VERY IMPORTANT: This article is for general educational purposes only – NO information here can ever be used a substitute for professional vetinary advice! PLEASE ASK YOUR VET FOR ABOUT YOUR HAMSTER’S HEALTHCARE AND LIVING NEEDS. We therefore respectfully advise we are unable to answer any questions on animal care.

Beds & Nests

Hamsters have instincts to burrow, chew and hide away from sight – yes, you guessed it, you can now buy them specially designed little hamster ‘nests’. These aim to allow them to fulfil their instincts and feel secure. (A side effect is even more instant super-cuteness as well). There are also little hamster ‘houses’, in wood or plastic designs for them to hide away in. They like to sleep where no-one can see them, usually burrowing so they will need suitable material inside the nests/ ‘houses’ (see ‘new owners’ below).

There’ also mini-sleeping-bag type beds, which they can snuggle into – not so much on the chewing front but a tick for the hiding urge.

Hamster Toys

There are toys you can buy which could be beneficial for both their teeth and to stop them getting bored. Mental stimulation is important! Toys can give them something safe to chew on, and if they feature ‘hidden’ (hamster safe) foods inside, they can be kept occupied as they try to prize it out. There are special hamster friendly toys and a scaled down version of a dog-toy design for small animals, made of rubber, which again you stuff with tasty hamster snacks.

Exercise

As mentioned below in the ‘new owners’ section, exercise is important. You can buy wheels, but they should be solid not open runged to stop little feet and tails getting caught. There are also plastic tunnel designs which attach to hamster homes to provide exercise and mental stimulation.

Treats

There are plenty of hamster treats products to supplement their diet in addition to their regular hamster mix food. (Only buy products designed for hamsters – all small animals need specialist feeding and products aren’t always ‘interchangeable’ between species).

Thinking of getting a hamster or just got one? Basic products/ services

The information here echoes the UK’s RSPCA and USA’s ASPCA tips on some of the things new hamster owners need to organise for their pet. The RSPCA also rehomes small animals to suitable homes, having given them vetinary checks to ensure they’re happy and healthy – a good way to welcome a furry friend to your home.

• A good vet – for all advice and healthcare needs
• A large home, indoors in a warm place, not in direct sunlight – somewhere quiet in the daytime (they’re more night animals and need to sleep in the day)
• A drip-feed bottle for water – they always need to able to drink clean, fresh water
• A nesting box in their home – they need to burrow so they can’t be seen, and they need to sleep there and stash food away there (natural behaviour)
• Clean sawdust on the floor of their home
• Soft hay sold especially for small animals (so it won’t poke delicate eyes or otherwise hurt them)
• Clean white kitchen paper so they can make their bed with it – not cotton wool, not newspaper
• An exercise wheel – but not with open rungs, should be solid – which is securely fixed to the inside wall of their home
• Toys for stimulation – cardboard tubes, wooden cotton reels
• A ‘gnawing block’ made of hardwood to help keep their teeth healthy
• Daily food and home tidying, full cleaning once a week
• A special brush designed for hamsters – to brush them daily (especially important for longhaired hamsters)
• ‘Helpers’ for you – someone to take care of the hamster if you are on holiday or unable to do so for any reason

Posted by Joe De Bloom

Photo Credits

Hamster close-up http://www.sxc.hu/profile/red2000

Useful facts sheets

The UK’s RSPCA has hamster care fact sheets at

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=SmallAnimalsCare&marker=1&articleId=1154077755713

They also rehome small animals to suitable homes in the UK.

The USA’s ASPCA has hamster care fact sheets at

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/hamster-care.html.