Black mold and fungus can grow on your pet's solid waste, and as a hamster's urine breaks down, it releases ammonia, which is toxic to hamsters. Look for a cage that allows quick access to your hamster without offering the little guy an escape route.īestReviews Tips for cleaning the hamster cageĭespite your hamster's best efforts to keep things tidy, living in a cage means that things will get dirty fairly quickly. You'll thank yourself later.Īccessibility: If you have large hands and the hamster cage only has a tiny door, you won't easily be able to take your pet out for some TLC time. Look for a hamster cage that’s easy to clean. If it’s difficult to disassemble or has areas that are hard to reach, you may find yourself shirking your cleaning responsibilities, and doing that could be harmful to your hamster. Maintenance: You’ll be cleaning your hamster's cage often. If the hamster cage is large enough, you’ll be able to add whatever accessories you like. However, don't get too caught up in making sure a cage comes with everything you want because people often decide they prefer to customize the cage with handpicked accessories. Adequate ventilation is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your pet has a happy and healthy life.Īccessories: Whether it’s a food dish, water bottle, wheel, climbing toys, or tubes, having a variety of accessories included with the cage is always enticing. Ventilation: Although we touched upon this briefly above, your hamster needs fresh air. The cage should be designed so the hamster has a minimal chance of falling a great distance whenever it is climbing.
There should be no jagged edges that could hurt your hamster or entice chewing. The hamster should not be able to escape or even partially escape. Safety: There are a number of safety concerns you need to consider when shopping for a hamster cage. For specific dimensions, as recommended by the National Hamster Council, see the FAQ section. Hamsters like to move around, especially at night, so, in general, the larger the cage you can afford (that will safely fit in your home) the better. Size: Depending on what country you live in, you may find different standards for acceptable sizes.
In addition to the type of cage, there are a number of other options you'll need to consider before purchasing a new home for your hamster. On the downside, this type of cage can be heavy, and any accessories you get will need to be suitable for a glass aquarium. As long as the top allows air to freely pass, ventilation isn’t an issue. However, it’s important to get a well-fitting mesh top to keep your hamster from escaping. This type of cage is easy to open and easy to clean. Plastic cages can be difficult to clean, too.Īquarium: A glass aquarium is an excellent choice for a dwarf hamster (the smaller species) because it offers no bars for the animal to squeeze through. You must be careful when using tubes and other attachments because there is usually inadequate ventilation in a plastic cage, and a Syrian hamster (the larger species) can get stuck in the tubes. Your hamster will chew anything it can get its mouth on, and a plastic cage offers a lot of undesirable options. However, there are a number of cons to purchasing a plastic hamster cage. Plastic: A plastic cage looks colorful and fun to a human, and it’s expandable so you can usually make it as big as you like. With a wire cage, your hamster will be able to toss food and bedding out between the bars. Opening and closing the cage may startle your pet, so you’ll have to do that gingerly. On the downside, you need to be sure your hamster doesn’t chew on the bars, which can damage its teeth. Additionally, your hamster may derive some fun out of climbing the bars. The wire cage is versatile, it offers good ventilation (make sure you keep the cage away from drafts) and it is easy to clean. Wire: A wire cage is an excellent choice as long as the bars are close enough together to prevent your hamster from escaping. When you start researching hamster cages, you'll quickly find there are only three basic types: wire, plastic, and aquarium. Key considerations Types of hamster cages To help your hamster stay healthy, keep the cage out of drafts and direct sunlight. Hamsters do not handle extreme temperatures very well.
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