They're small, adorable, furry, and kid-friendly; they don't make any noise and they live in cages. How easy must it be to care for a hamster?
Yes, hamsters are one of the easier house pets to care for, but that doesn't mean they can just take care of themselves. Consult the quick checklist below to find out all you need to know about caring for hamsters.
1. Picking your pet
There are only a few breeds of hamster, but the Golden Hamster is widely considered to have the best overall temperament. Find one that's about four to eight weeks old, which is a good age to domesticate a hamster.
2. Placing the cage
Keep your hamster cage in a spot that's not drafty or overly bright. Hamsters are social, so make sure the cage is kept somewhere that will offer your hamster lots of human face time!
3. Outfitting the cage
All hamster cages should be lined with about two inches of wood shavings or torn-up newspaper; make sure whichever commercial wood shavings you choose, it says "absorbent" and "nontoxic" on the packaging. Your hamster's water bottle should be positioned low enough that the hamster can easily get to it, but high enough that it doesn't come in contact with the wood shavings, which can lead to rot. Your cage should also contain chew toys, a hamster wheel and an enclosed "bedroom" in one corner of the cage, which you can buy or make out of a small cardboard box. If you want to use an aquarium as a cage, make sure that it has a wire mesh top.
4. Feeding
Try to keep food readily available, preferably with a mixture of commercial hamster food and cut-up fruits and veggies.
5. Cleaning the cage
Clean your hamster's cage about once a week with warm water and a few drops of disinfectant. In between cleanings, remove any old fruit and veggie bits or any wet wood shavings. Your hamster's water bottle can be cleaned daily. (Where to put your hamster during the cage's weekly cleaning? See #7!)
6. Cleaning your hamster
Don't! Hamsters are completely self-cleaning, so no need for a bath. (If your hamster smells stinky, it's probably due to something stinky in the bedding.)
7. Pampering your pet
Although it's not really "pampering," an easy way to make your hamster happy is to give it the cardboard tubes from toilet-paper rolls, which are great for chewing. And one of those clear, plastic "hamster balls" will provide exercise for your hamster and endless fun for you!
Yes, hamsters are one of the easier house pets to care for, but that doesn't mean they can just take care of themselves. Consult the quick checklist below to find out all you need to know about caring for hamsters.
1. Picking your pet
There are only a few breeds of hamster, but the Golden Hamster is widely considered to have the best overall temperament. Find one that's about four to eight weeks old, which is a good age to domesticate a hamster.
2. Placing the cage
Keep your hamster cage in a spot that's not drafty or overly bright. Hamsters are social, so make sure the cage is kept somewhere that will offer your hamster lots of human face time!
3. Outfitting the cage
All hamster cages should be lined with about two inches of wood shavings or torn-up newspaper; make sure whichever commercial wood shavings you choose, it says "absorbent" and "nontoxic" on the packaging. Your hamster's water bottle should be positioned low enough that the hamster can easily get to it, but high enough that it doesn't come in contact with the wood shavings, which can lead to rot. Your cage should also contain chew toys, a hamster wheel and an enclosed "bedroom" in one corner of the cage, which you can buy or make out of a small cardboard box. If you want to use an aquarium as a cage, make sure that it has a wire mesh top.
4. Feeding
Try to keep food readily available, preferably with a mixture of commercial hamster food and cut-up fruits and veggies.
5. Cleaning the cage
Clean your hamster's cage about once a week with warm water and a few drops of disinfectant. In between cleanings, remove any old fruit and veggie bits or any wet wood shavings. Your hamster's water bottle can be cleaned daily. (Where to put your hamster during the cage's weekly cleaning? See #7!)
6. Cleaning your hamster
Don't! Hamsters are completely self-cleaning, so no need for a bath. (If your hamster smells stinky, it's probably due to something stinky in the bedding.)
7. Pampering your pet
Although it's not really "pampering," an easy way to make your hamster happy is to give it the cardboard tubes from toilet-paper rolls, which are great for chewing. And one of those clear, plastic "hamster balls" will provide exercise for your hamster and endless fun for you!
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