Adopting a brand new pet hamster might be overwhelming at first, with so many issues to arrange and analysis earlier than bringing them dwelling.
I hope to make this course of simpler for you by offering a whole checklist of all the things your hamster will have to be completely happy and wholesome.
Whereas pet shops typically promote low-cost “hamster starter kits” that supposedly embrace all the things you want, these hamster houses should not even remotely giant sufficient to fulfill the wants of those energetic animals. Starter cages are the equal of you dwelling in a small toilet your total life. Hamsters want and deserve far more than that.
Preserve studying to search out out which provides your hamster must thrive!
A Spacious Cage
If you happen to go to most pet retailers and ask for a specious hamster cage, 9 instances out of ten, you received’t get a cage that’s appropriate as a hamster dwelling. I discovered that pet retailers have a vastly completely different understanding of the phrase specious than I. So, earlier than operating to the shop and getting your new pet a endlessly dwelling, be certain it’s sufficiently big.
Hamsters are extraordinarily energetic animals with excessive ranges of power. Within the wild, they run as much as 6 miles per evening looking and foraging for meals, in order that they received’t be completely happy in a tiny cage with no room to discover and run.
Listed below are some issues to contemplate when getting a hamster cage:
- It ought to have a minimal of 620 sq. inches to offer sufficient area and enrichment to occupy your pet (Syrian hamsters, and particularly females, are bigger and have extra power, so a cage even bigger than this is able to be greatest).
- It ought to have a deep base to carry sufficient bedding for burrowing.
- It must present sufficient air flow so it shouldn’t be fully closed off. If you happen to use a big aquarium, you can purchase or make a mesh prime to permit airflow.
We’ve an inventory of appropriate hamster cages when you’re not sure what sort of cage you want.
Appropriate and Protected Bedding (Substrate)
Bedding, or substrate, is the fabric that can fill the underside of the cage so your hamster can burrow in it.
A deep substrate is a necessary a part of your hamster’s new dwelling. Hamsters are naturally burrowing animals that spend a lot of the day sleeping and hiding of their underground chambers. As prey animals, they really feel uncovered and susceptible with out an possibility to cover of their burrow. Offering deep bedding will let your pet categorical their pure behaviors and really feel protected, which is crucial for his or her well-being.
How deep ought to the substrate be precisely? That is determined by the hamster species as they differ in measurement:
- Dwarf (Djungarian, Russian, and Roborovski) and Chinese language hamsters: 10 inches of bedding or extra can be excellent, the minimal being 6 inches.
- Syrian hamsters: ideally, 12 inches of bedding, however the minimal is 10 inches.
Bedding depth is just not the one essential factor – we even have to make sure the bedding we use is secure and may maintain burrows with out collapsing.
Among the greatest choices for a hamster substrate are:
In Europe, aspen shavings should not that simple to search out, so spruce shavings or spruce/fir combine are the go-to selection, together with paper bedding. Although spruce and fir are softwood (and softwood comprises phenol which might trigger respiratory points in small pets), spruce is understood to have exceptionally low phenol ranges – virtually as little as hardwoods corresponding to aspen. You may examine it in additional element here.
It’s a good suggestion to combine hay in between layers of paper bedding because it helps maintain the burrows steady and agency.
Some bedding choices are unsafe and must be prevented:
- Cedar and pine shavings (non-kiln-dried) comprise phenols that may trigger respiratory points
- A product known as “hamster wool”
- Clay-based cat litter
- Sawdust
Nesting Materials
Whereas the substrate is there to permit your pet to burrow, take up the pee, and take away odor, nesting materials might be utilized by your hamster to construct their nest.
Hamsters like to create their nest by themselves, so all it is advisable do is present appropriate supplies they’ll use in any means they need.
Among the nesting supplies hamsters love to make use of are:
- Gentle hay, corresponding to Orchard and Botanical
- Bathroom paper sheets
- Paper napkins
- Paper towels
- 100% pure moss (no dye)
Sand Tub
Hamsters have fluffy coats that may simply turn out to be soiled and matted. A sand bathtub will assist take away lifeless pores and skin, promote fur development, and maintain their coats clear and glossy. If you happen to discover that your hamster is utilizing a sand bathtub as a bathroom, you possibly can add one other one which your hamster can use as a shower whereas the primary one might be his bathroom.
There are a number of secure choices to make use of on your pet’s sand bathtub:
- Chinchilla bathing sand
- Reptile sand – pure coloration sand with no added minerals or calcium (an excellent instance is Reptisand)
- Kids’s play sand – it must be warmth handled. If it’s not, you’ll should sanitize it by baking it within the oven for 20 min at 350°F (180°C). It’s additionally beneficial to sift it by way of a sifter to take away the bigger chunks that would damage your hamster’s pores and skin.
Unsafe sorts of sand:
- If it’s labeled as “mud” or “powder,” it’s too superb and may trigger respiratory an infection
- Scented sand
- Clay-based sand
- Coloured sand
- Sand with added minerals or calcium
You need to use any shallow container for the sand, so long as it’s sufficiently big so your pet can roll round in it.
