How Long Is a Hamster’s Breeding Cycle?

A hamster’s breeding cycle is about a month; some species can give birth after 15–22 days of pregnancy and produce about 7–12 pups per litter. Hamsters become sexually mature at about 2 months and can then breed.

A hamster can become pregnant again immediately after its first litter, but to avoid affecting the mother’s milk for the pups, space litters at least 15 days apart, and breed no more than 4 times a year—over-breeding over-taxes the mother and shortens her lifespan.