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How To Care for Your Hamster - Everything You Need to Know!
27Dec
Hamsters make excellent house pets for most
people. They are smart, adorable to look at, and also offer great companionship to adults and kids alike.
However, taking care of a hamster is a big
responsibility - one that you should not take too lightly.
In this guide, we cover all the details of
taking care of your hamsters.
Select a cage of the right dimensions
depending on your hamster species as well as the number of pets you choose to
keep.
For
example, if you have two Dwarf hamsters or a single Syrian hamster, do choose a
tank of at least 20-gallon capacity. (Never house male and female hamsters
together - unless they are spayed/neutered. Hamsters multiply rapidly!)
Remember: bigger is always better when it
comes to choosing a hamster cage. After all, hamsters are active creatures that
love to run and walk. Therefore, a large cage is a must-have.
If you choose a wire-bottomed cage, ensure
that the gap between the wires is not too wide, otherwise, your pet’s feet
could get trapped in it which could result in a serious injury. Aquarium tanks
are the best since they have a solid floor and they also make viewing your
hamster easy.
Hamsters need a quiet room with plenty of
natural light and ventilation. So, place the cage in an area that has both. At
the same time, avoid placing the cage in direct sunlight, near the vent of a
heater/AC, or in areas with drafts.
Avoid placing the cage in a bedroom, since
hamsters are nocturnal and tend to get pretty noisy at night - unless you do
not mind being disturbed!
Hamsters need bedding, plenty of hiding areas,
toys, chews, nesting boxes, caves, etc. in their cages.
●
Bedding - Hamster bedding in their cage can
encourage them to burrow just like they do in their natural habitat. Good
bedding also absorbs moisture and keeps the cage floor dry. These days, you
have several bedding options for hamsters. The safest hamster bedding includes
aspen shavings, nontoxic paper bedding, scented pine or cedar shavings, hay,
etc. Layer the bottom of the cage with at least 2-3 inches of bedding.
●
Toys and chews - Hamsters need something to
chew on to wear down their sharp teeth which grow continuously. Toys also
provide them with mental stimulation to help prevent boredom. The best toys and
chews for hamsters include safe and nontoxic ones made from soft, natural,
untreated wood. Add plenty of hanging toys, swings, rattan balls, rope carrots,
tiny wooden dumbbells, unicycles, bicycles made from natural wood, etc. Swap and rotate the toys from time to time
to keep things interesting.
●
Hideouts - Hamsters also need hideouts in
their cages. These are areas that help them get some ‘me time’ and are
important to prevent stress in your small pet. You can create DIY caves,
tunnels, and hideouts using cardboard boxes, PVC pipes, or sturdy chew-proof
plastic pipes.
●
Exercise wheel - a running wheel is important
for your hamster to run and expend energy. Without running, your pet can get
obese and obesity in hamsters can cause various health issues.
●
Litter box - buy a small hamster-sized
litterbox for your pet’s toilet. To toilet train your buddy, add some soiled
bedding into the box, so your pet can begin using the litter box.
Once a month, deep clean your hamster’s cage
using a mild antiseptic soap. Wash all toys and dry them before putting them
back. Discard broken ones.
Throw away wet and moldy bedding and replace
it with fresh bedding after the cage is dry.
Hamsters love to hoard their food, so make
sure to search for moldy food bits and remove them immediately. This is very
important to prevent diseases.
Adult hamsters usually need about 1/8th cup of
food daily. According to the PDSA (a UK-based vet charity), the best diet
for a hamster includes the following:
●
Commercial Hamster Pellets (75%) - Hamsters need high-quality
commercial pellets or hamster food every day. These are specially formulated for
these small animals and contain balanced nutrition. This is necessary to keep
your hamster healthy and disease free. Your vet or breeder can guide you in
selecting the right hamster foods.
●
Fresh Produce (20%) - hamsters also need fresh
vegetables, fruits, and herbs in small quantities. In the next section, we will
cover the foods acceptable and not acceptable for hamsters.
