Does anyone else have a hamster who is very annoyed when its cage is
cleaned?

My Biscuit is more curious than anything when he returns to a clean cage,
but Punkster is very visibly annoyed. He starts chattering his teeth when
he realises that his cage has been cleaned and doesn't smell like him
anymore. This continues for a few minutes. I keep his Nutella jar as is,
he's had that one since he was a baby. I would like to clean more often,
but I do acknowledge their irritation.

Anna

I never give my hamsters a full clean every week, I find that it does upset
them too much, especially with the dwarfs. I clean their pee corner as much
as is needed, and when it comes to the weekly change of bedding, I clean out
2/3's or 3.4's and mix old with new. I then do a full clean about once a
month. I still keep back some old bedding to mix in. I find it doesn't upset
them so much. And no, if its done properly, it doesn't get really smelly,
and neither does it get dirty.
John

That's a great idea John, to save some of the bedding. I should try that
next time. However Punkster likes to pee everywhere! and I mean
everywhere. Well except in the jar I provide for that purpose :P. Maybe
he'll be less upset if at least the bedding is not too different.

Anna

With my Syrians some have a pee corner and some, like yours, will pee
wherever they are. Its something that I have learnt since keeping hamsters,
and I have found that it does lessen the stress of cage cleaning. I also
keep some of the nesting material too. I use something called Paper Wool,
its strips of very thin Tissue paper, which my hamsters love. I leave that
in with them as long as possible, too.

John

Bebop is confused when he steps into a clean cage.
Most of the other start right in digging and playing in the fresh aspen.
Some just waddle back to their beds. Still others go directly to their pee
spots and make scent all over again. I find the different reactions very
amusing