Housing
At the rescue we follow the PDSA minimum cage size of 75 x 30cm for a hamster. However, in certain circumstances, hamsters may prefer smaller cages or it may be a benefit for their health to be in a smaller cage, so the Blue Cross minimum of 60 x 30cm is the absolute minimum for a hamster. We will only re-home hamsters to cages that we see as suitable.
There are many places on-line where you can buy a suitable cage, and usually they are the same prices as the small ones sold in pet shops. You can even make a DIY hamster cage. One example of this is bin cage, which can be made from a large storage bin.
We have made a petition aimed at pet shops to make them sell larger cages. Please click the link below and sign it, it will only take a few moments, and is one step closer to improving welfare of small animals.
https://www.change.org/p/government-pet-shops-sell-larger-cages-for-small-pets?just_created=true
Below are examples of set-ups we have used for some of the hamsters at the rescue.
There are many places on-line where you can buy a suitable cage, and usually they are the same prices as the small ones sold in pet shops. You can even make a DIY hamster cage. One example of this is bin cage, which can be made from a large storage bin.
We have made a petition aimed at pet shops to make them sell larger cages. Please click the link below and sign it, it will only take a few moments, and is one step closer to improving welfare of small animals.
https://www.change.org/p/government-pet-shops-sell-larger-cages-for-small-pets?just_created=true
Below are examples of set-ups we have used for some of the hamsters at the rescue.
Bedding
One of the safest and cheapest beddings for hamsters is non-scented toilet tissue. Either rip it up yourself, or let your hamster do it and create their nest the way they like it. The cheaper the better so that if the hamster accidentally swallowed the bedding, it would easily dissolve and not cause blockages.
The main bedding to avoid is fluffy/cotton/wool bedding. The fibres can cause blockages, trap limps, and lead to severe pain or even death in small pets. Unfortunately, some pet shops still sell it because it has a high market and the dangers of using it have only arose in the past few years. It may look soft and comfortable, but it's not worth using when it can kill your hamster, or lead to high vet bills. View the link below for more information.
http://www.hamsteradvice.com/ban-fluffy-bedding.html
The main bedding to avoid is fluffy/cotton/wool bedding. The fibres can cause blockages, trap limps, and lead to severe pain or even death in small pets. Unfortunately, some pet shops still sell it because it has a high market and the dangers of using it have only arose in the past few years. It may look soft and comfortable, but it's not worth using when it can kill your hamster, or lead to high vet bills. View the link below for more information.
http://www.hamsteradvice.com/ban-fluffy-bedding.html
Feeding
It is important to feed your hamster a good mix. Some owners prefer muesli mixes, others prefer nuggets. At the rescue we use both. For selective feeders, we give them Science Selective for hamsters, this it to make sure that they get what they need from their mix and they are not being too fussy. However, most of the hamsters eat Harry Hamster, which provides hamsters with the right amount of protein, fat and fibre from a mix. For a young hamster, a higher protein percentage is more important. However, as the hamster ages, fibre is more important.
With any hamster mixture it is important to also feed your hamster extras. Such as fresh fruits, vegetables, or even things like mealworms or cooked chicken to add some protein into their diet. Hamsters are omnivores so can eat a mixture of foods and many will enjoy tucking in to a dried mealworm or similar as an added protein source.
Below is a list of safe/unsafe food for hamsters. It is worth reading, you may be surprised to discover how many different foods a hamster can eat!
http://www.hamstercentral.com/wiki/Safe_and_Unsafe_Food_and_Plants
With any hamster mixture it is important to also feed your hamster extras. Such as fresh fruits, vegetables, or even things like mealworms or cooked chicken to add some protein into their diet. Hamsters are omnivores so can eat a mixture of foods and many will enjoy tucking in to a dried mealworm or similar as an added protein source.
Below is a list of safe/unsafe food for hamsters. It is worth reading, you may be surprised to discover how many different foods a hamster can eat!
http://www.hamstercentral.com/wiki/Safe_and_Unsafe_Food_and_Plants
