How to Take Care of a Hamster

Guide Note Approximately one million hamsters are kept as pets in the United States, and that number is increasing every day. If you are ready to join this large population of hamster lovers, then you will need to know how to care for him or her.

Table of Contents

Hamster Care Tips

  1. Hamsters are more active at night.
  2. Hamsters need a varied diet that includes vegetables and other foods.
  3. Purchase the largest cage you can afford.
  4. Clean your cage at least once a week.
  5. Contact your veterinarian at the first sign of illness.

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Introduction

  • If you are ready to join this large population of hamster lovers, then you will need to know how to care for your furry little friend.

Step 1: Choosing the Right Cage

  • Choosing the right cage is one of the most important decisions you will make, since the cage will likely cost you more than the hamster. Keep in mind that your hamster will spend the majority of its life in the cage, so you want something that is spacious, comfortable, and entertaining—both for you and the hamster.3 When selecting a cage, here are some things you will want to keep in mind:
  1. Hamsters are exceptional escape artists.4 The cage needs to fit together securely with no open areas.
  2. Purchase the largest cage you can afford.5 There should be at least 20 square inches of floor space per hamster.4
  3. The cage needs to be large enough to hold not only the hamster, but also a hamster wheel, food dish, hamster nest/bed and any toys.
  4. Since you will need to clean the cage once a week, how easy it will be to take apart and clean?4
  5. Cages need adequate ventilation without being to drafty.4
  6. Solid floors are preferable to wire ones.4

Types of Cages

  • In general, there are three types of cages: wire, aquariums and modular plastic tube habitats (aka Habitrail, S.A.M. or CritterTrail).
  • Wire Cages
  • Wire cages consist of four sides of wire bars, a wire top and a plastic tray at the bottom. They can be one to three stories high.
  1. Advantages: Cheap, durable, lightweight and easy to keep clean.5
  2. Disadvantages: Drafty, and run the risk of hamsters getting caught between bars.5
  3. Bars must not be more than 1/4-inch (6 mm) apart for dwarf and Chinese hamsters and 1/2-inch apart for Syrian hamsters.6 7
  4. The bars will offer hamsters opportunities for climbing.7
  5. Avoid wire cages with a bottom grate because they are difficult to clean.7
  6. Levels in the cage should be solid, not wire. Cover any wire levels with special mats, ceramic or vinyl tiles, cardboard or a similar material.3
  7. Make sure the bottom tray detaches easily from the wire frame. It will make cleaning the cage easier.5
  8. The tray should be deep enough (2 to 3 inches minimum) to keep shavings from being scattered outside of the cage.5
  • Modular Plastic Tube Habitats
  • Space-age hamster housing, today!. (Creative Commons photo by Rick Kimpel)
    Space-age hamster housing, today!. (Creative Commons photo by Rick Kimpel)
    Modular plastic tube habitats are colorful plastic or plastic/wire combination cages. They are designed as modular units that can be connected using plastic tubes.
  1. Advantages: Less drafty and provides lots of exercise for your hamster.5 7
  2. Disadvantages: Difficult to clean, can break easily and may harbor odors.7 3
  3. They can be difficult to ventilate adequately and can have condensation problems.7 5 However, newer cages on the market combine wire and plastic tubing to combat this problem.5
  4. The plastic can become scratched over time making them less attractive.5
  5. Syrian hamsters can become too large for the tunnels.7 There have also been cases of hamsters becoming stuck in the tubes and causing deaths.5
  1. Advantages: Less drafty, gives you the opportunity to watch them burrow.5
  2. Disadvantages: Limited air circulation and ventilation and does not offer much climbing opportunity.7
  3. For Syrians, the aquarium should be at least 24-inches long and 12-inches wide (a 10-gallon aquarium is too small for Syrians).3
  4. Some debate over whether they are easy or difficult to clean.7 5
  5. Never place aquarium cages where it will receive direct sunlight. They can trap heat and kill your hamster.5
  6. Specially designed tops can either expand aquarium cages or combine them with modular plastic tube habitats.

