Hamsters are cute little buddies that help enhance your mood and relieve mental stressors. When the hamsters are provided with care, affection, and attention, they build a strong relationship with you. Providing them with a proper diet and nutrition, along with good grooming mainatains the overall health of hamsters. Hamster care is important yet necessary.
Natural Behavior of a Hamster
Whenever you decide to pet an animal, it is necessary to know about their behaviour, nature, and instincts. It helps you better understand them and set up all the facilities according to it. Hamsters are nocturnal or crepuscular animals. Due to this instinct, they remain awake usually in the evening or at night, while remaining asleep during the day.
Hamsters participate in various activities like jumping, running, tunneling, and burrowing. These pets are short-legged, but they do enjoy walking activities. So, many hamster parents prefer having a hamster wheel to keep them busy and active. Moreover, setting up a proper habitat and a moving space is also necessary for good hamster care. The following are some breeds of hamster good for keeping them as a pet:
Syrian Hamsters
Syrian hamsters are relatively larger in size and are mostly solitary, implying that they should be kept alone, as fighting may occur if they are kept together. Syrian hamsters require relatively larger spaces in the cage to roam around. Due to the size and relaxed nature of Syrian hamster care, they are usually easy to handle.
Dwarf Hamsters (Roborovski Hamsters, Campbell)
Dwarf hamsters are smaller in size and much faster than Syrian hamsters. They may be kept in pairs comprising males or females, though this should be done carefully. They will need narrower bars to avoid escaping through, possibly being small and very quick.
Understanding the breed and the nature of hamster care will help you understand them better, and you will be able to provide them with all the necessities. It will help you rule out all the standards of hamster care, enhancing their quality of life by keeping them safe and healthy.
Creating a Hamster Habitat
It is necessary to provide your hamster with all the necessities when you are parenting a hamster. Most importantly, hamsters have instincts for exploring and burrowing. If it is possible for you, provide them with such a space that they can move freely and explore more. But if you are specifying a cage as their living space, try to choose a spacious one. Hamsters need to have a good moving space. While making a habitat for your hamster, you should consider the following:
Cage Size and Layout
The bigger, the better when it comes to hamster cages. The cage that you are going to provide for your pet should be large enough for ample exercise space and comfort for your hamster. The hamster’s cage must have several accessories, such as a solid bottom for the protection of the hamster’s feet, ventilation for the purpose of providing fresh air, locks for keeping it inside the cage, and some space for extra accessories, so that the entire area is not cluttered.
Hamster’s Bedding and Nesting
To keep your hamster healthy and happy, you should choose soft, absorbent, and dust-free materials for making the hamster’s bed. Paper and aspen bedding are preferred by hamster parents as these are comfortable for the hamsters. These materials provide the depth to the beds that ensure burrowing activities can take place. You should avoid cedar and pine shavings because the oils in the wood can be harmful to the lungs of the hamster.
Appropriate Temperature for Hamsters
Hamsters are nocturnal animals sensitive to heat and warm temperatures. The hamster parents need to keep note of it. It is necessary to keep them away from sunlight and warm areas. You should place your hamster’s cage in a cold place. To keep them healthy.
Basics of Food and Feeding Needs
Well-balanced diets are an important contributing factor to the health and longevity of your hamster. A balanced pet nutrition is effective in promoting the digestion process, healthy teeth, and immunity in a hamster. You should consider the following for your hamster:
Right Food for Hamsters
Choosing the right food for your hamster is necessary yet important. Vegetables and fruits are good for them. You can feed your hamster mealworms and boiled eggs for a protein source. Moreover, good pet supplements can also be added to their diet to balance nutrition.
Foods to Avoid for Hamsters
Some foods are not good for your hamsters. Such foods can cause life risks in hamsters. These foods include chocolate, candies, and citrus fruits. Some pet parents also report to vets that their hamsters are allergic to onions, garlic, and salty foods. In some cases, raw beans and raw potatoes can also upset their digestive system. A good water intake is necessary for your hamster. You can use a drip bottle or a large bowl for them to drink water.
Exercise and Mind Stimulation
Hamsters are very active and hence need exercise every day in order to stay physically and mentally fit. Exercising is essential for hamsters because they can become stressed and obese if they are not regularly exercised. You can introduce exercise equipment to your hamster for keeping hem busy and active. The following equipment is good for hamsters:
Hamster Wheels
A hamster needs to have the correct size of the exercise wheel. For a Syrian hamster, a wheel with a diameter of 10-12 inches is good, due to its large size. While for smaller hamsters, a slightly smaller wheel is needed. Additionally, note the wheel surface. It should not be rotating. It is important for hamster care.
Engaging Items
You can make the engaging items on your own, or you may buy the toys for your hamster from the market. Hamsters gain weight easily, so keeping them active is necessary. You can use cardboard boxes for such a purpose. Wooden chew toys and foraging toys are good for hamsters. These help them stay active. Giving your hamsters different toys regularly basis makes their environment interesting and engaging.
