Caring for A Hamster

By Liz Andrews  

Learning about caring for a hamster is an important part of being a responsible pet owner. Many hamster owners who don't take the time or effort to really understand their pets find that they don't last very long. Hamsters, especially dwarf hamsters, are delicate little creatures that need some specific things to make sure they stay healthy and content.

Proper Housing

Hamster housing needs to be safe and secure for your hamster to thrive. There are countless types of housing available so you will need to learn more about your specific breed to determine the best fit. Some breeds can escape their cages, and others can't maneuver through vertical tubes so it is important know what is best for your particular hamster.

Cleanliness

Cleanliness of the cage is of the utmost importance when caring for a hamster. Hamsters can become stressed living in unclean areas and this can result in illnesses like "wet tail" which can be deadly within 24 hours. Every day you should be doing some sort of housekeeping for your hamster.
Usually hamsters will only go to the bathroom in one section of the cage. Clean this area daily by scooping out any droppings, removing soiled bedding, and replacing with fresh bedding. Every other day you should do a more thorough cleaning of the entire cage and at least once a week, you should completely empty the cage and use a gentle cleaner on the wires, plastic or glass.
Cleanliness of your hamster is also important. Hamsters are from the desert so they really like sand, specifically sand that they can clean themselves with. You can purchase a cleansing sand (it is really more like a dust) product from a pet store or pet website. Don't use regular sand or sandbox sand, as there could be bacteria in it. Put the sand in a small plastic container and watch your hamster have a ball at the "salon" getting her hair done!

Food and Water

Food for your hamster should be changed out every day. Hamsters like to hoard and they will definitely hoard any food you give them. Because of this, they might sometimes move around food that is old and spoiled. So remember what you give your hamster and clean his hiding areas so he doesn't get sick from rotting food. These might be things like carrots or leafy greens that you provide in addition to his normal hamster pellets.
Water is especially important for hamsters because they drink all the time. The water dispenser should be cleaned and filled every day as water can harbor bacteria on the nozzle.

Toys

Hamsters are inquisitive and love to explore their world. Caring for a hamster includes providing them with an exciting environment in which to live. Give them as many different fun options as you can afford. You can provide tunnels and tubes to run through, hamster wheels, hamster balls, hamster swings, chew toys, and even little hamster cars to go cruising around your room.
Most of all, you should learn everything you can about your particular breed of hamster or obtain a complete guide on raising them. Caring for a hamster is a big responsibility and you definitely want to make sure you are being the best owner possible.

For more information on caring for a hamster, check out DwarfHamsterSite.com. Liz Andrews has been a hamster enthusiast for nearly 20 years. Her newest book, 'Dwarf Hamsters In a Nutshell' teaches hamster owners absolutely everything they need to know about caring for their pet.

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