Hamster Food & Housing Needs

Hamsters have been domesticated as pets since around 1940. Most hamsters kept as pets in the United States are golden hamsters, which are a direct descendant of the original hamsters, known as Syrian hamsters. Hamsters are nocturnal animals that, in a natural habitat, don't come out until nightfall, preferring to hide from potential predators by burrowing beneath the ground. Pet hamsters have the same instincts as their wild counterparts, so setting up housing that has many places for the hamster to hide and explore will make for a happy and healthy pet.

  1. Cage Types

    • Hamster cages come in three basic types: plastic, glass and wire. The benefits of a plastic cage are that they come in many different shapes and colors, and can have numerous tunnels to keep your hamster occupied for hours. The drawback is that plastic cages end up getting dirty easier because there are more nooks and crannies and they're more difficult to clean. Glass cages are easily cleaned--generally by hosing the entire cage down. However, they are limited in size and have poor ventilation. Wire cages have excellent ventilation and make it easy for your hamster to get exercise simply by climbing, but does make them more susceptible to outside forces, such as air vents and other pets.

    Nesting Materials

    • Only natural, untreated materials should be used to provide bedding and cover for your hamster. Choices include cotton, such as raw cotton padding or even cotton balls, plain paper towels and straw. The one area of the cage that the hamster uses to relieve itself should be cleaned and replaced several times per week--the rest of the bedding area can be changed monthly, unless the situation dictates otherwise. The material should be 2 or 3 inches thick so that the hamster can burrow well into it if desired.

    Food and Water

    • Hamsters can be given specifically designed hamster food that comes in the form of pellets. Natural food choices are sound options as well. Soft items, such as leafy greens and fruit, should be part of your hamster's diet, as well as harder items, such as seeds or small dog biscuits. Hamsters need hard items because their teeth never stop growing. A water bottle should be hung in the cage, away from the waste area and the food area as they can sometime drip. The water should be changed at least every other day. Add hamster-specific vitamin supplements, as directed by your veterinarian, to the water to make sure your hamster's nutritional needs are being met.

    Other Needs

    • Because of the continual growth of their teeth, hamsters should have other items handy in their cage to chew on to promote tooth wear. Nontreated and pesticide-free wood branches, as long as they are not from evergreen or cedar trees--which can be harmful to rodents--will work. There are also a number of commercially produced chew toys. Another necessary item to have is an exercise wheel, which will keep you hamster healthy and occupied for many hours.