did my hamster have cancer

Question
I had two hamsters living together in one cage and one day when i came home from school I saw my hamster was eating the other!
My mom's friend said it was because the other one had cancer.
Did my hamster really have cancer??

Answer
Hello Brittany,
I don't know if your hamster had cancer, but dwarf hamsters are the only hamsters that can be kept in groups. Regular short-haired and long-haired hamsters are solitary animals and will fight and kill each other. Also, hamsters do have a big tendancy to eat the other hamster in the cage once the hamster has died. They are Cannibals and will do what comes natural to them. If the hamster isn't immediently removed from the cage after death the other hamster will dispose of him the only way he knows how. I know it's gross looking and upsetting to see it.