
Japanese homes are notorious for being poorly insulated, in the wintertime often leaving you feeling just as cold indoors as you do outside.
Despite having permanent fur coats (lucky them!) our pets can still feel the chill and will do what they can to stay cozy. We’ve already shown you cats and space heaters, and dogs in kotatsu, but now we bring you some adorable hamsters in sleeves.
Hamsters are natural burrowers, and in the wild will stay underground most of the day to avoid predators. Sure, your pet hamster probably doesn’t really have to worry about being eaten alive, but when winter sets in, it’s time to take shelter from Jack Frost. For hamsters, what could be more perfect than a sleeve? Judging from these photos posted on Twitter – a trend known as 袖ハム sodehamu (sode 袖 = sleeve, hamu ハム = the first half of the Japanese pronunciation of “hamster”) – the best sleeves are the ones already occupied by a human arm – for extra warmth of course!
袖に入った時のハムスターは世界遺産級にかわいい pic.twitter.com/DcaVwj70Gv
— たぎ (@tg_hp) January 8, 2015
秘技!!!!袖からハムスター!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/7ALYjFZQ1h
— ひよい🌸春例大祭い44-ab (@hiyoi03) May 3, 2014
▼”My hamster went in my sleeve. So cute, but tickles so badly..!!”
https://twitter.com/mayu0831riko/status/463281754208346113袖に入ってるハムスターはたしかにくっそかわいい pic.twitter.com/Vx0dokKxKI
— brain23@馬と🐹と🍖 (@brain23_dk) January 8, 2015
おそようございます。(^-^)/
— えいた (@yeighta) November 9, 2014
袖ハムの季節になりました。
最近の定位置w pic.twitter.com/chUXDAiBZT
▼”It’s autumn. The season for hamster sleeves is here.”
秋ですね。袖ハムの季節がやってきました。 pic.twitter.com/kuSItCv6hN
— シヴぁ (@shivaaan) October 19, 2014
Here are some furry hamster bums thrown in for good measure:
▼”Hamster butt, the moment he went into the sleeve.”
袖に入る瞬間のハムけつ pic.twitter.com/w2e9hXojcb
— 🙈 (@freeend313) September 27, 2014
▼”My hamster went in my sleeve. Everyone who owns a hamster has done this at least once, right?”
https://twitter.com/315meow/status/553193712654635008It may seem like it’s all cute and fun and games, but the inevitable is bound to happen sooner or later…
▼”Parting gifts in my sleeve.”

▼”When my hamster would go into my sleeve, all it would do was poop.”
飼ってたハムスターは袖に入れてるとウンコばっかしてた
— まうちん (@mauti_nKO) January 8, 2015
Hey, it’s a fact of life; everybody’s gotta go! At least little hamster “presents” aren’t that bad. But here are some more hamsters, doing things other than just leaving little unwanted gifts:
▼”Came home and my hamster went right into my sleeve to eat some broccoli.”
帰ってきて早々袖に入ってきてブロッコリー食べるハムスターとか。 pic.twitter.com/axXLVgpTri
— 翔太郎@ホシクイ (@shoutarotttt) March 9, 2014
▼”Hamster in my brother’s sleeve, eating cabbage ( ˘ω˘)♡”
https://twitter.com/a_nt01081/status/453139611368173570
The cold of winter can be tough to get through sometimes, but we’re at least glad for the cuteness it brings!
Source: Naver Matome
Featured image from Twitter @tg_hp

Sleeve cats are taking over the internet in Japan this winter
Japanese Twitter is trying to find the best hamster in an all-hamster tournament【Pics】
2015: The year Japan fell in love with the hamster 【Photos】
“Cute-but-ugly” photos of hamsters trending as Twitter users celebrate their quirky pets【Photos】
Twitter has “cute competition,” this hamster is winning with amazing vacuum cleaner impression
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Hundreds of rose bushes in bloom at Tokyo’s off-the-beaten-path, next-to-the-tracks flower street
Studio Ghibli’s president is leaving the company. Will it change how they make anime?
161-year-old Kyoto confectionary maker releases new edible Pokémon lineup
Let’s hike a Japanese mountain (that isn’t Mt. Fuji) – Mt. Tsukuba[Photos]
The top 12 incomprehensible school rules, as chosen by high school students
7-Eleven Japan is releasing Greedy chocolate chip and whipped cream sandwiches
Japan releases new ramen sandwiches… that don’t taste like ramen
Starbucks Japan adds a new Frappuccino and Milk to the menu, but are they worth the calories?
Starbucks Japan releases two new “chunky” drinks… and matching gel designs for our nails
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Mt. Fuji hot spring inn gets even more beautiful after dark with Firefly Festival
7-Eleven Japan now has ramen machines…but only at 41 stores
Don’t miss the Tokyo Tower City Light Fantasia ~Summer Landscape 2026~ event during your travels
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Hamster hides in glass bottle during earthquake in Japan 【Photos】
Japanese Twitter user’s dream of having a pet hamster is a roller-wheel of emotions
Japanese hamster shows impressive feat of strength, Twitter more focused on its butt
Dog tummy wraps are all the adorable rage in Japan this winter【Photos】
Japanese hamster’s adorable Pokémon cosplay charms the Internet 【Photos】
Get your cute fix for the day with these amazing hamster figures created by Yumi Nakano
Hamster house hides a hysterical surprise for its handler【Video】
Pet hamster shows off eloquent eating skills that puts most humans to shame
Ginji the hamster tends miniature bar, serves tiny sushi, makes everyone smile from his cuteness
Hamster chills out in mandarin orange skin, looks adorable 【Video】
“Come on Hammy, time for walkies!” Old man attempts to walk hamster on leash in Tokyo 【Video】
What do hamsters dream of? Adorable Japanese pet video shows us one answer【Video】
Hamster, you may be angry, but we just can’t take you seriously
How do Japanese cats stay warm and accessorize during winter? With tail scarves, of course!
Hamsters, Ebola & magic kanji: 7 tweets from Japanese office workers that went viral