Hamsters is perhaps petite animals, however they nonetheless want loads of room of their cage to forage, burrow, run, and discover. Our pet’s wild cousins run as much as 6 miles a day, going forwards and backwards whereas foraging and bringing the meals they discover to their underground chambers. It’s necessary to permit our pets to precise their pure instincts and supply sufficient stimulation by selecting a spacious cage.
Whereas maintaining hamsters in small cages that lack enrichment continues to be quite common, the phrase is slowly getting on the market, and an increasing number of individuals are selecting bigger enclosures.
In the event you’re questioning how large of a cage your hamster wants, we convey you an summary of minimal cage dimension requirements by completely different animal welfare organizations and the requirements we observe ourselves.
Minimal Hamster Cage Dimension Requirements
How large ought to a hamster cage be, precisely? That relies upon significantly on who you ask.
Most pet shops are solely thinking about filling their money registers with cash; animals’ well-being is secondary at greatest. Promoting small cages additionally makes hamster maintaining extra accessible to potential pet house owners who need an inexpensive pet that doesn’t take a lot room. This advantages pet shops by growing the “pool” of potential prospects.
However, animal welfare organizations and charities attempt to enhance the requirements and work on pushing legal guidelines that profit our pets. Whereas there are numerous completely different opinions on how large a hamster cage ought to be, all animal welfare organizations agree on one factor – the larger, the higher!
Let’s take a look at what animal welfare organizations worldwide suggest because the minimal hamster cage dimension.
RSPCA
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) used to have cage dimension necessities however has since stopped recommending the minimal because of a scarcity of proof on what hamsters favor. Now, they recommend hamster house owners “purchase as giant a cage as they will.”
Beforehand, they’ve used the next dimension necessities:
Syrian hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 620 sq. in. or 4000 cm²
- Minimal Cage Dimensions: 80 cm x 50 cm
Dwarf hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 430 sq. in.or 2774 cm²
- Minimal Cage Dimensions: 70 cm x 40 cm
Many hamster house owners and animal welfare organizations nonetheless observe RSPCA’s earlier tips.
Blue Cross
Blue Cross is a registered animal welfare charity based in the UK. They word that the cage shouldn’t have any lower than 80cm x 50cm of flooring house and be 50cm tall for each Syrian and dwarf hamsters.
Syrian & dwarf hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 620 sq. in. or 4000 cm²
- Minimal Cage Dimensions (LxWxH): 80 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm
Woodgreen
Woodgreen is an animal charity and shelter based means again in 1924 within the UK. They’re a multi-species charity, caring for a broad vary of pets needing assist, together with hamsters.
Syrian hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 620 sq. in. or 4000 cm²
- Minimal Cage Dimensions (LxWxH): 80 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm
Dwarf hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 620 sq. in. or 4000 cm²
- Minimal Cage Dimensions (LxWxH): 80 cm x 50 cm x 35 cm
TVT
The Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare (TVT) is a non-profit affiliation based mostly in Frankfurt, Germany, based by 150 veterinarians dedicated to enhancing animal welfare.
Germany has among the greatest requirements for hamster care on the planet, they usually suggest the biggest cage dimension. In line with them, 100 x 50 cm is absolutely the minimal cage dimension for maintaining pet hamsters of all species.
Syrian & dwarf hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 775 sq. in. or 5000 cm²
- Minimal Cage Dimensions: 100 cm x 50 cm
German Ministry of Meals and Agriculture
The German Ministry of food and agriculture advises the next cage minimal:
Syrian hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 775 sq. in. or 5000 cm²
Dwarf hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 465 sq. in. or 3000 cm²
In 2014, a legislation was enacted that requires German pet outlets to tell prospects of the minimal cage dimension necessities. That’s most likely one of many causes giant hamster cages are so fashionable in Germany, and also you received’t see many tiny cages on their native hamster boards.
Whereas the minimal cage dimension for dwarfs is far smaller than for Syrians, most skilled hamster house owners in Germany observe the minimal dimension of 775 sq. in. for all hamster species.
