How to Care for Hamsters

Hamsters' friendly nature and adaptability have placed them among America's most popular small pets. Here are some suggestions for caring for these small, cuddly pets.

Buy some Hamster real estate. In the wild, hamsters live underground, coming out at night to look for food. Pet hamsters still prefer the night for activity, so it's best to keep them in a quiet dimly lit room away from drafts, direct sunlight and other animals. A 10 gallon aquarium is a suitable home for hamsters, as long as the top provides plenty of ventilation. A mesh screen top is ideal, just make sure it fits securely to keep your hamster from escaping. Line the bottom of the tank with plain white paper, and add dry timothy hay or shredded white paper for burrowing. You can also use pine shavings. Do not use cedar shavings as these can cause respiratory problems.

Give them some time to themselves. Although hamsters enjoy people, they don't particularly like other hamsters. In the wild they only come together to mate, and will fight if forced to share their space. Hamsters need a place to hide. The tubes out of toilet paper or paper towels make good hiding places and chew toys. When it's time to clean the cage, just replace them. Another good hiding place could be an empty tissue box or oatmeal canister. Don't give your hamster anything made of soft plastic, he could get sick from swallowing it as he chews.

Stock the pantry. Hamsters have high metabolisms and need to have constant access to food and water. The best way to avoid spills and keep the water clean is to use a water bottle with a metal sipping tube. This will hang on the side of your cage. Use a heavy, flat bottomed, ceramic bowl to avoid food spills. Place the food and water away from the sleeping and bathroom areas. Your hamster will enjoy a varied diet that includes a commercial grain and seed mixture especially made for hamsters, as well as certain kinds of fruits and vegetables. Hamsters will enjoy dandelion greens, chickweed, alfalfa pellets, spinach, lettuce, carrots, apples, and other fruits. Just be sure to rinse them first to remove any pesticide. A daily menu should include a half-ounce of grain mixture, a small handful of greens, and tasty treats such as a slice of apple and a floret of cauliflower. Do not give your hamster raw beans, apple seeds, sprouting potato buds, parsley, and green parts of tomatoes -- all of these can be poisonous to hamsters.

Keep them busy. In the wild, hamsters have to travel to find food. You can provide an exercise wheel for your pet, but he'll need more than that to stay occupied. Provide him with chewable items such as dog biscuits or pesticide free twigs from beech trees, maples, willows, hazelnut bushes or fruit trees. Having something hard to chew on will help keep his teeth worn down. Your pet will enjoy playing in the tubes from your paper towels and toilet paper. You could securely fasten a wooden ladder or branch to the inside of the tank for your hamster to climb on.

Keep it clean. Hamsters can get a little grouchy if you disturb them during their daytime sleeping hours, so try to schedule cleaning, feeding, and handling for the late afternoon or evening. You'll need to clean the bathroom space of the cage every day. Hamsters like to store up piles of food, so you need to check for these and take them out. Rinse out the water bottle and tube every time you refill it. You also need to check to make sure it is working properly. Change all of the bedding twice a week, and disinfect the tank with warm soapy water. If you need to catch your hamster, you can hold a small box next to her and she will probably run right in. Always hold your hamster over a tabletop or other surface in case he manages to jump out of your hands.

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