Top Hamster Care Tips For Newbies

Hamsters have become popular pets in the past few years. In fact, according to a recent survey, 30% of Gen Zs and 15% of Millennials chose a hamster as a pet. Other than being adorable and cute, they make for great pets because they don’t require extensive training, and it doesn’t cost much to maintain them. They also require very minimal space. However, there are important things that you need to know to ensure that you keep your hamster pet for a long time. Knowing the particular types of food that they eat can be helpful. Other than that, if you’re a new pet owner, here are the hamster care tips that you need to know.

Your pet hamster needs a home where it can be safe and feel comfortable. It is an enclosure where it will spend most of its time and where most of its equipment and accessories will be placed, so it should be large enough for these things. According to experts, the best cage size has at least 800 square inches of unbroken floor space. It is a space large enough to fit a proper sized wheel, hiding spots and tunnels, allow burrowing, and other basic needs. Hamsters can be very active, so giving them enough space to move around will keep them from getting stressed.

The next consideration is where to place the cage. Proper placement will ensure your hamster’s happiness. You can put the cage in an area where your pet can hear you and your family so that they’ll be comforted by your day-to-day sounds. Also, be sure to keep the cage away from any vents or drafty windows to ensure they are in a safe and temperature-controlled environment.

As mentioned earlier, hamsters are active animals. This is why providing them with a wheel to allow them to get exercise is necessary. According to a study, almost every night, most hamster get on their wheel and runs. They step on the wheel and run a bit, step off and sniff around their habitat, and step right back on. They repeat this loop between 500-1000 times every night. You should also give your hamster a chance to exercise outside of its cage. They should have playtime outside their habitat each week, which can be a great bonding time with you. You can set up a small gated area with lots of toys and some treats so they can explore. There may be a point where you suddenly ask yourself, why is my hamster not moving? This is usually a sign that there may be something wrong with your pet hamster, so get your pet to the vet immediately if you suspect that your hamster is sick or injured.

It is not recommended to fully empty and replace the bedding in the cage completely. You should only do spot cleaning. This means removing and replacing bedding from the areas where your hamster pee and poo in. However, you should leave other clean areas alone. According to experts, emptying the whole enclosure removes their scent and will cause them stress.

A hamster may be the best type of pet for you. If you are seriously considering getting one, follow the tips given above, and make sure to do your research to ensure your pet hamster’s health and have a happy pet parent experience.