Most hamsters are strictly solitary. If housed together, acute and chronic stress may occur. Nevertheless, a group of hamsters is called a horde.

The Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is the most popular pet hamster. Often referred to as teddy bear, short hair, or fancy hamsters, they are very docile and enjoy being held.

The average litter size for Syrian hamsters is about seven pups, but can be as great as 24, which is the maximum number of pups that can be contained in the uterus.

Cedar branches contain naturally-occurring oils that can make a hamster sick.

A male hamster is called a buck, and a female is called a doe.

Hamsters were brought to the United States in 1936 from Syria. In fact, the entire U.S. population of Syrian hamsters appear to be descendants of a single brother-sister pairing.

According to Guinness World Records, the oldest hamster ever was 4.5 years old, and was owned by Karen Smeaton of Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom.