Hamster cage
[2] Some pet owners house their hamsters in aquarium tanks, and some make their own pens out of wood or safe materials like plexi .
[7] Alternatively, pens with solid walls that contain all the bedding and prevent drafts of air from disturbing the hamster may also be used.
[10] Pens with smaller gaps are usually intended for mice, and are likely to be too small to provide adequate space for any species of hamster,[10] although they may be used as temporary transport cages.
Most colorful wire cages that are sold in pet shops don't meet both size and safety requirements and can cause stress for hamsters.
[10] Cages with more height than width or length are not recommended, as hamsters are burrowing animals and thus need more floor space.
Plastic tank cages range from simple boxes to elaborately designed structures with tubes, tunnels, and separate rooms to encourage exploration.
[7] Many plastic tank cages are designed to be expanded with additional modules that connect to the main pen with clamps or tunnels.
[11] Most plastic cages are too small for hamsters, causing them to become bored and display unwanted behaviors, such as obsessive bar-chewing, repetitive climbing, aggression, or attempting escape.
Also, bin setups offer better ventilation compared to glass enclosures, promoting better air circulation and lowering the risk of respiratory issues for hamsters.
[11] Glass aquariums can be heavy and difficult to move, however, and it may be challenging to find an appropriate top to contain the hamster, most people decide to make the lid themselves using nails, wooden planks cut to size and chicken wire.
[12] Wooden cages must be made of untreated hardwood that a hamster can gnaw and eat, because over time they will chew the pen.
[13] The pouches of hamster’s cheeks are used to carry food[14] from foraging in the wilderness to their burrow and to encourage their hoarding tendencies; it’s imperative to include sprays and scatter feeding.
[13] Some plastic toys and accessories can absorb heat, which is unsafe for dwarf hamsters in hot weather.
[citation needed] The Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare (TVT) recommends that wheels be at least 20 cm (7.9 in) for Dwarf hamsters and at least 30 cm (12 in) for Syrian hamsters, since wheels with smaller diameters can lead to permanent spinal curvature, especially in young animals.
The TVT also recommends providing hamsters with a solid running surface, as rungs or mesh can catch limbs and cause injury.
Houses can be as simple as an opaque PVC tube that is 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter and is closed at one end, but boxes are preferred.
[17] Wooden houses or hideouts made of natural materials can help to keep hamsters cool in the summer.
[16][20] Plastic tubes can pose a large risk to a hamster's safety, especially when arranged into longer tunnel systems.
The plastic tubes do not have sufficient ventilation, and if set at a steep angle, they can cause the hamster to fall and injure themselves.
Cotton fluff has long fibers that resist tearing, and they can easily get stuck in a hamster's cheek pouches or wrap around their limbs, cutting off circulation.
[16] As a safe alternative to cotton fluff, some owners provide their hamsters with toilet paper for nesting purposes.
[21] Cedar and pine wood contains harmful oils that have been known to cause respiratory infections in small animals.
[27] Housing a hamster in as large a habitat as possible and providing a variety of toys and other enrichment will stave off boredom and prevent it from wanting to escape.
[27] If the hamster has access to both the inside of its cage and the outside world, it may collect some of its bedding and hoarded food to establish a new den.