Hamster Handling and Social Interaction
Establishing trust is important. It makes the hamster feel relaxed in your presence. You should allow your hamster to come to you, instead of trying to reach out for it. It can be handled with both hands so that it gets supported by the hands. Cleaning your hands before making contact with hamsters is good. It removes food smells that may cause confusion bites. Additionally, in start, try to keep the hamster low to the ground in case it may hop back and injure itself. Never attempt to wake it if it is sleeping, because it may stress the hamster, and it can bite you.
Furthermore, you should keep a close eye on your hamsters for signs of injury and discomfort through body language. When your hamster lies flat on its back, hisses and squeaks, takes refuge more often than usual, and shows aggressiveness, chances are that it is afraid, sick, and environmentally stressed. Looking for such expressions in your pet and giving your hamsters enough space are essential.
Cleaning and Hygiene Routine
Cleaning the hamster’s cage can be one of the most important considerations in taking care of a hamster properly because hygiene matters greatly when it comes to the health of a hamster. Cleaning the hamster’s cage and its accessories regularly can be very important.
Daily And Weekly Tasks
Daily, you should take out uneaten fresh food, check the water supply, and clean up soiled bedding, if any. Then, every week, you should clean the food dish and exercise wheel. You can also replace old pieces of the bedding with the new ones weekly.
Deep Cleaning Tips
A complete cage cleaning is done every 2-4 weeks, depending on the smell and messiness caused by your hamster. You should not remove all the bedding at once. Leaving some of the old bedding in the cage can help retain familiar scents for your hamsters, making it easier for them to cope in their new surroundings. The cages can be cleaned by washing them with warm water and some mild soap.
Hamster’s Health Monitoring and Veterinary Care
Hamsters do not show signs of illness at the stages of the disease and condition. These small pets are at risk of developing serious health conditions without showing any signs of discomfort. In such cases, a slight change in the behaviour or appearance may be an indicator of underlying conditions. A pet parent needs to note such changes. These changes or the warning signs may include the following:
- Breathing difficulties (such as wheezing)
- Tail Wetting (usually due to lethargy and diarrhea)
- Loss of weight and appetite
- Patches of hair loss
- Skin irritation or rashes
These signs could be possible indicators that something is affecting your hamster. To prevent these signs and keep your hamster healthy, you can opt for some preventive measures. These measures will help maintain the good health of your hamster. Some of these measures are given as:
- Cleaning the hamster’s living space daily.
- Providing hamsters with a good, healthy diet and nutrition.
- Keeping them active by making them exercise.
- Reducing stress and the mental factors.
Temporary Care of Your Hamster
If you need to travel, you can take your hamster along or give it to a pet boarding facility for some time. Just ensure to keep or give your hamster to safe hands. If you are taking your hamster along with you, you should carry it in a hamster carrier. It will facilitate keeping it safe from sunlight and excessive temperature fluctuations. Conversely, if you are planning to keep your hamster at a pet boarding facility, ensure your hamster’s safety and comfort. Ask the caregivers to provide your hamster with great care and follow the eating and exercising schedule set by you for your hamster.
Developing a Long-Term Relationship with Your Hamster
Pets feel the emotions strongly and deeply. You must spend quality time with your hamster to build a strong relationship. Making them feel your presence while watching them closely builds a sense of understanding. Your presence matters. Many pets like it when the owner takes them in their hands. It helps feel the comfort and warmth. These cute buddies like to cuddle and move in your hands. These measures help build a long-term relationship between a pet and a human.
Conclusion
Cute little buddies, hamsters are good to pet. They require fewer handling efforts. Caring for hamsters can help reduce your stress and enhance your mood. They require routine health checkups to remain fit and healthy. You can consult veterinarians at Park Hills Animal Hospital for a detailed health review of your hamster care.
FAQs About Hamster Care
Is hamster cage cleaning important?
Yes, it is. It should be done daily to remove the food leftovers or the mess created by them. It helps reduce the infection risk. Moreover, detailed cage cleaning should be done every two to four weeks. When you clean the cage, remember not to remove all the bedding, as it can be stressful for your hamster care to adjust to a new place.
Which foods are good for hamsters?
Vegetables and fresh fruits are good for hamsters care. You can give them occasional protein treats. Moreover, commercial supplements good for hamsters could also be given to them.
What symptoms indicate a sick hamster?
You should look for the signs of discomfort and changes in their behaviour and appearance. You may have a note on breathing patterns, loss of appetite, and unusual fur loss. If these signs worsen or persist, visit a vet.
What is a hamster’s typical lifespan?
Usually, hamsters live two to three years of age. The duration of longevity may vary, i.e., increase or decrease, depending on the hamster care and diet you provide to it.
What can I do to keep my hamster physically active?
You can keep them entertained and busy by providing them with foraging toys. Additionally, you can make them hiding spots and a playing area.
