Full of curiosity. Adapts quickly to a new environment.
A talented acrobat with strong front paws for climbing.
A clean animal. Grooms itself frequently and thoroughly.
Famous for hoarding food.
Extremely efficient at gnawing, with 16 teeth that never
stop growing.
A solitary animal that naturally does not live in pairs or
groups.
A territorial animal that fiercely guards its territory.
About 7" long. Weighs about 6 ounces.
Lives up to four years.
Hears sound in the ultrasonic range.
Uses its whiskers to explore it immediate surroundings.
Depends on smell to interpret surroundings, enemies and sexual
partners.
Communicates to other hamsters by scent secretion.
Farsighted, with a fairly wide angle of vision.
What Your Hamster Needs
Large cage. At least 16" x 12" x 10"
for one (much larger for 2 or more) with horizontal bars spaced
no more than a 1/2 inch apart. Plus a plastic floor pan 2 and
3/4" deep, and a flip open wire cage top. DO NOT put hamsters
in wooden or cardboard boxes - they'll chew right through and
soak the box with urine.
Good quality gravity-flow water bottle. Heavy duty
plastic bottle provides your pet with clean, fresh water when
he wants it. Stainless steel drinking tube with stainless steel
balls keeps cage clean and dry. Get a metal bottle guard to keep
your pet from chewing on the bottle.
A house to sleep in. Hamsters need an enclosed space to
sleep in. Many kinds of hamster houses are available, or
you can build your own.
Hay rack. Keeps hay and greens off the floor where
it can become soiled.
Small food dish. Keeps food from becoming contaminated.
Glazed clay or porcelain is best - plastic tips over.
Small animal litter. Made of pine. Very absorbent
and non-toxic. Place 2" to 3" on bottom of cage and
change at least once per week.
Things to play on. Hamsters love to climb and play.
Put a variety of items in your hamster's cage, such as natural
twigs, wooden ladders, see saws, tunnels and other toys to keep
them occupied.
Other Hamster Tips
Keep your hamster where it can sleep undisturbed during the
day.
Keep your hamster cage off the floor, away from any drafts,
on a table or chest.
Do not place the hamster cage in direct sunlight. Room temperature
between 68 to 72F is ideal for hamsters.
Hamsters are loners and have no desire to be in contact with
other pets.
Keep your hamster cage clean. Clean out your hamster's "toilet
area" daily and change the bedding twice a week. Wash out
the plastic floor tray with warm water and mild household cleaner.
Rinse food containers out every other day, and scrub the water
bottle with a bottle brush to prevent algae.