A Massive Wheel
Most wheels constructed right into a hamster cage are a lot smaller than the required minimal. Small wheels don’t permit your hamster to stretch out correctly whereas operating. Their backs are bent, which can lead to again damage or ache.
A wheel ought to have a big sufficient diameter so a hamster can run with their backs straight. In case your pet’s again is curved whereas operating, it means the wheel is just too small.
To ensure the wheel is giant sufficient, observe these minimal measurement necessities:
- 8″ in diameter (20 cm) for dwarf species
- 10″ in diameter (25 cm) for Chinese language hamsters
- 11’’ in diameter (28 cm) for Syrian hamsters
The wheel must be made from strong materials – no metallic bars or mesh, which might entice your pet’s ft and toes or trigger a foot an infection known as bumblefoot. At all times go for an upright wheel and never a flying saucer.
Notice: Hamster balls also needs to not be used as they’re harmful for multiple reasons.
Hidey Home
Within the wild, hamsters stay in complicated burrows with a number of chambers. They’ve separate chambers for toileting, sleeping, and storing meals. A multi-chamber hidey home is the most suitable choice on your hamster because it permits them to make use of completely different rooms for various functions, similar to they’d within the wild.
In case your pet has a hidey home with just one room, this will promote unhygienic habits and trigger your pet to urinate the place they sleep and retailer meals.
A hamster home also needs to be sufficiently big to permit your pet to separate their bathroom, kitchen, and sleeping areas. Goal for a home no smaller than 30cm x 20cm (12in x 8in). When you have a Syrian hamster, they’ll profit from a home even bigger than that.
A bottomless home might be simply scooped as much as clear the hamster’s bathroom or take away previous meals. Place it on the deep bedding to permit your hamster to burrow beneath and increase the chambers.
Meals Bowl
Whereas it’s greatest to scatter feed your hamster to make feeding time extra enjoyable and interesting, a meals bowl can have its place within the hamster cage. If you wish to give your hamster a bit of contemporary meals however don’t need to scatter it on the bedding, so it doesn’t mould if it will get misplaced, you need to use a small meals dish.
Water Bottle or Bowl
Whereas you need to use both a water bottle or a bowl, I want a small bowl as it’s a extra pure means for hamsters to drink. A bottle requires your hamster to tilt their head and drink in an typically uncomfortable place, whereas a bowl permits them to drink as they’d within the wild.
Water bowls are additionally a lot simpler to wash. Merely rinse it each day and exchange the water. A bottle have to be totally washed each few days with a bottle brush.
A bowl must be small and shallow so your hamster can’t go inside or drown in it. A small tealight holder is an effective possibility.
Wholesome Meals
A hamster weight loss plan might be fairly complicated to determine whenever you’re simply beginning (I nonetheless get overwhelmed even after researching about it for therefore lengthy!). The factor with hamsters is that there isn’t only one hamster – there are a number of completely different species we maintain as pets, and each comes with completely different dietary necessities. So as a substitute of feeding your pet a “hamster, giraffe & *insert animal*” meals from the pet retailer, hamsters do greatest when fed a species-specific weight loss plan.
There are two foremost methods to feed your hamsters:
- Meals mixes
- Pellets or lab blocks
Whereas pellets are made to stop selective feeding, they’re an extraordinarily boring strategy to feed your pet. To hamsters in captivity, foraging for meals and experiencing completely different tastes is what retains them completely happy, occupied, and mentally stimulated. In the event that they needed to eat the identical factor day after day, served in a bowl, there can be nothing else to do in a day. Your hamster would quickly get bored and confused. That’s why meals mixes are the primary selection for hamster homeowners.
Meals Mixes
What sort of meals combine is nice on your pet? That is determined by your hamster’s species. Sadly, pet shops don’t often promote species-specific mixes, so that you’ll should dig a bit extra to discover a good product.
I wish to check with The Hamingway foodmix app to see which meals mixes are high-quality.
Some good sources that promote species-specific hamster meals are:
- Robin’s Gourmet Food (USA & Canada):
- Their fortified weight loss plan comprises pellets to make sure a steady supply of micronutrients and can be utilized as a whole weight loss plan (you simply want so as to add contemporary vegs).
- Their pellet-free meals might be blended with one other fortified industrial meals combine or pellets to make sure your pet will get the micronutrients they want.
- Their primary meals combine doesn’t comprise animal protein or pellets, so it must be supplemented with bugs and high-quality industrial meals combine or pellets.
- RodiPet (Europe)
- Getzoo (Europe)
- Mixerama (Europe)
- FutterParadies (Europe)
- Futterkraemerei (Europe)
Remember that a few of these meals mixes should not a whole weight loss plan as a result of they don’t comprise animal protein which must be given additional.
Animal Protein
Hamsters are omnivores, in order that they want animal protein to get all of the vitamins their physique requires. Essentially the most pure means for them to get animal protein is within the type of bugs corresponding to mealworms, crickets, and grasshoppers which they’d eat within the wild. If you happen to run out of these, you may give your pet some cooked rooster (unseasoned) or eggs, however this shouldn’t be the principle supply of animal protein on your pet – they want bugs.
