~ Hamsters ~
Hamsters are cute, cuddly and take up very little space. They’re the perfect companion to snuggle with as they don’t take up the entire couch and they don’t shed as much as a dog or a cat would; plus they are so entertaining to watch. Here is how you should look after them.
Hamster home
Make sure your hamster has the perfect home. Your hamster’s cage should be 360 square inches or 24x15 inches. It can be in a large glass aquarium with a ventilated roof or a wire cage with bars no greater than 0.7cm apart. Place your hamster’s home in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. If you have other pets like cats or dogs, keep them away from your hamster. Hamsters are amazing escape artists so make sure that in no way can they escape. Unless you get two hamsters at the same time from the same place and enclosure, do not put more than one hamster in a cage. They are extremely territorial and often kill each other to defend their home.
Hamster bedding
The proper bedding is very, very important for your hamster as it not only keeps them comfortable but healthy as well. Each hamster’s cage should have two inches of bedding of either aspen tree wood shavings or shredded unscented paper with no ink on it. (No newspapers used as bedding.).
Feeding
Hamsters need enough food to fill each cheek every day. That can be anywhere from 8g to 15g depending on the type of hamster you own or are buying. Make sure you buy a metal bowl to put food in, as a plastic one will just be chewed through. Use fortified pellets or block-type food, as that insures your hamster is eating the healthiest thing possible. Hide food all over the cage so that the hamster can hunt for it and not become fat and lazy.
Water
Hamsters cannot get wet so do not put water in a bowl for them; buy instead a special bottle specifically to get water to hamsters and attach it to the cage. Make sure to change the water every day and to clean the bottle once a week.
Chew sticks
Hamster’s teeth grow constantly so give them a chew stick which comes in several sizes and colours so that they can grind their teeth down.
Toys
Just like you, your hamster likes to play and needs lots of toys. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on special hamster toys; simply look online for some easy toys you can make using old household items, like a paper towel role as a tunnel. Rotate your toys so that your hamster does not get bored.
Cleaning their cage
When cleaning your hamster’s cage, put your hamster in a separate escape-proof environment. Use a regular dish soap and water solution or a vinegar solution to clean your hamsters habitat. When changing the bedding, mix a little bit of the old bedding with the new bedding so that your hamster’s scent stays on it. After cleaning the cage with the solution, rinse it and let it dry completely before replacing the bedding and putting the hamster inside. Clean the cage at least once a week to prevent an odour.
Now that you know how to properly look after your hamster, make sure you do your absolute best to do so, and enjoy all of their incredible cute cuddles.
