Why do hamsters like to run in a wheel?
Hamsters naturally are pretty active (when they’re not sleeping, that is) and they need a lot of space to run around. Especially if her cage is small and only single-level, the wheel may be her only way to burn off extra energy and get the exercise she needs to stay healthy. So it may be normal behavior. She may also just be bored – if you were stuck in a cage with no one to interact with and no way to amuse yourself, you would probably start engaging in some kind of neurotic behavior at some point! Make sure to provide here with enough space to run around inside the cage, and take her out at least once a day and let her run around someplace bigger (an enclosed, hamster-proofed room, or even out on the lawn if it’s not too cold and you can keep a close eye on her). Give her plenty of toys and stuff to chew on: cardboard boxes are good, and so are sticks and things like that. You can grease the wheel with a little petroleum jelly (NOT the water-based lubricant stuff). It’s non-toxic and
