Hamster Housing
A hamster's enclosure is incredibly important to their wellbeing - its size, shape, and accessories all contribute to a comfortable, safe environment. All hamsters will need a large and stimulating environment in which to live happily. This is especially the case in hamsters living on their own - their environment and owner needs to be able to entertain them in lieu of an interesting partner. Owners of single hamsters need to be in a position to provide a complex, interesting environment that will be capable of exercising their pet’s mind along with its body.
A hamster enclosure needs to be big enough to house whichever pet (or pets) you intend to keep. Some cages that are advertised for smaller species of pet may not be large enough for larger hamsters, such as Syrians. Similarly, the exercise wheel for your home must be the right size, or your hamster may possibly not be able to use it. This section includes info on a broad range of hamster housing issues, such as placing your hamster cage to hamster-proofing are usuallyas of your home.
READ MORE: How To Make A DIY Hamster Cage With Household Items
Hamster Cages
There are lots of different types of hamster cage, from the more modern options such as the Qute, to more traditional options such as those you could purchase from your local pet shop. Although specific cage advice differs by hamster species, the general recommendation is that you purchase the largest and most practical cage that you can afford.
Before you make any decisions about your cage, you’ll need to decide which species of hamster you’d like, and how many of them you’re going to get. Having the answers to these questions is likely to save you some money in the long run, as the specifics of how hamster species have to be kept have big effects on their cage requirements. For example, some hamsters cannot be kept in pairs or in groups, and some (such as Syrians) will need larger enclosures. Syrian hamsters cannot be kept together, so if you’d like two of these little creatures as pets, you’ll need two separate cages, one for each of them. To learn more on which hamsters you can keep together, have a look at our ‘Which Hamster Should I Get’ section.
When you’re deciding on a cage, it’s a good idea to have already picked out a place for it in your home. Hamster cages differ in width, length and height, so there’ll be a cage that will fit your space - just make sure it’s big enough for a hamster to call home in happily.
Some hamster cages are a little unsightly and bulky, but the Qute (above) is designed to look like a small, stylish table, one that can slot seamlessly into your home.
When you’re deciding where to place your hamster’s home, there are some important things to keep in mind:
Keep the cage somewhere quiet
Your hamster will be sleeping for most of the day, and, they’ll be woken if there’s plenty of noise.
Since there are so many hamster cage options, we recommend that you have a good look at the reviews for the product, or asking a friend with hamsters for a recommendation. Some hamster houses are quite poor-quality, and hamster have been known to nibble their way out of them and get lost. Others are too small for most hamsters, or haven’t enough climbing space. When you’re investing in a home for your hamster, it’s likely to be your hamster’s home for the duration of its life, so it’s best to get a good one.
Whichever cage you decide on, be sure to check that there are no jagged edges that your pet can hurt themselves on, and that right now there aren’t any easy escape options for your pet. Hamsters are notorious escape artists, and you’d be surprised how easily they can slip into the smallest of spaces.
READ MORE: How To Choose The Best Cage For Your Hamster
Where Do I Put My Hamster Cage? It’s available in a number of different colours, and some models provide drawers to enable you to keep all of your hamster supplies neatly in one place. Hamsters can get a bit grumpy and irritated if they don’t get enough sleep, so it’s a good idea to put the cage in a part of your house that’s relatively quiet.
Keep them away from ultrasound
Hamsters have incredibly good hearing, and will detect sounds that we can’t. There are a lot of noises that come from electronics that we can’t hear, such as those from televisions and computers. Ultrasound also emanates from pipes, so places near dishwashers or taps can be extremely stressful.
Attempt to maintain regular lighting
Hamsters would benefit from being in a room in which, in the evenwithing, the lights are turned off at approximfromely the same time every day. Hamsters will get used to some light, but if it’s turned on and off at different hours then they are likely to find it both confusing and detrimental to their sleeping schedules.
Choose an area with a constant, warm temperature
Hamsters can get over or under-heated quite easily. General advice on cage-positioning centres around keeping these little animals out of direct sunlight, a good distance apart from any fireplaces or radiators, away from bathrooms, and clear of areas that are draughty, damp or near air conditioning. One of the worst places for your hamster is the conservatory, as these rooms can get very hot very quickly. The best places are usually those that don’t have a great deal of temperature fluctuation, so hallways and garages are not good options. As long as this container has air holes, food, bedding and water, and no obvious escape routes, then the box will do the job while you’re cleaning your hamster’s main home.
Find a good surface for the cage
If you need to keep your cage off of the floor, then you’ll want to find a good surface for the cage. This will require to be very stable so that it won’t allow the cage to fall. For those who have a Qute hamster cage, then this won’t be a problem, as it’s a freestanding unit that doesn’t require a table or a support.
Prevent other pets from accessing the cage
Large animals staring into the enclosure are sure to scare and put stress on your hamster. In the wild, hamsters are prey to a lot of different creatures, and cats and dogs are likely to terrify these little pets even if they just want to play with your little hamster. Keep your cat or your dog far away from the hamster’s cage (and aside from your hamster when it’s outside of its home).
Where Do I Put My Hamster When I Clean The Cage?
If you own a Qute, then simply put your hamster in the top compartment and push up the tube so that it cannot travel back down. Then you can clean the bottom section without worrying where your hamster is and how long it can stay in a temporary enclosure.
You can construct or purchase a temporary enclosure for your hamster, but don’t forget about your hamster’s ability to escape - they are excellent tunnellers, and well-known for their ability to gnaw their way out of cardboard and plastic extremely quickly! Some owners have bought a little temporary box for their hamster, one that is made of a wood that is safe for hamsters to chew.
Avoid laundry rooms and garages
These areas are often full of chemicals and dust, and vary a lot in temperature throughout the day.
READ NEXT: How To Hamster Bedding