California Hamster Affiliation
California Hamster Association is a membership of hamster breeders and house owners working to enhance how hamsters are handled. In line with them, an acceptable hamster cage meets or exceeds 600 sq. inches for all hamsters.
Syrian & dwarf hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 600 sq. in. or 3870 cm²
Hamster Society Singapore
Hamster Society Singapore is a non-profit group of volunteers and animal lovers who help, rescue, foster, and rehabilitate hamsters. The minimum requirements that in addition they count on from their adopters are 90x50x50cm.
Syrian & dwarf hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 698 sq. in. or 4500 cm²
- Minimal Cage Dimensions: 90 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm
Hamsters South Africa
Hamsters South Africa is a go-to hamster care web site for individuals in South Africa. It gives hamster house owners with recommendation and suggestions based mostly on the most recent analysis. In line with them, an absolute minimal unbroken flooring house ought to be 5000 cm2 (for instance, 100 cm x 50 cm) for each Syrian and dwarf hamsters.
Syrian & dwarf hamsters
- Minimal Flooring House: 775 sq. in. or 5000 cm²
Why Do Hamsters Want This A lot House?
These necessities would possibly appear to be lots, however contemplating how energetic hamsters are within the wild and the way large their pure territories are, the really useful cage sizes are literally only a tiny glimpse of that.
Though hamsters in captivity won’t ever have an area practically as large as they might within the wild, it’s necessary to offer a cage that permits them to precise their instincts which is crucial for his or her well-being.
Let’s see what the analysis says about hamster cage dimension.
Results of Cage Dimension on Hamster’s Welfare
A study from 2007 investigated the conduct of golden hamsters saved in 4 cage sizes:
- 1,800 cm² (280 sq. in.)
- 2,500 cm² (387 sq. in.)
- 5,000 cm² (775 sq. in.)
- and 10,000 cm² (1550 sq. in.)
All the things apart from the cage dimension was the identical, they usually all had a 30-cm working wheel. Researchers used completely different hamster behaviors, corresponding to stereotypic wire-gnawing and weight achieve, as welfare indicators to determine how cage dimension impacts hamsters’ stress ranges.
Whereas stereotypic wire-gnawing was seen in cages of all sizes, it was considerably extra frequent and longer in smaller cages. Primarily based on that analysis, we are able to say that Syrian hamsters profit from a cage with a bigger flooring house, and 10,000 cm² could be a fair higher dimension for them than smaller cages.
Impact of Cage Dimension & Enrichment on Hamster’s Febrile Response
Two different research checked out how the dimensions of a cage and the presence of enrichment within the cage impacts the thermoregulation (regulation of physique temperature) of golden hamsters.
The research discovered that the rectal temperature of hamsters in small cages was greater than these in giant cages. By growing the dimensions of the cage and including enrichment, the febrile response elevated whereas the baseline rectal temperature decreased. This means that housing hamsters in small cages can trigger persistent stress, which negatively impacts thermoregulation. [source] [source]
What Dimension We Intention For
Having numerous tips from completely different sources might be fairly overwhelming and complicated. The way to resolve which one to observe?
Overwhelming proof from the research above reveals hamsters favor and do higher in bigger cages. Moreover, bigger cages can match many extra enrichment gadgets and permit hamsters extra space to discover and categorical their pure behaviors.
You probably have sufficient house in your house, I recommend a cage that equals or exceeds 775 sq. in. or 5000 cm² which is ready to be a naked minimal by The Veterinary Affiliation for Animal Welfare in Germany. The second smartest thing could be a cage that’s at the very least 620 sq. in. or 4000 cm² or greater.
Intention for the largest you’ll find and afford whereas not jeopardizing different necessary facets of the cage within the course of – corresponding to correct air flow, bedding depth, wheel dimension, and many others.
What to do should you can’t afford a big cage?
