Hamsters

• Space: animal welfare organisations (PDSA, Blue Cross) recommend at least 100 × 50 cm of continuous floor space and a height of around 50 cm. A long enclosure is better than a multi-storey tower: hamsters have poor eyesight and can fall.
• Deep bedding: at least 25 cm deep so they can dig, make their burrow and store food. Paper or dust-free wood bedding and hay; no cotton or loose fibres, and no scented bedding.
• Wheel: large, with a smooth surface (no bars or steps). The PDSA recommends at least 20 cm for a dwarf hamster and 30 cm for a Syrian hamster.
• Hides: several little houses and tunnels, and a dark nest to sleep in during the day. Place it away from the TV, screens and vacuum cleaners: they can hear ultrasound that you cannot.
• If you choose a wooden cage: opinions vary. The RSPCA in the UK advises against them; other sources accept them if they are large, well ventilated and protected. Unsealed wood absorbs urine and can become smelly: line the base with washable plastic or vinyl, change the bedding often and check the corners to make sure they are not gnawing them. With glass or acrylic, make sure the lid is mesh so that air can circulate.
• For gnawing: untreated wooden sticks and toys or hay to wear down their teeth.

Every hamster is different: we provide the information so you can choose what is best for your hamster.