How Hard Is It to Keep a Hamster?

When deciding on a family pet, you must consider how difficult it is to care for and who is going to be responsible for feeding and watering it, cleaning its cage and playing with it. Rodents, specifically hamsters, require less work and attention than some other common pets, such as dogs.

  1. Basic Facts

    • Hamsters are small rodents that -- at full size -- still fit in the palm of your hand; being roughly three to five inches long and weighing less than a pound. Hamsters should be kept in their cage alone, since they are a solitary animal and are likely to fight and possibly kill an intruder; although sometimes exceptions are made for hamsters of the same sex and species. Hamsters are nocturnal -- meaning they sleep during the day -- so they can be noisy at night, which may disrupt your sleep, if you keep it in your bedroom.

    Diet

    • A hamster feeds itself, provided you keep food available to them. Feed it a combination of hamster food from the store with fresh fruit or vegetables, but take note that your hamster may hoard food in his bedding; so avoid anything that easily rots or spoils. Always provide full access to fresh water using a hanging gravity bottle on the side of the cage. Don't forget to include a gnawing block or something -- such as a dog biscuit -- for your hamster to gnaw on, since its teeth continue to grow.

    Entertainment

    • A hamster entertains itself for the most part. It lives in a cage and entertains itself using various tubes or tunnels to crawl through. You can purchase hamster balls to allow your hamster to run around your home, but avoid purchasing a wire ball with spokes which may catch its foot.

    Handling

    • Hamsters tolerate being handled rather well, as long as you don't make sudden movements or startle them when they're sleeping. They're likely to bite and may draw blood. It may take your hamster some time to warm up to you when you first get it; and while it gets used to being handled. Teach your child proper handling techniques to protect -- not only their hands -- but the hamster's fragile body from injury.