Skip to content
Home » Hamster Died – Here’s How to Deal With a Dead Hamster

Hamster Died – Here’s How to Deal With a Dead Hamster

The loss of a pet is a difficult experience to go through for any pet owner. No one ever wants the day to come, but unfortunately it does and it’s important to be prepared and know what to do with the death of your hamster.

That’s why in the following article, we’re going to cover how to identify a hamster that has died, what to do afterwards, tips for disposal, and questions that are often asked regarding a hamster’s death.

Feel free to click any of the links in the table of contents below to be taken directly to that section. Otherwise keep reading into the first section where we cover how to identify a hamster who has died vs. one who is just sleeping or hibernating.

Table of Contents

    What Does a Dead Hamster Look Like?

    Arguably the most important step in dealing with a hamster’s death is identifying that your hamster has actually passed. And while this may seem a bit silly to some, a hamster’s hibernation can be mistaken for having passed away. So it’s important to know the difference.

    What Does a Dead Hamster Look Like

    But if you are 100% sure your hamster has actually died, you can skip this section and jump into what you should do with a dead hamster.

    If your hamster has actually passed away, the first thing you’ll notice is that they aren’t moving. If your furry friend hasn’t moved in a couple of hours, they could have died. Also, their fur will appear dull after losing its shine. It may become more dry and matted as well.

    Their eyes may be glazed over, limp ears, and they will appear stiff and cold to the touch.

    Those are the tell tale signs that your hamster has died and it’s important to ensure they are actually dead before moving on to disposing of their body. Some of those symptoms can appear when your hamster is just sick, which is why it’s so important to be sure.

    And obviously if your hamster starts moving, they may still be alive and just need medical attention from a trained veterinarian.

    What to Do With a Dead Hamster?

    If you are sure that you hamster is dead and not just hibernating, the next step is to dispose of the body in a human and respectful way. It is an emotional experience, but the more you can honor your hamster in a respectful way will help you cope and achieve closure.

    If your hamster has died, you should follow these steps:

    1. Wrap the hamster in a clean cloth

      The first thing you should do is wrap your deceased hamster in a clean cloth and place them in a small cardboard, such as a shoe box.

    2. Find a quiet and secluded spot to bury your hamster

      Once you’ve created a makeshift casket for your beloved hamster, you should find a quiet and secluded spot to dig a hole and bury your hamster. But ensure you are digging this hole on your property you own and not a public area.

    3. Dig a whole with at least 6 inches of soil covering the box

      When digging a hole, you want to make sure it’s deep enough. A general rule of thumb is to make sure there’s at least 6 inches of soil covering the top of the box. So depending on the size of the box you used, you’ll probably want a hole at least 1 foot deep.

    4. (Optional) Cremate your hamster

      If it’s too emotional to bury your hamster, you can also cremate them with the services of a trained company. Whatever you do, do not attempt to cremate your hamster in a fire pit or fire place. They are not nearly hot enough and you’ll only end up desecrating their body.

    Losing a hamster is a difficult situation to process, but going through the proper steps of what to do with your deceased hamster is an important part of the grieving process. You want to ensure they leave this world in a dignified way that honors the beloved time you spent together.

    How Long Can You Keep a Dead Hamster?

    While it can be difficult to process the situation and you may want to delay the inevitable of burying or cremating your friend, it’s important to complete the process sooner than later.

    How Long Can You Keep a Dead Hamster

    You don’t want to keep a dead hamster for more than 1 – 2 days before disposing of the body in a burial or cremation because the decomposition process will have started.

    The decomposition process can lead to unpleasant odors and make an overall difficult situation even worse. That’s why you want to dispose of your dead hamster ideally as soon as possible. If you can complete the burial or cremation the same or next day, you will make the experience slightly easier.

    The speed of decomposition of your hamster will depend on a number of factors, including temperature, humidity, how you are storing your friend, and more. So it’s difficult to say exactly how long you have, but you should always strive to complete the closure process as quickly as you can.

    Decomposition will include an unpleasant odor and your hamster will only start to look worse with discoloration, potential bloating, and even health risks if they are not disposed of quickly.

    It can be a difficult situation dealing with a deceased hamster, but you will want to go through the burial or cremation process as soon as possible.

    Commonly Asked Questions

    Now that you know how to identify a dead hamster, what to do, and how long you can keep it before going through the burial process, let’s cover a few commonly asked questions regarding a hamster’s death.

    Is My Hamster Dead or Hibernating?

    Making the mistake of thinking your hamster is dead when its actually hibernating is actually fairly common, which makes it a great question.

    If your hamster is unresponsive to gentle touches, cold to the touch, limp ears, and they aren’t breathing they are likely deceased. If they are warm, curled up in a ball, and breathing they are just hibernating and not dead.

    How Do You Clean a Hamster Cage After One Dies?

    If your hamster dies, you will want to thoroughly clean their cage to ensure it is disinfected and clean, especially if you will be getting another hamster. You can follow the following steps to clean their cage:

    How Do You Clean a Hamster Cage After One Dies
    1. Remove the deceased hamster, bedding, and toys from their cage.
    2. Dispose of your hamster in a respectful way and throw out the toys and bedding as it could be contaminated with an illness that your hamster died from.
    3. Scrub the cage with soapy water and get rid all dried stains, bedding, and more. You should strive to make it look like it was just purchased new.
    4. Rinse the cage with clean water and get rid of all the leftover soap.
    5. Dry the cage with a towel and let it air dry in the sun to get rid of all the moisture in the hard to reach spots.

    Follow these steps and you’ll have a perfectly clean cage to put into storage until you decide it’s the right time to own another hamster.

    Do Hamsters Play Dead?

    No, hamsters do not play dead on purpose. However, if they are in a deep sleep or hibernating, you may think they have died, so it’s important to check for signs of life.

    Additional Reading

    If you’re interested in reading more about a hamster’s unfortunate death or how to grieve, check out the following related articles:

    Conclusion

    Losing a beloved pet is one of the most difficult experiences anyone can go through and it’s hard to convey sympathies or the gravity of the situation in an article. But it’s important to realize that you gave that hamster the best life they could and it’s time to give them a respectful departure.

    The first thing you should do is always make sure your hamster is actually dead and not just in a deep sleep or hibernating. Next, go through the proper steps to dispose of your hamster, either a proper burial or cremation. And finally, you should go through this entire process in 1 – 2 days, no longer.

    It is a difficult situation, but giving your hamster a proper and respectful departure can make the process easier.