Whether you have children who love hamsters or you love the cuddly little monsters yourself, it’s fair to say that hamsters make adorable, relatively low maintenance pets. However, hamsters can be pretty noisy at night, making it hard to get a peaceful night’s sleep. Therefore here is 2024’s handy guide on how to soundproof a hamster cage. A few tips and tricks are all it takes to make your hamster cage quiet and guarantee that your sleep is undisturbed.
In a hurry? These are the top two products we recommend to ensure minimal noise levels in your hamster cage: the Habitrail OVO Loft Hamster Cage and the Niteangel Super-Silent Hamster Exercise Wheel. Below is a step-by-step guide on soundproofing hamster cages and a detailed list of recommended products and accessories.
Soundproof Hamster Cage: How To
1. Find a Soundproof Hamster Habitat
When you think hamster, you automatically think “hamster cage” right?
Oddly enough, some types of regular hamster cages can be quite damaging, both for you and your hamster.
Hamsters like to chew on things and often that ends up being the bars of their cages. This can be quite damaging for their teeth and even their brains.
An alternative to a hamster cage is a habitat, such as this Habitrail OVO Loft, the largest Habitrail OVO environment on the market today.
It comes with a steel top grill door for ventilation and has a trendy cage design which is easy to clean.
Most importantly, this habitat is noise minimizing so your pet can run and play all night while you don’t hear a thing.
This convenient all-in-one box includes a cage with opaque white bottom, orange retractable roofs, orange wheel, stairs, feeding bowl, turquoise water bottle, colorful chewable cardboard maze, 2 windows, and a lock connector. 
Another desirable feature of the OVO habitat is that you can purchase plenty of additional mazes, attachments and extensions that can clip on to the cage, such as this Habitrail OVO Maze Insert and Habitrail Ovo Pet Habitat.
Other good enclosed hamster habitat options include the Habitrail Ovo Home, Blue Hamster Cage and Habitrail Ovo Home, Pink Hamster Cage.
They both include silent wheel options so you get more than just an enclosure for your pet.
2. Opt For a Silent Hamster Wheel
If your hamster’s cage comes with an in-built wheel and you don’t wish to invest in a new one just yet (although we highly recommend it if yours isn’t the silent type), then skip to Step 3.
If you’re ready to do this – great! Our top recommendation for silent hamster wheels is the Niteangel Super-Silent Hamster Exercise Wheel.
This wheel is so convenient for a number of reasons. It comes in small (8.2”), medium (10”) and large (11”) sizes to suit your preferences.
You can choose from more than 10 different colors (including a transparent option) and most importantly, the dual ball-bearing design ensures your little hammy can run all night without causing a stir.
To top it all off, this wheel is durable, height adjustable and chewing resistant. So many reasons to love it! 
Other good options for silent wheels are the 9” Silent Runner and 12” Silent Runners by Exotic Nutrition.
These wheels are axle-free and therefore safe from the danger of tail entanglement.
Two stainless steel ball-bearings make them whisper silent and smooth. T
he wheel also comes with a stand and cage attachment for easy installation.
Check out our full article about the best most silent hamster wheel in 2024.
3. Regularly Maintain the Cage, Wheel, and Bedding
Regularly cleaning out your hamster’s cage and bedding will cause your hamster to be content and therefore quiet. Here are some options for hamster cage bedding.
Best Absorbent Bedding for Hamsters
Choose ultra absorbent bedding such as Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Small Animal Bedding or Arm & Hammer Natural Paper Bedding both of which are heavy duty, dust-free and hamster-safe.
If you prefer bedding that is washable, then Paw Inspired Washable Guinea Pig Cage Liners and HOSUKKO 2 Pack Washable Pee Pads are both great, well-loved machine washable options.
Whichever option you choose, make sure the cage is regularly aired and deodorized so your pet feels comfortable and safe in its environment and therefore remains peaceful and quiet.
Maintaining Hamster Wheels
Hamster wheels come in many shapes and sizes, and if yours isn’t the silent type, there are some easy hacks to silence (or at least substantially reduce the noise level of) hamster wheels.
You could take the wheel out of the cage (most wheels are detachable) and regularly lubricate it with vegetable oil or butter (which is safe for hamsters to nibble on if it’s so inclined).
