Can I put a heating pad under my hamster’s cage?

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Can I put a heating pad under my hamster's cage?

Hamsters are cold-blooded animals and require a certain temperature to maintain their internal body temperature. Heating pads can be used, but use heat lamps; those will help control the level of transmitted heat.

However, with proper care, you can still put a heating pad under your hamster’s cage.

How Can I Keep My Hamster Warm?

As cold-blooded animals, hamsters are rather picky about the temperature around them. Hamsters can feel lethargic if they’re in an environment that has a temperature below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be life-threatening for your hamster if they are exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees.

This is why your hamster must stay warm and protected. It is important to ensure that your hamster has an eternal heat source, but at the same time, be careful of the heat source being too invasive.

Also read: Is a Hamster Ball a Safe Toy for Your Pet Hamster?

Here’s How You Can Effectively Put A Heating Pad Under Your Hamster’s Cage:

Place a heating pad underneath your hamster’s cage. However, choose an under-tank reptile heater. This heater will exude enough heat to keep your hamster warm and simultaneously ensure that it is not burned or overheated.

The heating pad is safe for your hamster if you ensure ventilation. You must ensure that your hamster has enough room to breathe. Proper ventilation can reduce risk hazards and also overheating.

Don’t place the heating pad directly under the cage. Raise your hamster’s cage’s height up by an inch or two. Attach the under-tank reptile heater on either one of the sides. Don’t place it in the middle of the cage.

A heating pad should not touch your hamster’s cage. There should be a considerable distance. If the heating pad touches your hamster’s cage, the heat can travel throughout the enclosure and potentially tamper with the temperature.

You may not be able to keep an eye on your hamster all the time so ensure that the heating pad is at a safe distance and placed on the side below.

With a heating pad, you have the option of convenience. Whenever you need to use it again, you can heat it in your microwave and position it exactly like you did last time.

You can also experiment with different positions; however, make sure it’s not in the middle of the cage. You must ensure that you use your heat pad carefully because your hamster’s immune system can suffer.

By placing a heating pad on the side of the cage, you give your hamster enough space to move to the cooler side if they wish.

They might struggle for a cooler environment if you place it in the middle. This struggle can lead to an attack on your hamster’s immune system.

Choose The Right Heating Pad

You don’t have to stress over your hamster’s health or even life expectancy if you choose a heating pad for them. You must ensure that you’re following protocols and not being careless.

A few tricks can help you choose the right heating pad for your hamster. First and foremost, you can select a pad with temperature settings that you can control. Such a pad will help you keep the temperature in control.

You can also opt for a heating pad that has an automatic shut-off feature. This will also help you monitor the temperature in case it gets too hot.

Reptile Heating Pad Specifications

When buying a reptile heating pad for your hamster, there are a few factors you ought to keep in mind. Since a hamster is a tiny pet, a lot can affect them negatively.

In this case, you have to ensure that you’re looking into every minute detail and ensuring your pet’s safety. A hamster has a fragile immune system, so any small change in the heat temperature can affect your hamster’s health negatively.

What you need to keep in mind first and foremost is, is the size of your heating pad. Don’t get one that is too small for your hamster’s cage. Also, be wary of getting one that is too large for it.

What’s important next but is extremely necessary to work around is the wattage of the heating pad. You will have to make sure that you choose a pillow with a lower wattage, considering the size of your hamster.

A higher wattage pad is for larger animals, and a lower one is for smaller animals. Get one that will fit well with your hamster.

The type of heating pad you choose can have a lot of effects on your pet hamster. Go for a pad that will be the closest for your pet. Though initially designed for reptiles, these pads can work for hamsters, provided you consider all variables.

The temperature of the heating pad will vastly affect your hamster. You have to be cautious about it. Keep in mind how long it takes the heating pad to warm down. You will have to keep track of the heating pad for the first few days to ensure that your hamster is comfortable with it.

Other Options

Besides a heating pad, there are other options you can go for, in case you’re skeptical. You can put hamster bedding in your hamster’s cage. The bedding will be convenient to clean since you can throw it off, then lay another bedding.

Hamster bedding can be constructed from shredded paper or simply cotton. However, you will have to ensure that none of these materials have any chemicals. Since hamsters naturally chew a lot, they can chew on shredded paper, also.

To ensure they are not in harm’s way, use chemical-free materials if they chew.

In other cases, you can opt for paper towels or a blanket to keep them warm. Hamsters naturally burrow under anything they can find.

Using towels or thin blankets can work in their favor considering the blanket or towel will not throw their weight onto your pet hamster.

Another innovative activity you can do is increase your hamster’s physical activity. A hamster wheel will do a good job. If it’s too cold, and the blanket or heating pad isn’t as effective, or if they take time to warm your pet, you can get them on a hamster wheel.

With a hamster wheel to play with, your pet hamster will constantly exert itself via physical activity. Although this is a short-term solution, it will help your hamster during the day if they want to do something but feel too cold.

Evidently, your hamster is not going to want to lay down idle.

You can also build a nest for your hamsters, which they can cozy up in. It’s not the most out-there solution, but if your hamster is up for an adventure or home décor, they will probably like this idea.

Hamsters love to burrow anyway. They’re simply looking for opportunities. With a small nest in its cage, your hamster will also begin feeling intrigued. It will be a fun addition to their mundane yet normal lives.

This way, your pet hamster will also understand that there are facets to one problem. If they’re consistently lying under the blanket, they may fall depressed. A nest will excite and interest your hamster to go out and about within his cage’s limit and have fun on the side.

A hamster bedding is a decent option because it will be convenient for you. The hamster will also feel comfortable with something soft lying underneath them.

You could also do something with your room, overall. Buy insulation. If it is too expensive, you can research cheaper options. There are many things you could do with your own space and in terms of taping your window.

Plastic insulation around the room will help your hamster feel better since there will be no incoming heat source. Your hamster will not wake up to an extremely harsh climate but rather something warm because you’ve already stopped any heat entry.

Putting a wet towel below your door can trap any cold air entering the room. With a stop placed on any ventilation, your room will begin to automatically trap heat. When your room begins trapping heat, your hamster will essentially start feeling better.

Takeaways

Putting a heating pad under your hamster’s cage is a good idea, as long as you can keep a watch on it. There are other options too, so if you explore and test out all possibilities, you’ll be able to see what you essentially feel is best for you. Trust yourself with your decision; if you are comfortable with a heating pad, go for it.

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