If you have already got a small cage to your hamster and would love to modify to a cage that meets the minimal – if solely you had the money – there are some obtainable choices:
- Low cost second-hand aquariums (see aquarium sizes beneath) from Fb market, Craigslist, and many others.
- Giant plastic storage bins might be reworked right into a hamster cage, however you’ll must create a mesh lid for air flow, as defined in this video.
- Second-hand IKEA Detolf would make a really spacious hamster cage.
| Tank dimension | LxWxH | Flooring house (sq. in.) | Is it appropriate? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-gallon (breeder) | 36″ x 18″ x 12″ | 648 sq. in. | No (Not tall sufficient) |
| 40-gallon (breeder) | 36″ x 18″ x 16″ | 648 sq. in. | Sure |
| 40-gallon (lengthy) | 48″ x 12″ x 16″ | 576 sq. in. | No (Too small) |
| 50-gallon | 36″ x 18″ x 19″ | 648 sq. in. | Sure |
| 55-gallon | 48″ x 13″ x 21″ | 624 sq. in. | No (Too slim) |
| 65-gallon | 36″ x 18″ x 24″ | 648 sq. in. | Sure |
| 75-gallon | 48″ x 18″ x 21″ | 864 sq. in. | Sure, it is a nice dimension |
| 90-gallon | 48″ x 18″ x 24″ | 864 sq. in. | Sure, it is a nice dimension |
Our favourite presently is the IKEA Detolf which gives 1074 sq. inches and is less expensive than many smaller hamster cages in pet outlets. You may see different appropriate hamster cages right here.
What Else is Vital Different Than Cage Dimension?
Whereas cage dimension is of utmost significance, it’s not the only think about a hamster’s happiness. One factor that impacts hamsters simply as a lot as cage dimension is cage enrichment. A big cage that lacks enrichment gadgets corresponding to a working wheel, deep bedding, a sand bathtub, and hideouts is simply as unhealthy for hamsters as a small cage.
Deep Bedding
A study by the University of Berne investigated how completely different bedding depths and stressors affected the conduct and well-being of golden hamsters. They housed 45 male golden hamsters in cages with completely different depths of bedding (80 cm, 40 cm, or 10 cm) and monitored their conduct, together with how a lot they used their working wheel and the way a lot they gnawed on the wire of their cage.
The outcomes confirmed that the hamsters within the group with the least bedding (10 cm) had extra wire-gnawing and extra working wheel exercise than the opposite teams, and the hamsters within the group with probably the most bedding (80 cm) had been probably the most energetic in digging and establishing burrows which they occupied.
The research signifies that offering golden hamsters with at the very least 40 cm of bedding can enhance their welfare and decrease their stress ranges.
Hamsters within the wild create burrows that vary 36 – 106 cm in depth with a number of chambers for various functions, corresponding to nesting and stashing meals. Whereas we are able to’t present them with that a lot bedding in our humble properties, we are able to nonetheless work inside our potentialities to provide them a deep substrate to dig and create burrows.
That’s why it’s necessary to purchase a cage giant sufficient to suit a deep layer of bedding that permits your hamster to dig and burrow. Listed below are the really useful requirements for bedding depth:
- Minimal 6 inches of bedding, ideally 10 inches – for dwarf species and Chinese language hamsters
- Minimal 10 inches, ideally 12 inches or extra – for Syrian hamsters
Enrichment Gadgets
Apart from bedding, it’s necessary to offer completely different textures corresponding to a sand bathtub, chewables, foraging vegetation, cage equipment corresponding to hideouts, platforms, bridges, tunnels, and, in fact, a working wheel.
Learn my hamster cage setup information for more information on making a enjoyable and fascinating hamster cage.
Conclusion
Hamster care requirements have massively improved in recent times, from maintaining pet hamsters completely in tiny cages to giant hamster enclosures resembling their pure habitats getting more and more fashionable.
By higher understanding the wants of hamsters and the way a lot house they want, we are able to work on enhancing our pets’ lives, demand higher care from pet shops, and promote improved requirements amongst new hamster house owners.