Make Your Own Cage

  • If you are interested in making your own cage, there are several ways to do it. Since hamsters can chew through wood, most cages are designed using a combination of wire and storage bins. Here are a few places you can find instructions:
  1. CritterScoop: Bin Cage Instructions
  2. Pet Web Site: Make a Homemade Bin Type Cage
  3. Hamster Central Wiki: How to Make a Custom Bin Cage!
  4. Hamster Central Wiki: Bin Cages Made Easy!
  5. eHow: How to Make a Hamster Cage

Step 2: Setting up the Cage

  • As you set up your cage, you'll need the following items. Some of them may come with whatever cage you purchased. As you select items, it may be helpful to think of your hamster as a toddler since anything it can get his or her hands (paws) on has a high chance of going in its mouth. Therefore, anything that goes in the cage must be hamster safe.
  1. Avoid pine or cedar shavings, which are toxic to hamsters. (Creative Commons photo by Anita Martinz)
    Avoid pine or cedar shavings, which are toxic to hamsters. (Creative Commons photo by Anita Martinz)
    Bedding: Bedding is what you will use to line the bottom of your hamster cage.
    1. Shredded paper, aspen wood shavings or animal bedding made from similar materials is recommended.4 8
    2. Unless your cage has a wire bottom (which is not recommended) you will need to buy enough bedding so there will be at least one to two inches of material on the bottom of the cage.
    3. Never use pine or cedar shavings in your hamster cage. They are toxic to hamsters.3
    4. Do not use corn cob bedding, chlorophyll bedding or cat litter.3
    5. Materials should not contain any scents or oils.3
  2. Nesting box: This is where your hamster will sleep during the day.
    1. Most stores sell plastic dens and igloos. However, if your hamster chews excessively on it you will need to replace it with something else.3
    2. Cardboard boxes make excellent nesting boxes, but will need to be replaced regularly.7
    3. Other "homemade" nesting boxes include tissue boxes, round oatmeal containers, coffee can (washed), etc.3
  3. Nesting material: Nesting material is what the hamster will use to line its nesting box.
    1. Nesting material is usually softer than the bedding material.
    2. Unscented paper tissue, toilet paper and paper towels make good bedding materials.9
    3. Avoid using some commercial "fluff" that looks like cotton wool because it can become wrapped around limbs and/or block a hamster's intestines if eaten.10 3
  4. Food dish: A shallow ceramic or porcelain bowl is the best choice. It should be difficult to tip but easy to wash.7
  5. Water bottle: Water bottles are much preferred to water bowls (which get dirty very quickly).6
  6. Wood chews: Your hamster must be provided with a variety of wood chews to keep its teeth (which are constantly growing) worn down. Branches from pesticide-free beech trees, maple trees, willow trees, hazelnut bushes or fruit trees can be used.3

Step 3: Keeping Your Hamster Happy

  • Your hamster's health and peace of mind are dependent on you providing it with various forms of exercise and entertainment.

Exercise Wheels

  • A good hamster wheel is an essential item to guarantee that your hamster gets enough exercise. Here are a few guidelines on selecting the right wheel:
  1. The wheel should be large enough so your hamster can use it without arching its back.11 For Syrian hamsters, this means the wheel needs to be about eight inches in diameter.3
  2. Avoid wheels with metal or plastic rungs. A hamster's feet or legs can slip between them and get injured.3
  3. Solid plastic wheels are the safest wheels you can buy.10
  4. Some wheels have been known to catch and pull out hair of longhaired hamsters.10
  5. If the hamster wheel starts to squeak, lubricate it with vegetable oil.12

Playballs or Run-about Balls

  • Playballs are the little plastic balls that a hamster can be placed in to roam about the house "freely." However, proper methods for using using them safely is somewhat debated:
  1. The Humane Society of the United States says they should never be used because they are "dangerous and stressful for all animals."3
  2. The National Hamster Council states they can be used but not "for more than a few minutes at a time."10
  3. Other sources contend that that, when used correctly, such as for 15 to 20 minutes in areas without stairs, they are perfectly acceptable.13 12

Dust Baths

  1. Place some chinchilla dust in a small ceramic bowl and place it in the exercise area of the cage.
  2. The sand can be reused for as long as it remains clean.3

Other Toys

  • One trip to your local pet store and you will see there are a large variety of toys available for your hamster. However, you can find quite a few items around your house. A few examples of these include:
  1. Tin cans that have been opened at both ends.4
  2. Boxes with multiple openings.4
  3. PVC Piping or other hard plastic items that can withstand chewing.3
  4. Toilet paper or paper towel tubes either on the ground or hung on wires.10
  5. Ropes to climb and swing on.11

Step 4: Feeding Your Hamster

  • The main staple of your hamster's diet will be dry hamster feed. These are readily available at your local pet store in two basic types: pellets and mixes. No matter what type you choose, the hamster food should be at least 16 percent protein.3

