by Jessica Barno

Created on: April 30, 2009   Last Updated: March 12, 2010

"I've Decided to Adopt a Hamster... Now What?"

Choosing to adopt a lovable, droll little hamster is definitely the easiest part of preparing to take one home. The next step in preparation is making little Hammy feel right at home! There are several details to remember when shopping for your hamster's new home and belongings. First and foremost, your new friend needs a bed. He also needs a well-balanced diet and toys to keep him occupied when you are away or can't play with him yourself. So, when you are shopping for your hamster, there are six main items that are must-buys before you bring little Hammy home.

Cage

The size and make of the cage in which little Hammy will feel most at home are dependent on two things: the size of the hamster and the room in which you will be keeping the cage. Choosing the size of the cage is simply a matter of common sense. If you have chosen to adopt a dwarf hamster, a smaller cage will be sufficient. However, if you have chosen a teddy bear or golden hamster, or if you have decided to adopt multiple hamsters, a larger cage should be acquired. There should be enough room in the cage for the hamster to make a sleeping nest, have a running wheel, food dish, and one or two other toys and still have enough room to stretch out in all directions. If you are shopping for two hamsters, the stretching room should be doubled, if for three, tripled, etc.

There are three main types of cages suitable for hamster habitation: wire, aquarium, and combination. Hamsters are very sensitive to drafts and can get colds just like we can! However, they also need proper ventilation in their homes because they are also susceptible to respiratory infections, and need fresh air. Wire cages provide optimum ventilation, but do not protect little Hammy from drafts, so if you choose a wire home for your hamster, the cage should be placed in an area that is warm and well-protected from drafts, such as a bedroom. Aquariums protect from drafts and also provide maximum viewing opportunity of your new pet, however, they provide very little ventilation, so while aquarium cages can be placed nearly anywhere in your house, it should be in a well-ventilated area with a screen or wire mesh top. An excellent choice of cage that provides ventilation and protection from drafts is the combination wire and plastic cage. One very popular brand is the SuperPet CritterTrail small animal cage line. There are several styles and sizes of colorful cages from which to choose,

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>