Hamsters have become one of the most popular and loved pets across the globe. Not knowing exactly how to care for your Hamsters makes it difficult for the owner to look after them.
Most people often don’t realize that even Hamsters have emotions, and even they can feel sad and depressed. A depressed Hamster can be tough to handle and care for.
Some Hamster owners also claim that their little ones starved to end, and they were unable to help them out. Therefore, it is important to keep them happy.
They also need mental stimulation to keep them busy and entertained. That will help them to avoid depression and sadness.
Other things like spaying or neutering, regular grooming, and keeping your Hamster enclosure clean is also essential.
You must avoid making assumptions about what is right and what is wrong for your little one. Stick to this article to learn more about your Hamsters!
How Do I Make Sure My Hamster Is Happy?
By now you must know, sometimes Hamsters are not easythat to take care.YourHamster’s requirements will vary as they grow old but heir love and friendship will make all this effort worthwhile.
There are several factors which you can be concerned about to keep your Hamster happy as well as healthy:
House Your Hamster In An Appropriate Enclosure
Selecting the correct enclosure for your Hamsters is very important. The cage which you choose for your little one must be comfortable as well as safe.
You must ensure that your furry friend does not escape and find itself in danger.
The first thing you should be considerate about is the size of the enclosure. Always remember that the enclosure will be your Hamster’s home. Get them an appropriate enclosure which has enough space for them to play and run around.
We can say that your Hamster must be provided with at least a 30-40 gallon tank or say 4 square feet of space and 20 inches height square feet of space to be comfortable.
I personally would recommend a glass enclosure or a plastic bin type enclosure for your Hamsters.
Besides holding your Hamster against chewing the bar(because there will be no bars, haha)will also make sure that your pet does not escape through tiny openings, keeping himself safe.
If you choose a wire cage, it is very essential to check the spacing between the bars.
Maintain A Comfortable Environment
The ideal temperature for Hamsters ranges from 68°F-74°F (22°C- 24°C). If you live in a place where weather conditions are extreme, then you might need to look into some source or some other alternative method to stabilize the temperature around their enclosure.
If the temperature falls below 60°F (15°C), your Hamster can enter into the state of hibernation.
You can also consider adding some heating pad in your Hamster’s enclosure. However, I would recommend you not to use the heating pads, which are advertised for human use.
Read this article to learn more about, how to keep your Hamsters warm in the winters!
A sudden change in temperature also can harm your Hamster. Make sure that you don’t shift your Hamsters to the hot place from the cold one. This sudden change of temperature can be dangerous for them.
Provide Them With A Healthy Diet
Food plays the role of a keystone in your Hamster’s life, despite the age and breed. You should make sure that you are providing your Hamster a suitable amount of nutrition.
Here’s a list of some healthy food that your Hamster would love to munch on:
- Fresh Hay
- Commercially made Hamsters pellets
- Eggs(smalls pieces only-boiled, scrambled)
- Vegetables: Broccoli, Carrots, Spinach, and Cucumber
- Fruits: Apple(without seeds), Banana, Strawberries, and Pears
Only a few are listed here, there are many others with your Hamster may enjoy. These are the top ones.
Also, water is essential for the survival of Hamsters. If they have not sipped water for a long time, their life may be at risk.
There are high chances that your Hamster is undergoing some physical or mental trauma. Some health issues may be bothering them.
Every Hamster owner needs to provide fresh and clean water to their little friend at least every 24 hours.
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Provide Your Hamsters With Lots Of Hiding Space
It is very important to provide your Hamster with adequate hiding space, to keep them happy and stress-free.
Hamsters love to snuggle into hiding spaces as it helps them to maintain their body temperature and themselves warm.
You can also prepare hideouts at your home for your little ones just by following the necessary measure:
Cut slash a small opening out of a cardboard box to make an opening. Make sure that you do not leave any sharp edges, or your Hamsters might hurt themselves. Your Hamster can use this place to relax.
You can either get a wooden made hiding spaces for your Hamsters or fleece made snuggle bed, which they can get into and feel at home. These are some of my favorites.
Provide Them Enough Toys And Mental Stimulation
Hamsters are active animals. They cannot sit quietly in one place for a very long time.
Toys can enrich your Hamsters life and always keeps them engaged. Besides keeping them engaged, toys also help Hamsters to work out. Try choosing different varieties of toys so that your furry friend never gets bored.
Tunnels: Tunnels are also a great source of amusement for Hamsters. You can build up tunnels connecting different levels of your Hamsters enclosure. Make sure the tunnels you place a spacious so that Hamsters do not have any difficulty in moving.
Chew Toys: Chew toys are a must for your little ones. Hamster teeth are different from human teeth. Their teeth grow throughout their lifetime. Chew toys help to keep their teeth healthy and well-shaped. Wooden chew toys are ideal. Make sure the piece of wood you are buying from local pet stores is free from any kind of pesticides or chemicals.
You can check out this set of 10, Hamster Chew Toys, your Hamster will surely love it.
Provide Them A Sand Bath
Sand Baths are an amazing way to keep your Hamsters clean. Sand Baths are Hamster’s way to keep themselves clean.
Hamsters spend 20-30% of his life grooming himself. Grooming keeps them happy also relieves them of stress.
Sand baths are the best alternatives to water. It ensures the cleanliness of our Hamsters without putting their life at risk.
