How to set up a hamster cage that doesn't look like an office
Bedding, wheel, hideout and food bowl don't just go anywhere. A simple guide to setting up a home where your hamster can dig, run and sleep in comfort.
A hamster spends nearly its whole life in its cage, so setting it up properly is the best way to look after it. And you don't need to be an architect: just think about what a hamster does in the wild. It digs, covers long distances, stores food and sleeps well hidden away.
First, the space
The bigger, the better. Choose a roomy cage or tank with plenty of floor space, rather than a tall cage with several levels. If it has bars, check the gaps are small so it can't poke its head through or escape.
Put it somewhere quiet, away from direct sunlight, radiators and draughts. And remember it's a nocturnal animal: the bedroom isn't usually a good idea if you're a light sleeper.
The essentials
- Plenty of unscented bedding, in a generous layer so it can make tunnels.
- A wheel with a smooth, solid surface, big enough for it to run with its back straight.
- One or more hideouts for sleeping in the dark.
- A water bottle or bowl of clean water, always within reach.
- A stable food bowl that can't be tipped over.
- Things to gnaw and some hay or unprinted paper for nest-building.
Arranging the interior
Keep the areas separate: the food bowl away from where it usually does its business, and the hideout in a quiet corner. Add tunnels, wooden bridges or roots so exploring is fun.
A very welcome extra is a small dish of sand made for rodents: many hamsters love rolling in it and, in the process, keep their coat clean.
Cleaning without turning its life upside down
Remove leftover fresh food every day and clean the dirty spots. When you do a deep clean, avoid changing all the bedding at once: keep back some clean bedding from before so it recognises its own scent and doesn't get stressed.
And if its secret larder is full of seeds, don't panic: that's what hamsters do. Just remove anything that could go off.
If you notice it stops eating, keeps very still or has a dirty coat, see your vet: small animals are very good at hiding it when something's wrong.
At Petuki you'll find cages, wheels, little houses and accessories so your hamster has a home made to measure.