How to care for your pet hamster (make sure you have everything your new pet needs first)

Hamsters are very common household pets. These small rodents usually live about two years and do best if kept alone. There are different breeds of hamsters, and they vary in size and characteristics. Know your breed and its adult size so you can buy the right size cage and equipment. Hamsters are nocturnal by nature, so be prepared for noises at night and place the cage in an area that works for you and your new pet.

Before you begin

Before buying any pet, make sure you have a home ready for it to minimize the stress of adjusting to a new home. Hamsters have a specific set of needs. They need exercise and mental stimulation, as well as a well-ventilated cage with a hiding place. Your hamster also needs a varied diet that includes store-bought food and fresh food. Make sure you know what your new pet can (and cannot) eat.

What do you need

There are some essentials you'll need to provide your pet hamster, including:

cage

Bedding and nesting materials

food

food plate

Water bottle

wheel

house or hiding place

Toy

Choose the right hamster cage

Get a cage for your hamster that is large enough, escape-proof, and easy to clean. While modular cages with tubes are fun, they can be difficult to clean and have poor ventilation (and the tubes may be too small for some Syrian hamsters). Never underestimate a hamster's ability to escape, as it can fit through fairly small spaces and chew through plastic walls at an alarming rate.

If you are buying a Syrian hamster, keep in mind that many hamsters for sale come in smaller cages. If you have a dwarf hamster, be aware that they can often squeeze through the bars of a regular-sized hamster cage. You need to thoroughly clean your hamster cage once a week. While cleaning the cage, safely remove the hamster and place it in a safe location.

Add hamster bedding and nesting materials

Avoid using cedar and pine chips as bedding for your hamster; the smell can irritate your hamster's respiratory system. 2 If you prefer to use wood bedding, aspen is a safer choice, but many people prefer to use paper or other fiber bedding. Hamsters love to nap in their cozy nests. Cotton nesting materials found in pet stores are unnecessary and can cause problems if eaten or wrapped around toes. 2Shredded toilet paper or facial tissue make great nesting material and are economical. When cleaning the cage each week, the bedding can be cleaned and replaced.

Choose hamster food and container

Choose high-quality food for your hamster. Pellets provide a good balance of nutrients and are a better choice for many hamsters than loose food mixes. 2. If the mix (seeds and other items) is loose, the hamster may choose the things it likes and leave the things it doesn't like, which may lead to an unbalanced diet or an overweight hamster. The pellet mix can be supplemented with a variety of other items, including fresh vegetables. Hamsters should be fed once a day. Remove fresh food that has not been eaten within a few hours.

A shallow, small, heavy bowl (anything that won't tip over easily) is an ideal food dish for your hamster. Small ceramic or porcelain jars are a good choice because they are sturdy and cannot be chewed. You don't need to get fancy and buy special hamster dishes, but make sure whatever you choose won't be chewed up the next day.

Small hanging water bottles with stainless steel spouts and balls are the most common water containers used by hamsters. Bowls are likely to be spilled, stained, or filled with bedding. Make sure your hamster always has access to fresh water.

Provide exercise options

Hamsters love to run and need exercise, so buy the largest, best quality exercise wheel possible. It should have a solid running surface, preferably without cross supports (which could trap legs or neck). Look for one mounted on the side of the cage. Make sure the wheels are quiet since hamsters run at night. A small amount of vegetable oil dripped onto the axle may help keep the wheels quiet.

In addition to the wheel, your hamster should have a variety of things to chew on and climb on. Hamsters need lots of stimulation and exercise or they will become bored. A bored hamster starts trying to chew everything, with the most likely outcome being an escape. There are many hamster-safe items available at pet stores, or you can make toys for your hamster out of toilet paper tubes and tissue boxes.

Consider building a hamster house or hideout box

Your hamster will appreciate a private place to sleep. A house or suitcase can be as simple as a small cardboard box (needs to be replaced frequently but is economical), a plastic suitcase (may get chewed), a wooden box (may get chewed or stained and smelly), Or something else like half a coconut shell or a small clay flower pot. If you have a door cut for your hamster (make sure there are no sharp edges), you can use an upside-down plastic food storage container, such as a butter bucket.

Preventing hamster problems during care

Hamsters are very hardy pets. The problem is, if something goes wrong, with a hamster being so small, it will be affected quickly. Watch for a hamster that is inactive, not eating, has diarrhea, is losing hair, sneezes, or has watery eyes. Some of these may be due to infection or even pneumonia. 3. Try to keep your hamster warm and hydrated, and discuss what to do with your veterinarian.

Escape from hamsters is another common problem. If your hamster escapes, stay alert near the cage and expand your search to other rooms. Since they are nocturnal, be vigilant at night and check under and behind furniture. If possible, leave the cage open and filled with enough food so the hamster can return on its own.

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