●
Hay - provide an endless supply of fresh hay (Timothy hay, meadow grass, or orchard
hay) for your pet. You can create a separate feeding area in one corner of the
enclosure. Add some bowls for keeping the hay.
●
Occasional treats (less than 5%) - Limit
hamster treats to once a month (no more than 5% of your pet’s total diet).
Hamsters tend to gain weight rapidly, so avoid too many treats. Hamster treats
include loose seed mix, pieces of fruit, boiled eggs, nuts, etc.
Discard leftover food and fill up the food
bowl with fresh food daily.
Provide an endless supply of fresh drinking
water o your hamster. You can attach a water bottle to the cage, having a metal
spout for your hamster to sip from. Always clean the bottle and refill it with
fresh water daily. If you have multiple hamsters, add as many bottles as the
number of hamsters you keep. Avoid keeping water bowls in the cage as hamsters
are messy creatures and tend to bury or dig creating a soggy mess.
Make sure the bottles do not leak - else they
could spoil the cage bedding resulting in mold. Test the bottles from time to
time to ensure the water supply is not stopped.
Foods to Avoid and Foods to Feed a Hamster
Acceptable Food for Hamsters |
Foods to Never Feed a Hamster |
Hamster pellets |
Cat food, dog food, food meant for other rodents or rats |
Hay- timothy, alfalfa, orchard grass, Brome hay, Botanical hay, and Oat hay. |
Yellow straws, moldy or pink hay |
Seed mix with grains, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds, |
Apple seeds |
Vegetables - carrots, broccoli, cucumber, peas, squash, etc. |
Raw potatoes, garlic, onions, rhubarb leaves, citrus fruit, raw beans |
Unsalted Nuts - peanuts, and cashews. Feed these in small quantities as they are high in fat and could lead to obesity in your pet. |
Salted nuts, almonds |
Treats - small pieces of whole grain toast, cooked pasta, cooked rice, scrambled or boiled eggs, commercial hamster treat etc. Feed these in small quantities |
Sugary bread, sugary cereals, chocolate, Peanut butter |
Dried worms - crickets, mealworms, etc. Feed these in small quantities |
Junk food |
Cooked meat - pieces of chicken or turkey. Feed these in small quantities |
Red meat |
Hamsters are fastidious little self-groomers
just like cats. They do not need human help for hamster grooming. However, some
varieties of hamsters could need daily coat brushing followed by hair trimming.
For long-haired hamsters, trim the hair to 1-inch length to prevent matting.
Handle your pet with care. Cup your hands
together and let your pet walk into your palms. Place your pet gently in your
lap as you sit down on the floor, a chair, sofa, or bed. Do not squeeze your
hamster too tight. Use a soft bristle brush or comb to gently comb your pet’s
fur. Talk soothingly to it and treat it afterward.
If your hamster appears healthy and thriving,
you can take it to the vet once a year for an annual checkup. Older hamsters
need medical checkups twice a year.
Note that hamsters cannot go without food for
over 3 days. Therefore, if your pet is not eating for a long time, please see
your vet right away. Similarly, if your hamster has loose or runny stools, then
also you must seek medical attention right away.
●
Do play with your pet - this is
essential to keep hamsters mentally active and happy.
●
Don’t use harsh household cleaners
for cleaning the hamster cage.
●
Do provide plenty of toys to your
little buddy.
●
Don’t feed too many treats as they
could lead to obesity.
Hamsters self-groom by licking themselves. You
do not have to bathe your pet with soap and water. In fact, water can remain
trapped under its fur causing fungal skin issues. If your pet is very dirty,
use a damp cloth to wipe its fur.
You may hold your hamster every day but do
respect its sleep times. Hamsters are nocturnal animals which means they sleep
during the day. If not allowed to sleep, they could get cranky and bite.
Hamsters are engaging and affectionate pets.
However, they do need a lot of care and attention. They are also nocturnal,
which means they may be getting up just as you may be getting ready for bed. Be
prepared to stay up for a few hours or long enough to give the attention your
hammy needs!
We hope the above guide helps you take good
care of your hamster.
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