If you’ve decided that a hamster is a right pet for you, it’s finally time to pull the trigger and find your furry little friend! However, deciding where to adopt one can be challenging, especially considering that not all hamster breeders and sellers are equal. You’ll want to adopt a healthy hamster that has already been socialized.
You can adopt a hamster from a local pet store, hamster breeder, or a local person looking to rehome their pet. However, if you want to go for the best and most reputable source, there are options to adopt from local animal shelters and small-scale breeders.
If you’re planning to adopt a hamster, you’re on the right page! This article will provide a closer look at places where you can get a hamster. I will also discuss important things to consider when adopting and tell you how to take care of a hamster once you’ve successfully gotten one.
The Best Places To Adopt a Hamster
Most people purchase hamsters from pet stores, but many owners discard them at animal shelters after a few months or once they decide that they can’t commit to taking care of the animal anymore.
Rescuing hamsters from these institutions is a great way to get a pet, as there are many of them in shelters across the country that need love, care, attention, and a new home.
You can adopt a hamster by contacting or going to a nearby animal rescue shelter. People working in rescue centers are also the most knowledgeable about taking care of the hamsters that you will adopt, so that’s another thing you can take advantage of!
Sometimes, rescue shelters will not have hamsters for adoption. When this happens, you can resort to small-scale breeders. Small-scale breeders give hamsters up for adoption when asked, so if you have contact with one, you can take chances and directly inquire if they have hamsters available for free.
As you choose to adopt, you also help reduce the animal overpopulation crisis in the US, where thousands of unwanted hamsters are euthanized every year for lack of adoptive homes.
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Things To Expect When Adopting a Hamster
Adopting a hamster is not an easy process. Usually, animal rescue shelters in the USA closely assess every potential hamster parent to ensure that all of their animals go to suitable adoptive homes.
To pass the initial screening, you need to complete the requirements that your local animal shelter will need.
In most cases, they will ask you to present all the necessary equipment before passing the first assessment.
Different adoption centers require various minimum equipment, but to be sure, I will provide a list of the basic materials you need to purchase before you bring your pet home:
Cage
Hamster cages should be at least 360 square inches (2322.6 square cm) for Dwarf types and at least 420 square inches(2709.6 square cm) if you plan to adopt a Syrian. Note that these sizes are just the minimum requirement – the bigger the cage is, the better. You also need to include a safety top cover for the cage.
Exercise Wheel
The size of a hamster’s exercise wheel also depends on i