What Is Needed for a Hamster?

Hamsters are often purchased as a child's first pet but parents should investigate and consider a hamster's needs and their child's disposition before purchasing one of these very small rodents. If a child is rough or is likely to squeeze the hamster, it would not be a good choice. A hamster will normally live between two and three years and requires daily care to remain happy and healthy.

  1. Cage

    • A variety of cage options exist for hamster owners. Standard cages with wire bars are the least expensive and often come as starter kits including all the items necessary to set up the hamster's habitat. One negative aspect of the wire cage is that hamsters are prone to escaping and will attempt to escape through the bars. They will sometimes succeed or get stuck between the bars. A glass aquarium can also be used to house hamsters, but must be fitted with a well-fitting screen top instead of a standard fish tank top. Aquariums are heavy and breakable; often a child will need parental assistance to clean the habitat. Lastly, plastic tube cages offer hours of entertainment as you watch your pet navigate the tunnel systems; however, they are very difficult to clean and will become smelly faster because they are enclosed.

    Food

    • Most commercial diets such as pellets or seed blends offer complete nutrition for your pet hamster. Very small amounts of fruits and vegetables may be offered; large amounts could cause diarrhea. Avoid sharp or sticky foods; they can damage the hamster's cheek pouches. Chocolate is poisonous to hamsters and should never be offered.

    Water

    • Water can be provided in a water bottle or water dish. Water dishes are difficult to keep clean and easily become polluted with bedding. Water bottles must be hung from the side of the cage and can sometimes leak, causing a wet mess in the cage. Regardless of which choice you choose, clean water must always be available.

    Bedding

    • Wood shavings and paper bedding are both commercially available. Bedding serves two primary purposes. First, it provides a soft substrate for the hamster to burrow and nest in. Second, it absorbs liquid waste and excess moisture from the hamster's water source. Bedding needs to be changed whenever it gets stinky, or at least once per week. Additionally, unscented tissue can be torn into strips and given to the hamster. It will use these strips to build a nest.

    Chew Toys

    • Hamsters need to chew to keep their teeth in good condition. Small wood chew toys are commercially available. Cardboard tubes such as those found in the center of rolls of toilet paper or paper towels provide economical chewing and tunneling toys.

    Exercise

    • A hamster cage would not be complete without the addition of an exercise wheel. Hamsters have lots of energy to burn and an exercise wheel is a great way to help them burn it. However, because hamsters are nocturnal, you may need to move the cage from your bedroom at night if the wheel is too noisy.

    Attention

    • Hamsters must be handled daily to remain friendly and tame. If left alone, a hamster will become mean, greatly increasing your risk of being bitten.