When a Hamster Dies

Hamsters only live for 2-3 years.  What happens when you are going through a hamster death?

When a Hamster is Dying

From Old Age

You’ll most likely be able to tell that your hamster is about to die from old age the day before it passes.  They will be breathing, but will have no energy.  If you attempt to pick your hamster up, it will act like a limp rag doll.

What you can do is offer your hamster something called “palliative” care.  Gently tuck your hamster in and leave him/her alone and do not exhaust your hamster any further.  Give it a happy end-of-life-time (is that even a thing?).

From a sickness

If your hamster is going through a sickness, try not to rush it to the vet every other day to give it a treatment that’ll maybe save your hamster.  Like I mentioned under “From Old Age”, give your hamster a happy end-of-life-time (if you know what I mean), instead of stressing him/her out.  Let it sleep in peace until its time comes.

When a Hamster Dies

Here are some suggestions to help you go through the pain:

~ Build a “coffin” for your deceased hamster out of a tissue box.  Stick in its favorite treats, pictures, toys, and perhaps a letter you wrote (see next bullet).

Yes, that is indeed Gandalf in her coffin 😥

~ Write your hamster a letter and place it in its coffin (as mentioned above).  Perhaps, in hamster heaven, your pet will read it.

~ Have a mini-funeral for your hamster with your family.

~ Bury your hamster (inside of its coffin) in your garden and create a gravestone for him/her.  I used a stepping stone kit to make the gravestones.

Left: Bullet’s gravestone | Right: Munchkin’s gravestone

~ Burn some funeral money (I think that’s what it’s called) on top of your hamster’s grave

And, if it doesn’t make you too sad, go through all the happy memories you had with your hamster.  Hope I helped!