroundings.
 * Tails - Nobody is sure  what hamster's use their tails for, but they can easily develop wet tail if they are not properly taken care of.

Hamsters have foldable ribs and quick moving paws. They have bones in their tails but no muscles to control it. They have sharp incisors. They have in reality sixteen teeth. They have claws that should be kept down with rocks.