To take care of hamsters is very simple. All you need to do is clean out the cage; give them food, water and some attention mentioned in this article.
Cage
There are a number of options to prepare housing for your hamster. A wire cage, a plastic cage (with hamster tubes to crawl through), or an aquarium are some of the most common housing options. The cage is preferably made of wood but not irons so that your hamster will not feel as it is trapped in an iron prison. Otherwise, your hamster will gnaw his way out as it feels not secure and comfortable to be inside a narrow cage. Your hamster will be happy to live in a large space, so make sure the cage is larger enough for your hamster. Also, make sure you use a wire or mesh lid to ensure proper ventilation and air flow into the cage.
Keep away the cage from heaters, sunlight, television or a radio, near to a fridge or any sources of excessive heat which will harm your hamster and will shorten its life expectancy greatly.
Food
Keep in mind that hamsters will pick anything that people feed them. So, you must provide your hamster with a healthy diet of some fresh vegetables and fruits everyday. Hamsters are cute animals and they love fruits. You can slice the fruits up into pieces so that your pet can eat better. Their main diet should consist of pellet or seed food. Avoid any citrus fruits which can be harmful to the hamsters. Beans, tomatoes, garlic, onions, chocolate and any junk food are foods that are not good for your hamster. Do not give your hamster protein-rich food like meat, poultry, fish, butter, milk and eggs.
Get a balanced diet of hamster mix and a bag of hamster treat from your local pet shop. Store the hamster food in airtight containers and cool place to ensure its freshness. Remember not to overfeed your hamster.
Foods for hamsters must be free from chemicals and pesticides. Make sure the food is not contaminated before feeding your hamster. Avoid feeding hamsters foods from roadsides, parks, gardens and lawns. In another words, hamster's food should come from very controlled sources.
Water
There should be plenty of fresh water available in the cage for your pet. Always supply fresh water to your hamster. You can get a specially designed bottle for your hamster. You may also use a bowl but make sure that the bowl is heavy enough so that your hamster will not tip it over. Otherwise, its bedding will get wet easily and you will have to clean it quite often. Besides, you have to refill the water.
Keep filled and clean water attached to the cage with a height that can be reachable by your hamster. When putting the water, be careful not to touch and foul the hamster's bedding. Always wash and refill the bowl or a bottle daily.
Hiding Place
Your hamster needs a hiding place as it loves to hide under a log or inside a box. It will be better to provide your hamster with wooden box instead of cardboard or paper-made box. Your hamster will chew on cardboard and paper-made materials and it is not good for your hamster. While your hamster is sleeping in its hiding place, do not take it out as it needs a place of privacy too.
Toys
Your hamster loves to play toys as it helps your hamster to get fun and entertained. No play will make your hamster becomes a dull boy. Provide your hamster wooden blocks to climb on, plastic boots and a sand bath to remove grease from its coat. Also, provide your hamster with tubes and see-saws, swings, bridges, underground tunnels (such as a toilet paper roll on the bedding), mineral and salt blocks, and wooden gnaw to play around. Hamsters like to play with a wheel too.
Do not crammed so many toys into the cage at one time. Your hamster will get bored playing with the same toys. Get your hamster a new toy and change a different type of toy periodically for your hamster to play with.
Bedding
To avoid your hamster from any allergic reaction, make sure you do not use any scented materials as your hamster's bedding. It is better to cover the bedding with some wood shavings as they are good absorbent and nontoxic. Aspen and other hardwood shavings are good materials for hamster's bedding. In contrary, cedar and pine shavings which contain toxic oils could be harmful to your hamster.
The cage floor should be covered with a 2 inches layer of bedding so that your hamster will live comfortably. Use some paper flakes or shredded papers as nesting materials but do not use newsprint materials as they are harmful to your hamster. No matter what type of bedding materials you used, it is very important to change it on a weekly basis to ensure the cleanliness and healthiness of your hamster. Hamster tends to use the bedding as its bathroom too.
Temperature
Any temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit is not good for your hamster, because the hamster will start entering hibernation. When its body temperature drops, hamster may be mistaken for dead. It is better to keep your hamster at room temperature.
Medical Care and Emergency
Keep an eye on your hamster, if you discover any abnormal attitudes of your hamster, you must consult your vet. Keep your hamster in a warm spot, if you cannot get a vet right away. While waiting for the vet, do not force your hamster to eat.
Hamsters tend to contract with some health problems like skin abscesses, wet tail (a contagious disease), diarrhea, and skin disease. Your hamster will act oddly if it feels sick, so you must settle the problems promptly.
Do not shock if you discover your hamster becomes still and breathes slowly. This happens when hamster enters hibernation, especially when your hamster is in a cold place. To get your hamster to its old self, your hamster needs to be warmed up.
Always bring your hamster for a checkup so that you can monitor your hamster's health. Consult to your local vet about how often you have to bring your hamster for a medical checkup.
Cleanliness
Hamster is smart as it cleans itself, so you do not have to bathe your hamster. If you smell bad odor from your hamster, that is probably coming from dirty and smelly bedding. Make sure you clean the cage more often. Wash your hamster's cage at least once a week. Throw out any debris in the bedding. Any foods that turn moldy can also make your hamster feels very sick and unhealthy.
When dipping the cage in disinfected added water, make sure you remove your hamster to a safe place. Clean the cage with some water and dry it well. You have to take out the old bedding on a plastic bag, tie it and throw it away. Then, put in the new bedding. Now your hamsters will have a clean home.
