| Hamsters may not live as long as some other pets, however with a little effort on your part you can ensure the two to five years they spend with you are healthy and happy. When bringing your hamster home for the first time it’s best to prepare your home for your new furry friend before they arrive. The first thing you’ll need to address is a proper home for them to sleep in and a whole host of hamster supplies.
When it comes to choosing your hamster’s home you may want to opt for something traditional such as a wire cage. However, there are a huge range of choices available including multi-storey homes in durable coloured plastic or glass. Many of these more extravagant hamster homes come with their own network of tubes for your hamster to explore. Whether you opt for a mighty mansion or a cosy cage, your number one priority should be to find a secure home which your hamster cannot escape from and which is free of sharp edges and hazards which they could get caught on.
Inside the cage you will need to provide bedding materials for your pet to nest in. These need to be clean, non-toxic and unscented. Shredded papers are best and you can buy these ready prepared from pet stores, however it’s important to avoid cotton wool type products as these can be dangerous for the animals. To keep your hamster healthy hygiene is crucial. In terms of maintenance hamsters are quite low impact pets, however you will need to remove wet bedding from the cage as well as clean food and water dispensers. It’s a good idea to have a few shallow food and water bowls to help with this. Opt for ceramic or metal dishes so your little friend won’t chew on the bowls, or choose durable plastic dispensers. Finally, make sure you clean and disinfect the whole cage and toys weekly to make sure the hamster doesn’t pick up any nasty bugs.
The correct type of food and lots of play time will also help your hamster stay in tip-top condition. In the wild hamsters are omnivores and eat plants, insects, fruits and seeds. This diet can be mimicked by buying hamster pellets and seed based mixes from pet stores and supplemented with small amounts of fruit and veg. Hamsters are primarily nocturnal but may sometimes be active during the day and will need plenty to occupy them within their little home. Any toys which promote running, chewing and exploring are a good bet, so pick up the traditional hamster wheels and tubes, see-saws and wood gnaws. You could invest in a hamster ball too so that they can get out and about, but make sure this is used within a confined space so that you can keep an eye on them.
When you bring your hamster home you may be nervous, particularly if you are inexperienced in handling the animals. It’s important to remember that the small creature is likely to be quite scared at first. If handled from a young age hamsters are usually sociable and docile and rarely bite. If they do nip or bite on occasion this may mean that you are handling them too roughly or that they are scared. Try to be gentle when you pick them up using as much skin from the back of the neck as you can, and be careful not to be pinched or bitten. If your hammy does go on the defence try wearing gloves or handling them using a towel so that you don’t get hurt.
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