Supplemental Foods and Treats

  1. Introduce any new foods gradually in small amounts.6
  2. All foods (cooked or raw) should be fed at room temperature.17
  3. Do not leave fresh foods in the cage for more than an hour.17
  4. Supplemental foods should be offered in small amounts every two or three days. If you offer them too often, you can cause health problems such as diarrhea, gastritis and liver problems.17 Treat foods should be offered less often.
  5. Do not feed your hamster any sticky foods such as peanut butter and honey because they can become trapped inside the hamster's cheek pouch.17
  6. Foods high in sugar should be fed very sparingly to dwarf hamsters, who are prone to diabetes.17 3 These foods include: apples, bananas, blueberries, carrots, cherries, corn, cranberries, grapes, kiwi, mangos, melon, peaches, pears, raisins, strawberries and yams.
  7. Dwarf hamsters can also get a condition called "heat" if fed too many foods high in fat, such as nuts and seeds. At most, feed your dwarf hamster one or two nuts every other day.17
Foods to Avoid
Supplemental Foods
Occasional "Treat" Foods

Step 5: Cleaning the Cage

  • Your hamster's cage will need to be cleaned about once a week or it will start to smell.6 You may notice that your hamster has a designated bathroom spot in its cage. This area can be changed more often, if desired. Here is the proper way to clean a hamster cage:
  1. Hamsters are nocturnal, so try to clean the cage in the evening to avoid waking a cranky hamster.3
  2. Remove your hamster and place him or her in a safe spot.
  3. Lift out all the toys and hamster nest.
  4. Your hamster's nest material should only be changed once every four to six weeks. Changing it more often than that can be too disruptive for your hamster.7 However, you can remove any food it may be storing in its nest and clean the container—just replace the old bedding when you are done.
  5. Throw out the bedding.
  6. Wash and disinfect the cage and any toys inside the cage. A good dishwashing soap works well and will be safe to use.
  7. Once the cage is dry, place fresh bedding and replace the toys.
  8. Rinse the water bottle and fill with fresh water.
  9. Refill you hamster's food dish with a little extra to allow it to restock its store.6
  10. Replace your hamster into its cage.

Step 6: Keeping Your Hamster Healthy

  • Hamsters are fairly hardy pets, but they can suffer from a variety of ailments. If you notice a change in your hamster's behavior or it shows any signs of illness, please consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Abscess

Cancer

Cage Paralysis

Diarrhea

Nobody likes going, but certain signs mean it's time for a trip to the vet. (Creative Commons photo by David T. McFarlane, Jr.)
Nobody likes going, but certain signs mean it's time for a trip to the vet. (Creative Commons photo by David T. McFarlane, Jr.)

Intestinal Parasites

Mange

Respiratory Infections

Salmonellosis

Teeth Problems

Wet Tail (Proliferative Ileitis)

Conclusion

  • Hamsters can be entertaining and playful pets. They make a wonderful addition to any home, providing that you know how to properly take care of them.

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References for How to Take Care of a Hamster

  1. ↑ Animal Corner: Hamster Trivia and History
  2. ↑ USA Weekend.com: Pet Census (January 27, 2008)
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 The Humane Society of the United States: How to Care for Hamsters
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Animal Health Center: Hamsters: General Care
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 Ask The Vet: Hamster Cages
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 National Hamster Council: Hamster as Pets
  7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 About.com: Care of Pet Hamsters  WARNING: Pop-ups
  8. ↑ About.com: Top 13 Alternatives to Cedar and Pine Shavings  WARNING: Pop-ups
  9. ↑ PETCO: Bedding
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 National Hamster Council: Hamster Housing
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Hamsterific.com: Homes and Habitats
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 About.com: Hamster Wheels  WARNING: Pop-ups
  13. ↑ Hamster Central Wiki: Hamster Roll Around / Zoomer Balls - Good or Bad?
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 About.com: Care of Pet Hamsters - Feeding  WARNING: Pop-ups
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 PETCO: Diet Variety
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Hartz: They Are What They Eat
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 17.8 17.9 ZapGraphix.com: A Hamster's Diet: What SHould I Feed My Hammy?
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 National Hamster Council: Feeding
  19. ↑ 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11 19.12 19.13 19.14 Animal Health Center: Hamsters: Medical Concerns
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 About.com: Hamster Health  WARNING: Pop-ups
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Ask The Vet: Hamster Illnesses and Diseases
  22. ↑ The Pet Web Site: Hamster Health: Diarrhoea
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Pet Web Site: Hamster Health: Colds
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Pet Web Site: Hamster Health: Wet Tail


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