Contemporary Meals: Greens, Crops
Along with the meals combine and animal protein, your pet also needs to get small bits of greens and crops a few times every week. Right here’s an inventory of greens which might be secure for hamsters.
Syrian hamsters can have a small piece of fruit right here and there, however dwarf species are higher off with out it as they’re extremely liable to diabetes. Dwarf’s pure weight loss plan doesn’t embrace fruits, and their our bodies haven’t advanced a capability to tolerate sugary meals. This additionally goes for sugary greens corresponding to carrots.
Key Elements of a Wholesome Hamster Food regimen
To sum all of it up, a nutritious diet on your hamster consists of the next:
- a high-quality species-specific meals combine
- contemporary meals, together with greens and herbs 1-2 instances every week
- animal protein (if it’s not already included within the meals combine)
- optionally available: high-quality pellets to make use of collectively along with your meals combine
You may add high-quality pellets to your hamster’s weight loss plan (for instance, combine it 50:50 with a meals combine) when you’re not assured within the meals combine you’re utilizing and need to guarantee your pet is just not lacking something nutritionally. Science Selective Hamster Food is an effective selection with suitable protein, fat, and fiber percentages whereas not containing synthetic colours or added sugar.
If you happen to don’t have entry to a species-specific hamster meals combine in your space, many individuals use Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Blend together with high-quality pellet meals. Higgins Sunburst Gourmand Mix is understood for its nice selection, containing 19 completely different components. Nevertheless, the protein levels are on the lower end, so this combine must be supplemented with extra protein sources.
Chew Toys
Like all rodents, hamsters have tooth that by no means cease rising. So that they want one thing to chew on to assist them put on down the tooth and forestall overgrowth.
Some good chewable choices are:
- Wood chew sticks
- Untreated wood blocks
- Whimzees (since these are edible, they need to solely be given often)
- Dandelion and nettle roots
- Willow balls
- Nuts corresponding to walnuts and hazelnuts
- Bathroom paper roll
- Hamster-safe tree branches and twigs
- Cardboard
Cage Equipment and Enrichment
Hamsters want enjoyable and enriching cage equipment to maintain them occupied and mentally stimulated. Except for a wheel, many different gadgets make an important addition to the cage and are beloved by hamsters.
Offering numerous textures to stroll on and work together with makes a superb stimulation on your pet. Along with deep bedding and a sand bathtub, you possibly can add extra digging areas that comprise secure bedding, corresponding to coconut fiber, hemp, granule paper bedding, or wooden shavings. This space doesn’t should be deep as you have already got your foremost substrate for burrowing – and the beddings utilized in digging areas are often not good at holding burrows.
Some enrichment gadgets for the cage are:
- Cork logs
- Hideouts
- Wood bridges
- Wood ladders
- Tunnels
- Platforms
- Hamster-safe herbs, flowers, and crops
- A rock to put on down hamster’s nails – you possibly can both purchase a rock or use one from outdoors (in that case, give it an excellent scrub with scorching water and cleaning soap)
Playpen
Some hamsters can’t wait to spend time outdoors of the cage, whereas others don’t significantly prefer it and like enjoyable of their cage the place they really feel secure. Nonetheless, hamsters must be allowed to spend a while outdoors their cage to train in a bigger space.
Begin slowly when introducing your hamster to an out-of-cage area in order that they don’t get overwhelmed. Your hamster will in all probability begin having fun with it once they type a bond with you and get to know the environment.
When your hamster is out of the cage, supervise them always and maintain all different pets away. You don’t essentially want to make use of a playpen for out-of-cage time. You may let your hamster run free in a small hamster-proofed room or a fenced-off space.
Add hideouts to the play space so your pet can cover in the event that they really feel scared, and provides them one thing to do by offering toys and scattering meals or treats.
A Provider or Small Cage for Journey
In the end, you’ll want to move your pet to a vet, a pet sitter’s home, or some other place, so it’s essential to have a journey cage prepared for these conditions. A easy provider will do exactly superb, or use a “starter cage” – these cages are far too small for housing a hamster however can be utilized as a journey cage.
Unique Vet & Emergency Financial savings
Hamsters want an unique vet, and it may be exhausting to search out one who treats hamsters. That’s why it’s essential to name round and discover a vet on your pet even earlier than you undertake them. You by no means know the way quickly they may want vet remedy.
A vet fund on your pet will make all of the distinction, because the remedy might be surprisingly costly. By saving up upfront, you’ll be capable to afford a vet when needed, regardless of the prices.
Ultimate Ideas on Hamster Provides
This wraps up our checklist of important hamster provides. Hopefully, this has given you an thought of all the things it is advisable maintain your hamster completely happy and wholesome.
As you might need observed, getting a pet hamster is just not low-cost if you wish to take care of them correctly! All these bills simply add up, so earlier than committing to a brand new pet, ensure you can afford all the mandatory provides and vet remedy.
The nice factor is that after the preliminary buy of all hamster provides, you solely want to purchase meals, toys, and bedding which isn’t that costly since hamsters don’t eat loads, and their bedding doesn’t have to be modified fairly often.
Is there anything you’d add to our hamster provides checklist?
Tell us within the feedback!
