Adored by children for its sweet little face, the hamster is one of the favorite pets of families who live in apartments.
The reason? To adopt it, you do not need to have large living spaces or open air, such as gardens and balconies.
In fact, to raise a hamster, it is sufficient to correctly select and furnish an appropriate cage , to be positioned strategically within the home environment.
However, this operation should not be underestimated.
Care and attention are required in choosing a hamster cage and its location in the home, in organizing the accessories to be placed inside it and in its maintenance.
Have you just decided to get one of these adorable rodents and don't know where to start?
Continue reading this guide to discover all the secrets of hamster cages and everything you need to know before purchasing one.
- What is the ideal cage for a hamster?
- The dimensions of the hamster cage
- What to Put in a Hamster's Cage: Accessories, Toys and Litter
- The best hamster cages: the materials
- Where to place the hamster cage in the house
What is the ideal cage for a hamster?
The ideal cage for your hamster must have specific characteristics that allow your little friend to enjoy an environment all his own where he can rest, eat, play and above all feel protected.
The habitat of a domestic hamster must be a multifunctional space , that is, one that allows the animal to carry out all vital and recreational activities in a comfortable and pleasant manner.
This need is given by the hamster's need to live a peaceful and fulfilling life, but also a healthy one .
In fact, if the specific needs of this type of pet are not taken into consideration, you could run into serious health problems, both psychologically and physically.
For example, did you know that hamsters suffer greatly from boredom and loneliness?
If the cage at their disposal is too small and/or if there are not enough toys, the little animals could fall into depression or show strong and sometimes excessive aggression towards other hamsters (if there are any), towards their owners and even towards themselves.
The physical health of hamsters is also very delicate .
These animals are particularly susceptible to heat stroke, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases, conditions that can sometimes prove fatal.
For these reasons among others it will be important to choose a cage designed for the well-being of these sweet little rodents .
The size of the cage, its position within the home, its layout and cleanliness all play a huge role in the quality of life of your little four-legged friend, and none of these factors should be underestimated.
Let's see them together in detail.
The dimensions of the hamster cage
The ideal cage size depends on the type of hamster and the number of animals that will inhabit it.
If you have a dwarf hamster , for example, you will have to choose the cage taking into account that the minimum size should be 75 x 45 cm base (floor space), for a single specimen.
The category of dwarf hamsters includes the Russian hamster (Campbell), the Siberian hamster (Winter White), the Roborosky hamster and the Chinese hamster.
Please note, however, that the minimum size does not correspond to the ideal size!
Any cage with a wider base than the minimum size indicated will ensure your hamster a healthier and happier life.
If you have a larger hamster , such as a golden hamster, you will need to purchase a cage with a minimum size of 100 x 50 cm for each animal , but an ideal size of around 120 x 80 cm, to allow it more room to move around.
In general, the cage should be horizontal and not vertical , to provide the animals with more space to walk and play, and because hamsters could climb and risk falling from significant heights.
What to Put in a Hamster's Cage: Accessories, Toys and Litter
A thoughtful setup of hamster cages is essential for:
- Ensure that the hamster has all the accessories needed for its primary needs such as eating, drinking, and doing its business in a hygienic manner
- Offer the animal entertainment options and pastimes that amuse him
- Making the cage safe to live in
So what to put in hamster cages to make them a pleasant and safe place for your new little friend?
The essential accessories for the hamster
Accessories must allow your hamster to carry out basic life activities such as eating, drinking, and resting.
But that's not all: to ensure your new friend has a healthy and happy life , objects that allow him to play and have fun are also very important.
Then insert into the cage:
- Two plastic or metal bowls to be placed far apart, one for dry food based on cereals and the other for fresh food (fruit and vegetables) . Placing them far apart will prevent the formation of yeasts and molds.
- The drinker, a bottle with a spout or with a bowl-shaped tray at the end
- The bottom, with a total thickness of about 20 cm. This layer must be prepared by placing a base of natural, untreated and unscented wood sawdust , and placing a layer of hay on top of it, also untreated.
- The litter box, to be filled with sawdust , pellets, shavings or natural wood twigs. Place it on one side of the cage and remember to always keep it perfectly clean.
- The bathtub… in sand! Hamsters should never be washed in water. They take care of their own hygiene, washing themselves in sepiolite sand, called chinchilla sand (a completely natural mineral). It should always be left available, and should be at least 20x30 cm in size .
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The wheel : very useful both for entertainment and to help the hamster stay fit. A hamster can run up to 8 km a day in its wheel!
Choose the right size for your four-legged friend: it must be comfortable and made of plastic, without bars or slats , to avoid dangerous accidents. - You can add other games such as gnawing sticks , ladders and mezzanines , plexiglass tubes, bridges, tunnels and hiding places.
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A small den filled with hay or paper without additives, twigs of acacia, hazel, fruit or willow wood, not treated with insecticides and herbicides.
Over time, the hamster will personalize it, and will use it to rest and as a pantry to store food, just as if it were a natural nest.
This space must not be modified, removed, moved, or even touched! It is, in fact, a safe and private place and violating it would cause great stress for the animal.
To ensure maximum safety of use of all the elements inside the hamster cage, make sure that all the objects are specifically designed for use by small rodents.
Then check that all materials such as sawdust, paper, wood and anything that can be gnawed and ingested are free of chemical components or ingredients that could be harmful to the animal's health.
Finally, remember to immediately throw away any object that appears damaged, chipped or otherwise deteriorated.
The best hamster cages: the materials
You can find hamster cages with walls made of plastic, metal, or a combination of materials.
Both options are safe if you purchase a quality cage, but there are some differences to consider.
Plastic: ideal for easy cleaning
The plastic cage is easier to clean and can prevent the hamster from climbing and falling from high heights.
We do not recommend it in the case of a very hot or sunny house because the transparent plastic can be potentially dangerous if the cage is exposed directly to the sun's rays . In this case, it is better to choose a metal cage.
As already mentioned, hamsters are extremely delicate little animals that can be subject to heat stroke, and for which excessively high temperatures could even prove lethal.
Metal: perfect for interacting with the environment
Choose a metal cage if you want to help your hamster interact with the outside environment and thus avoid getting bored.
Remember, however, not to use bars similar to those on the external walls of the cage to create shelves and mezzanines.
The hamster's legs may get stuck and the animal may not be able to free itself.
This eventuality could cause fractures, broken bones and ligaments and circulatory problems that are not always easily resolved.
Combined Material: The Best Solution for Your Hamster
There are also cages on the market with walls made of a combination of materials: metal grates at the base, plexiglass for the roof.
This is also a good option for an easy-to-maintain cage with good ventilation , but it is preferable only if the cage will be placed in a cool, airy place.
Where to place the hamster cage in the house
Last but not least, where to place the new home of your little furry friend?
You've chosen the perfect cage and filled it with all the comforts, now it's time to find the right place inside your home.
To do this, remember that your hamster will live inside the cage every day , all day long!
First of all, find a quiet room , where there are not too many noises that could scare, make nervous or agitate the animal.
Once you have identified this space, place the cage in a safe, cool place that is never exposed to direct sunlight or drafts , which could cause serious pneumonia.
Millstore: the experts just a click away
The hamster may be a small animal, but the care and attention that must be given to it are the same as those given to any other pet!
If you have any doubts, do not hesitate and contact the Millstore team of experts immediately .
You will find a qualified staff ready to answer all your questions , to help you choose the hamster cage best suited to your needs and to recommend the best products for the well-being of your new little friend!