We do not recommend putting a deterrent such as hot pepper powder or sauce on top of the lubricant to prevent your hamster from licking it off. While it may stop them from doing so, it will cause them harm and distress.
Instead, it’s quick and easy to simply remove the wheel and lubricate it as often as required. You could do this every week or two, depending on how active your hamster is on its wheel.
Additionally, you must ensure that the wheel is correctly placed on the cage. Sometimes it rattles due to being placed at an incorrect angle so all it takes is a simple realignment and the rattling noise goes away.
If none of these suggestions seem to be working for you, you can always invest in a silent wheel as mentioned above.
4. Relocate Your Hamster’s Cage
Hamsters are instinctively nocturnal creatures, and pet hamsters even more so. Hamsters in the wild are crepuscular, which means they come out at sunrise and sunset when the light is easier on their sensitive eyes, and the temperature much more bearable. This also helps them avoid predators.
Pet hamsters are nocturnal because they are solitary creatures and mostly prefer to be left alone. They feel most comfortable when it’s quiet outside, and for most pet hamsters that means the night, when everyone at home is asleep.
Relocating your hamster’s cage away from your bedroom is an easy fix for containing the noise. Having the hamster cage near your bedroom has the maximum potential to disturb you, so find a spot that’s further away where your hamster can frolic away in peace without the danger of waking you up.
Since hamsters are active and playful at night, and thankfully self-reliant and low maintenance, having your hamster away from you will not cause it any distress as long as it’s a safe environment for them to be in. Make sure you find a place with enough air, no direct sun rays, natural light, and away from moisture.
Other Tips to Keep Your Hamster Silent
The soundproofing a hamster cage tips above work well, but you can also do a number of other little things to keep your hamster quiet and happy. 
First, you can find them some good chew toys and treats such as Vitakraft Hamster Treat Stick.
and Ware Manufacturing Rice Pops.
You can also add safe non-edibles to your hamster’s cage, such as this chewable Habitrail OVO Tree House Cardboard Hamster Maze and Supmaker Hamster Chew Toys. 
Additionally, you can place soft furnishings such as blankets under the cage to absorb noise, but we do not recommend covering the hamster cage with a noise absorbing blackout blanket as it could be suffocating and anxiety inducing for them. 
Finally, you should engage your hamster as much as possible before you go to bed.
In doing so the hours before your bedtime, your hamster is more likely to be tired and become less active after you fall asleep.
Remember that even though hamsters are solitary by nature, they need attention and affection just like any other pets.
Can I Put My Hamster Cage In My Closet?
Generally speaking, no. Being quiet and warm may make it seem like a closet is a good location for your hamster cage at night, but like other living beings, hamsters need fresh air and ventilation to stay alive.
If you’re forced to put your hamster cage in the closet at night due to space restrictions remember that the door should be open at all times to prevent suffocation. However, if at all possible do not resort to doing this and try to locate another open space to house your hamster’s cage at night.
Can I Take My Hamster’s Wheel Out At Night?
This one is a definite no. Remember that hamsters are nocturnal and they love to play around and be active at night. Taking away a hamster’s wheel at night will cause it to be bored, distressed and ultimately noisier. A bored hamster is likely to get irritated and upset as well.
So our advice on this one is to keep the wheel in the cage. If you’re worried about your hammy hurting itself on the wheel, then get a safe wheel that’s non-slip such as the silent ones without axles we recommended above. These will prevent its tail from getting caught in the wheel and keep it happy and active.
Soundproofing a Hamster Cage: Final Thoughts
Try out these suggestions to make your hamster cage soundproof. In conclusion, the best solutions on the market in 2024 are the Habitrail OVO Loft Hamster Cage and the Niteangel Super-Silent Hamster Exercise Wheel.
We have put together this “how to” guide and are sure that a combination of these techniques will help you in soundproofing your hamster cage.
Dave Pearson is a Canadian musician, sound editor, and audiophile. He is also the founder and owner of the website SoundProofGeek. On SoundProofGeek, Pearson offers advice and resources on audio equipment, including how to assess and improve audio quality, how to troubleshoot and repair audio equipment, and how to improve the music listening experience.
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