What Are Some Good Homemade Toys for My Hamster?

Hamsters may only live 2-3 years on average, but they are very active and inquisitive animals for most of their lives. Despite the plethora of toys sold in pet stores to help keep them active, you can easily create toys from common household items. Watching a hamster have fun in a homemade toy is a fulfilling experience for both pet and owner.

  1. Ladder &House

    • Hamsters love to climb, explore new territory and seek refuge under objects. Use empty cereal boxes to fashion a multi-level ladder for the hamster to explore. Arrange empty tissue boxes to make a hideaway house. For the ladder, place a few cereal boxes on their sides and then tape them together in a staircase-like design. Transform a tissue box into a colorful house for hamster with a few simple cuts of a scissor. You can also use Legos to design both a ladder and a house.

    Swing

    • Your hamster will enjoy a homemade swing. Collect an empty paper tube, such as a toilet paper or paper towel roll, or a soup can with both sides cut out to form the actual base of the swing. String twine or some other kind of thick rope through the item, and tie it to the top of the cage. Position the swing close to the floor of the hamster's cage, so he can enter and exit easily without getting hurt.

    Maze

    • Mazes provide both physical and mental stimulation for hamsters. A variety of household items are available to create mazes. For example, the Hamster Club website recommends creating one out of cereal boxes, gift-wrap paper tubes, shoe boxes, short lengths of PVC tubing and cylindrical oatmeal containers. The Pet Hamster website suggests using an empty cardboard soda flat as the base of the maze. Fasten cardboard strips to the base to act as walls. As with any rodent maze, place treats in various locations within the maze to help provide incentive.