Sand Baths also helps to evenly distribute the natural oil present in Hamster’s skin. It helps Hamsters to get rid of excess moisture.
I personally love this Niteangel Small Animal Sand-Bath Box, I got from Amazon. Check it out!
- Big Hamster Sand Bath Container - We designed 3 types of small animals sand-bath...
- Reasonable Size of Small Animals Sand Bathing Bathtub - It's recommended for your...
Read this article to learn more about Hamsters and Sand Baths: Sand Bath For Hamsters (Step By Step Guide)
Blankets And Hammocks
Besides providing your Hamsters a warm and cozy place to sleep, Blankets and hammocks are great ways to keep your Hamsters happy.
But it is important to be careful of the fabric you use. As Hamsters chew on anything they have a reach on, your Hamsters will probably also try to chew on the fabric as well.
Also, look for hammocks that are easy to clean and attach to your Hamster’s enclosure.
Clean Your Hamster’s Cage Regularly
It is very important to clean your Hamster’s cage regularly. If your Hamster’s enclosure stays dirty for too long, it can lead to health complications in Hamsters.
They may not seem to be happy while you clean their cage as they think that you are interfering with their territory. Also, spot cleaning is advised.
You should use pet-safe cleaning materials for cleaning your Hamster’s cage. Return things as you found them while cleaning the enclosure.
Keep Your Hamster Stress Free
A Hamster can be easily stressed. Being a prey animal, they are always aware of their predator, which in result can make them scared.
Avoid introducing your new pet to your friends until he is comfortable with you. This leads to stress in Hamsters and they shake their body.
Your Hamsters can even get anxious when they hear loud noises, no matter whether they are housed outdoors or indoors.
There can also be another reason for your Hamsters getting scared like a change in their schedule. Arrange a strict routine for your little one.
Make them trust that they will be fed, played with, and exercised at a particular time.
Check Your Hamster’s Dental Health
As Hamsters teeth are known to grow throughout their life, you should always make sure that their teeth are healthy.
Your Hamster will stop eating and drinking if they feel pain in their teeth. This can lead to serious health complications in them.
Provide your Hamsters with chew toys as munching nibbling on them will keep their teeth filed. Also, a high fiber diet is essential for the oral hygiene of your Hamster.
You should check your Hamster’s teeth at least once a week. If you find any issue take your little one to a vet.
Take Them For Regular Health Check-Ups
As Hamsters are prey animals, they are very much good at hiding their pain and discomfort.
You must know by now that most of the time we come to know about our Hamster’s health issue when it becomes very critical. Therefore, regular health checkups are a must.
Find your Hamsters a professional Hamster vet in your area as every vet is not familiar with the unique illness’ of Hamsters.
Regular checkups help to detect the problem (if any) at an early stage. This will help your Hamster to stay healthy and fit.
Increase Their Floor Time
Exercise is important not only to keep your Hamster fit and healthy but also to keep them happy.
Just let them out in a open and spacious room with closed drafts and ventilations, so that your little friend does not escape.
If possible let them out for at least 1-2 hours each day. This will also help you to bond with your Hamster.
Lack of exercise can lead to various health complications in Hamsters. It can also make your Hamster obese.
Exercise also helps your Hamsters to keep their bodies warm, which is excellent for those cold days.
Hamster Proof Your House
Though it is very important to give your Hamsters enough floor time to play and run around, at the same time you should make sure that your little one is safe and secure while running free.
Hamster proofing home is significant as your Hamsters can harm themselves in several ways. Some of the common concerns among Hamster owners are:
- Escape Routes: You must know by now, how smart your Hamsters are. They may even squash through the holes in a garden fence if you are letting them out to play. You should block every escape route as the domesticated Hamsters will not be able to survive in the wild.
- Electrical Cables: Electrical cables are too attractive for your Hamsters. They start chewing anything they get their hands on. Besides hurting your Hamsters’ teeth, chewing wires can also lead to a fire break out.
- Other Pets: Keep your Hamsters away from the other pet if you have one. Make sure to keep them separated until they come to understand each other.
Handle Your Hamster With Care
Hamsters are tiny creatures and for them, we humans are just a pair of feet if we place them on the ground.
Therefore, it is best to get on the ground or crouch low on the ground whenever you are playing with your Hamster.
This will help your Hamster feel more comfortable and at home. You will not be accepted as a tall and arrogant animal.
It is very important to hold your Hamster the correct way, or else they just become aggressive or overexcited and try to jump off your Hamster.
Do not make a tight grip whenever you hold your Hamster, otherwise they may get uncomfortable.
Always keep your Hamster close to your chest or lap, they will make him feel safe.
Never try to hold your Hamster forcefully, this will just make your Hamster hostile.
Observe And Try To Understand Your Hamsters
As a Hamster Owner, you need to learn to observe your little one.
Each Hamster has its unique personality and observing them intently will help you learn about their behavior.
It is important to read and observe your Hamster’s body language and also take note of how your Hamsters react in front of you.
It is also essential to build a bond with your Hamster, creating the trust can enable your Hamster to respond to you when you call them.
It would be best if you made sure that there are no other pets or people in the room so that you can easily enjoy some quality time with your Hamster.
Sources: Research Gate, Science Mag, NCBI, Science Direct
