In this guide to hamster care, we give you the essential info you need to get started as a hamster owner! 1. Choosing the right type of hamster for you Injury — Hamsters are very short-sighted, especially those with red eyes, so maintaining their eye health is essential. Because of their poor eyesight, they also have poor depth perception and can often fall off the edges of tables and injure themselves. Always supervise your hamster closely when they’re not in their cage, and make sure they have plenty of ladders or ramps to manoeuvre levels inside their cage. Preferred bedding materials include Carefresh, grass hay, and Yesterday's News. It is also acceptable to use plain white unscented toilet paper or paper towels on a temporary basis. Wet Tail” is the term used to describe diarrhea in hamsters and can be fatal if not treated immediately. Death may occur as early as 24 hours after the appearance of symptoms .

Hamster behaviour - Pet Care | RSPCA Hamster behaviour - Pet Care | RSPCA

Burrowing is a natural hamster behaviour. You should give your hamster the opportunity to display this behaviour by providing lots of deep bedding. What is the best bedding for my hamster? If you decide on a wire cage, make sure to use layers inside, so that if your hamster is climbing along the top of the cage, they don’t have too far to fall if they lose their grip. This stops your pet from hurting themselves. It’s especially important to have regard to this when your hamster is a baby as they can get seriously hurt if they fall from a high level.You’ve chosen a hamster and bought a cage, as well as accessories – such as a wheel – toys and food, but what happens when you actually arrive home with your new pet? If you ask the pet store owner to show you a hamster close up this will do two things. It will show you how the hamster reacts to being handled, and it will enable you to see if your future pet looks healthy. You should never buy a hamster that has a wet tail, bald spots or lumps (except for the scent glands on their legs). You should also make sure that the hamster you buy has clean ears and a clean, dry bottom. Obviously there is always the chance that your pet will become ill at some point after you take them home but you at least want to make sure they are healthy when they leave the store. 3. Watch the way the hamster acts One final thing with regard to health: If your home is very cold for some reason, and your hamster appears to be unconscious, then it’s worth placing the cage somewhere warm to see if the change has any effect. Hamsters can go into hibernation if it’s cold and you may find that’s what has happened. If that is the case then your hamster should awaken once they are in a warm environment. Good hamster care for a long and happy life! With the right hamster care, your furry friend will live to a grand old age (by hamster standards at least!)

Hamster Care: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Hamsters Hamster Care: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Hamsters

Hamsters can get mites and ringworm, so keep an eye on their skin and be on the lookout for any itchy, red patches of missing fur. Loss of fur can also be a symptom of a hormonal disease. Hidden away - in the wild, hamsters are hunted by other animals so their natural instinct is to sleep out of sight. Small cardboard boxes, ceramic pots or multi-chambered hamster-safe wooden hides are ideal for this. Your hamster's enclosure should also contain a range of toys, hideaways and an exercise wheel to get the right amount of exercise and stimulation throughout the day. Hamsters can be very rewarding pets to look after, as long as they are given the right kind of care. Although uneaten food should be removed, it’s important that hamsters are allowed to ‘hoard’ as removing their larder completely will be stressful for them. If a hoard has to be completely removed, replace with a similar amount of food with a little of the old unspoiled food mixed in. How to feed my hamster

Hamster fact file

Animal charities see thousands of unwanted hamsters given up each year, so please consider adopting one from a centre such as ours.

Hamster Care | Pet Drugs Online The Beginners Guide to Hamster Care | Pet Drugs Online

It’s important to note that it’s not a good idea to buy cedar or pine shavings for your pet as some hamsters can develop an allergic reaction which causes problems with their breathing. Find out more about hamster bedding. Which is best, wire or plastic?

There aren’t too many hamster cars on the market. We were hard-pressed to find more than one brand, which piqued our curiosity. What we discovered is something you’ll want to read about, especially if you’re a hamster parent. With the right care and attention, hamsters can make adorable and fulfilling pets, but sadly not many people know how to properly meet the nutritional and spacial requirements a hamster needs to thrive. This is where we come in. We'll tell you all about keeping a hamster, from what hamsters eat to finding the best hamster cage so you can give your little friend all the love and attention they need.

Hamster | RSPCA What To Feed a Pet Hamster | RSPCA

Feed the hamster every day. Hamsters are omnivores, meaning that they need to eat a varied diet of seeds, grains, sometimes nuts, insects, vegetables, and sometimes fruit. You should provide your hamster with a high-quality, varied seed mix. Provide your hamster with enough food each day to fill both cheeks, approximately 15g (1/2oz) for a Syrian hamster or 8g (1/4oz) for a Dwarf hamster. Make sure you provide fresh food every day. As well as the above, your hamster will need a constant supply of water. You may also want to consider getting pet insurance. Hamster cages It can happen if they get too cold, or if their food is in short supply. This can be very dangerous as they will not have enough fat reserves to survive without food for an extended period of time. Therefore, it's important to ensure your hamster’s home is away from draughts and in a room where the temperature is stable.When choosing a play pen, make sure that it has tall sides and is fully secure so your hamster can't escape, and remember to always supervise them when they are out of their usual accommodation. If their playpen is made of wire, the bars should be vertical so your hamster cannot climb out, and narrow enough so they cannot squeeze through and escape – for dwarf hamsters the bars should be no less then 9mm wide. Reinforcing the sides with sturdy cardboard is an option if you are worried. Like all pets, hamsters have their own health issues that you will need to be aware of. Lodged food Refill their home with toys, hides and plenty of deep bedding, including some of the used bedding that you saved Disclaimer: To get the most enjoyment out of this toy for you and your pet, always supervise them when playing and remove the toy if it becomes damaged.