Hamsters are small, fun to watch, and they make great pets. But take note these tiny creatures are fast and can easily escape if you don’t prepare a home for them. If you plan on getting a hamster, you must understand its specific needs to ensure your pet hamster will have a happy and healthy life.
You need a cage, food and water bottle, food, exercise wheel, critter potty, and plenty of nesting fluff for a hamster. Since hamsters enjoy burrowing and hiding, consider providing your hamster home with tunnels. Exercise balls and chew toys will also help keep your hamster busy.
Your hamster will spend a lot of time in its cage except when you’re cuddling with it. Give your hamster a large cage with access to all the items it needs. The rest of this article will explore hamsters and what they need to be comfortable and happy. Keep reading.
A Hamster Needs an Environment Where It Can Thrive
When preparing a hamster shopping list, note that the hamster cage is the most important item because everything else goes in there. Hamsters are quite independent and don’t need regular supervision, as long as they have everything they need within their habitat.
The following are items you need for your hamster’s cage:
- Beddings: They’re usually made of wood shavings and shredded paper. Avoid using pine and cedar shavings because they’re harder and break into sharp pieces. They won’t only hurt your hamster, but the smell will irritate your hamster.
- Exercise wheel: Hamsters have an instinct to run, and an exercise wheel makes them feel like they’re running even though they’re going nowhere. The wheel will also eliminate the boredom of living in a confined space for hours. Since your hamster’s diet is fattening, the wheel helps prevent obesity.
- Tunnel system: This item makes burrowing fun, and it’s an excellent place for your hamster to hide.
- Food bowl: Hamsters perform different activities in the cage, including playing, sleeping, relieving themselves, and doing lots of burrowing. A food bowl will ensure the hamster’s food isn’t contaminated, and you can keep track of your hamster’s consumption.
- Water bottle: Hamsters drink about 10 ml (0.34 fl oz) per 100 gm (0.22 lb). Since the average hamster weighs 200 grams (0.44 lb), this translates to about 20 ml (0.68 fl oz) a day. Small hamsters, like the Dwarf hamster, usually drink less water. On the other hand, Chinese and Syrian female hamsters drink much more. Get a hamster bottle with a holder and straw attached so you can mount it on the hamster cage.
- Litter box: Hamsters use the scent of their waste to guide them to go in one corner of their cage all the time. You should train your hamster to use the litter box instead of the floor.
- Chewing toys. Hamsters chew everything they come across because it’s one way to control their ever-growing teeth. They also do it to fight boredom and when they’re stressed. Place hamster chew toys in the cage to reduce pressure on items like the feeding bowl and cage, which will undoubtedly be the hamster’s target.
The eCotrition Hamster Cheesie Chews (available on Amazon.com in the USA) are cheese-flavored, 100% edible chews that’ll keep your hamster occupied for hours. They also don’t break easily.
Read Why Do Hamsters Eat Their Babies
What Does a Hamster Need To Be Happy?
Hamsters make great pets because they’re not demanding. You only need to meet their basic needs, and hamsters will be happy in their cage as you go about your business. Once in a while, they’ll need a cuddle, but other than that, they’ll find ways to occupy themselves, especially if they have everything they need.
A hamster needs a large cage, a healthy diet, exercise wheel, tunnel system, chew toys, clean water, treats, and lots of wood shaving for burrowing to be happy. Giving a hamster a warm and quiet environment will also keep it happy.
Hamsters don’t depend on friends to stay happy. They’re solitary animals, after all.
Always keep your hamster cage clean, but don’t overdo it because hamster