Taking Care Of Your Hamster

Typically, animals in the rodent family are not popular house pets. That changed with the hamster, officially a member of the rodent family, an animal that has become a very popular house pet. Like any house pet, they need attention and training so they become tame and used to being around people. And just like any other pet, they need care.

Before buying a hamster, prepare a cage for its home. They do not like sunlight so place a cage in a shaded part of your home. Lay about 2 inches of pine wood shavings on the floor. This will help reduce odors from the droppings. Clean the bottom of the cage about every week so your pet stays healthy and clean.

Hang a water container from the wall of the cage. These are bottles specifically meant for hamsters so they can suck out water when thirsty. These bottles work better than putting a simple dish of water inside, as water from the dish can spill easily.

Since they sleep a lot, make sure the cage you have is big enough to provide an area for your hamster that will be a comfortable sleeping space. One idea is to take an empty metal soup can, lay it on its side, and put some soft fabric in it. Or you can purchase bedding or a house at your local shop.

With all that sleep, hamsters also need exercise. An exercise wheel is a great option. You can also buy toys at the shop where you bought your hamster, like a tunnel that it can run around in.

Last, but certainly not least, is to be sure to feed your hamster healthy food. You can purchase food at the pet store. Supplement the store food by providing a special treat of fresh lettuce or a piece of carrot.

Owning a hamster is no different than being any other kind of pet owner. You must take care of your pet with proper feed and environment. With good care, a hamster will live a long and healthy life and will provide you with many hours of fun.

We've been having hamsters as pets for many years. The main reason we set up http://www.thehamster.org is to share the information and resources we have collected about hamster over the years. We can assure you that they are very cute, loving and intelligent pets that will make your life more cheerful!