Why does my pet...?
Why does my hamster stuff his cheeks?
Short answer: Hamsters are hoarders. Stretchy cheek pouches, reaching back toward the shoulders, let them carry food to a safe store.
Updated
In more detail
The German word hamstern even means to hoard.
The wild side
Wild hamsters fill a food chamber in their burrow; the European hamster stocks a larder for winter.
Try this
Expect your hamster to move food into a hidden stash; that is normal behavior.
See it in the episode
Why Hamsters Stuff Their Cheeks (Wild Cousins, episode 3)
Questions people ask
Why does my hamster stuff his cheeks?
Hamsters are hoarders. Stretchy cheek pouches, reaching back toward the shoulders, let them carry food to a safe store. The German word hamstern even means to hoard. If a cheek stays swollen or your hamster stops eating, ask your vet.
Sources
If a cheek stays swollen or your hamster stops eating, ask your vet.