What Makes a Great Toy For Your Pet Hamster?

Hamsters make great pets. They are small, and easy to handle and are not at all intimidating. In addition they are generally confined to a restricted part of your home, in the cage in which they live.

They can be an ideal pet for younger children and adults alike, although remember hamsters are nocturnal so a child's bedroom is not necessarily the best place for this cage, as the hamster will be awake whilst the child is trying to get to sleep.

Like many pets, your pet hamster will love to play and there are lots of ways you can entertain him, and have him entertain you.

In the cage you should have a variety of toys and chews including a hamster wheel which will also provide exercise for your hamster. Some plastic cages allow the possibility of adding additional tunnel elements that can be connect to form an intricate play space, suitable for many pet hamsters. As the cage will need cleaning regularly, be aware that these tunnel and tube parts will need to be disconnected and cleaned as well. They can also be expensive if you end up adding a large number of these elements, but there are some free options to consider as well.

There is a wide selection of cardboard and wooden chew toys available from pet stores but a cardboard tube can provide just as much entertainment for your pet with no cost if you use a toilet roll or kitchen towel tube. Once this has been climbed through and chewed beyond recognition, simply replace it with a new one. For more durable toys simple untreated timber can provide ramps and hiding places for your hamster and if it chews the wood a little it will not cause any harm.

Letting your hamster out of their cage to run and explore the world outside his cage is also a great form of entertainment. With a hamster ball, which is a spherical plastic enclosure the size of a soccer ball that you can place the hamster inside, he can roll where ever he chooses without any risk of getting lost or escaping. If you do decide to let your hamster out for a run without a hamster ball, then be sure to first close the doors and windows and block up any gaps that could provide a means of escape for your tiny friend and of course keep a close eye on him whilst he is running around.