Hamsters - The Great Escapists

I captured this video cuz' I found it amusing that the hamster is so hyperactive today.

Accessories that you would need for the Cage

The following are the accessories that you would need for the Cage. I'll divide the topic into accessories you must have, and accessories that are good to have. The various pointers to look out for in the various accessories will be discussed in detail in other chapters.

Must-Haves:

Water bottles for hamsters to obtain their water supply. Water in the bottles should be changed frequently even though it may not be used up as frequently.

Dish bowl for food to be added in, so that the hamster knows where to get its food and that the bedding will not be badly littered by food.

Running wheel is essential for the hamster to exercise and work out its fats, especially when it is caged. Running wheel comes in various types.

Bathing dish is needed for the bathing powder to get the hamster clean itself.

Nest the hamster with some cosy small houses. Let it have a good place to rest itself.

Good-to-haves:

Toys and Tunnels to amuse the hamster from time to time.

Cooling metal plates for the hamster to lie down and sleep.

Criteria for choosing Cages

In the previous post, I included information with pictures of cages that you can get for your hamster(s). In this post, I discuss on the guidelines in choosing a cage in general, regardless of the type of cage.

1. Shape of cage
   
   Whatever shape you get, please do not choose a round/circle cage. Hamsters always try to "dig their way out" of the cage at the corners of the cage. A round cage will disorientate them and confuse them. Hence, do not get a round cage
   
2. Ventilation
   
   Always buy cages that have as much opening as possible. Imagine yourself living in a four-walled, humid, hot, stuffy room. If you think that's bad, that probably is bad for the hamster. However, you need to be careful about the opening in places where the hamster can reach. They are great escapists.
   
3. Size of cage
   
   Assuming you are keeping only one hamster, having a big cage allows you to put more toys in and a larger playing ground for hamsters. It also allows you to clean the cage relatively less frequently as hamsters usually urinate at the same spot when they inhabit long enough in the cage. Obviously, the more hamsters you have, the larger should the cage be. This will prevent some fighting and also for hygiene purpose.
   
4. Hazards
   
   Ensure that no sharp objects are in the cage or in the reach of hamsters. Check for cracks in cages from time to time, especially when you are using a plastic or glass cage. Also check the cage before you purchase it.
   
5. Bedding
   
   For a metallic cage, the surrounding of the cage might get dirty due to the hamster kicking out the bedding material when its digging. You can counter this problem by either not using a metallic cage, or use other kinds of bedding (which makes the surrounding less dirty) such as cat litter.