Hamster cage: how to make the right choice

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• Housing

11/03/2018 Some people are accustomed to keeping hamsters in jars and other similar vessels, which is a completely wrong decision, as it often leads to obesity and heart disease.
A cage for a hamster is his home, in which he will feel comfortable and cozy. The owner should pay a lot of attention to choosing a home for his pet - this is directly related to the length and quality of his life. Not all hamster cages available in pet stores are equally good and suitable for rodents. Consultants will strive to sell the most expensive product, often neglecting quality. Therefore, every owner of a little furry should know the basic criteria for choosing a home. Reading reviews on the Internet and looking at photos of cages for hamsters is, of course, useful, but it is better to make a choice in person, having carefully studied everything.

Basic parameters

In this case, size really matters. Rodents love to lead an active lifestyle, so there should be enough free space in their house. For dwarf species of rodents, the ideal size is 50x30 cm, and for Syrians, 60x40 is best. You can buy larger cages, but they will be more difficult and take longer to clean. In addition, many people get hamsters precisely because these animals take up little space. If you see huge houses in a pet store, then know that they are intended for large rodents like a chinchilla or guinea pig. For a simple hamster, such space will be unnecessary.

There are also cages with a size of 20x25. Basically, these tiny dwellings are used for short-term keeping of animals (as a quarantine room or for depositing young animals). An ordinary individual will not be able to adapt to life in a small cage purely psychologically - animals value personal space very much. They mentally divide their home into rooms (bedroom, toilet, place to play, and so on). In a small cage, animals will feel like they are in prison, and the lack of comfort will not bring them a long and happy life.

The distance between the rods also plays an important role. It should not exceed one centimeter, as large gaps will cause the hamster to escape. The rods must be strong so that the animal cannot gnaw them.

Top part

The lattice can consist of cells of different sizes. In plastic cages they are usually smaller, which negatively affects ventilation, and the odor accumulated inside from waste products and gradually deteriorating supplies can adversely affect the health of the animal.

The metal mesh is larger, which provides good air movement, but gives some small breeds (for example, Djungarian hamsters) the opportunity to escape.

The aquarium is the most reliable in this regard, but there is practically no ventilation in it.

Types of cages for rodents

You can find several types of rodent cages in various stores.

1. Metal lattice is the most common and budget option.

Advantages:

• Suitable for all breeds of hamsters.
• Does not cause any hassle during cleaning and disinfection.
• It is easy to attach accessories to it.
• Well ventilated.

Flaws:

• When active, your pet makes a lot of noise.
• The house is open on all sides, which is why the animal scatters the filler outside the house.
• Iron rods can become dangerous for the animal during games.

1. Plastic cage - equipped with various tunnels, running wheels and other places where the rodent can have fun. This is not the best option for large breeds of hamsters; plastic cages with a partition are best suited for dwarfs and dwarfs.
2. Aquarium - made of glass and suitable for small rodents. Currently, such cells are used extremely rarely. A home with panoramic glass will allow you to easily observe the animal around the clock.

Advantages:

• Cleanliness - the furry animal will not be able to scatter its litter outside the cage.
• Good sound insulation.
• The hamster is protected from other animals living in the apartment, if any.
• It will be convenient for the owner to monitor his pet.

Flaws:

• This model is heavier in weight.
• You will have to wash it often as the glass gets dirty easily.
• The house is not constantly ventilated, meaning the hamster will be deprived of a constant flow of fresh air.
• It will be quite difficult to position and secure the equipment.

1. Plastic dune - this option has a plastic bottom, transparent walls and a metal grill on top that provides good ventilation. Such a home for a rodent is easy to clean, the filler will not fall out of it, and nothing prevents the owner from watching his pet.

The most popular companies producing enclosures and accessories for rodents are Ferplast, Triol, Zolux. For more space, your hamster will want a two-story cage or a three-story cage.

A few more tips

In fact, you can stop here and start choosing a good cage for your hamster at the pet store, but we advise you to take your time and spend another minute of your time on a number of useful tips.

1. Don't skimp on sizes. In cramped cages, the animal will feel uncomfortable, which is why it will try to escape or begin to chew on the bars, thereby adding harmful pieces of paint or plastic to its diet.
2. It is advisable to pay attention to the processing of all the main plastic parts - there should be no flash or sharp burrs on them that could injure the animal when playing.
3. Make sure the door has a secure lock. If it simply rises to open it, it will not be possible to keep the cunning rodent in the cage for a long time.
4. Metal cages made of stainless steel are better than models coated with paint. Firstly, your pet will not swallow the paint coating in them if he decides to try the rods, and secondly, such a product will retain its original appearance longer.
5. And lastly, don’t skimp on accessories: be sure to pick up a small burrow house, place or hang a mineral stone inside for sharpening teeth, or install a wheel so that your pet has something to do in a limited space.

Well, now that you have learned how to choose a really good cage for a hamster, you can safely go to the store and buy a new, comfortable and interesting home for your pet.

How to connect two hamster cages

Often, owners buy two small houses for a pet rodent, which become small as the animal grows up. Then the owner begins to think about how to combine two homes into one in order to save on buying a new one? Everything is very simple.

Lattice cages are connected by “biting out” rods or an entire wall and then fastening them with wire to another cage. This method is preferable because it does not incur any costs. In addition, hamsters will appreciate the expansion horizontally rather than vertically.

There is a way to expand the territory of a hamster’s residence without damaging the integrity of the cells. Some companies produce models that initially have a special hole for attaching a pipe. This way, the two cages will be connected by a tunnel, and the hamster can move between them without any obstacles. The main thing is not to forget about the diameter of the pipe - it must correspond to the size of the hamster, otherwise the animal may get stuck.

How much does a hamster cage cost?

Basically, the price of houses depends on their size and configuration. The cheapest cages for hamsters cost from five hundred rubles, but they are worth keeping in case finances are really tight.

The cost of the most sophisticated cells starts at seven thousand. As an option, you can make a custom-made house for your pet - a full flight of imagination and an empty wallet are guaranteed.

There is the following price/quality ratio:

• Lattice model with a plastic bottom - from one to eight thousand;
• Lattice, but made of wood - about six thousand rubles.
• Aquarium - from four thousand.
• Dune - prices vary from two and a half to six thousand.
• To order - from four to twenty-seven thousand rubles (if your imagination doesn’t take you even further).

Basically, a good fully equipped house will cost the owner 2000–4000 rubles.

You can buy used models. But it is worth remembering that a wooden cage can only be new, since it is not possible to disinfect it, and disinfection after the previous owner is a mandatory process.

Often people are faced with the fact that enclosures for hamsters cost many times more than the animals themselves. Some people are not willing to spend that much money on their pets. Alternatively, you can buy a cheap, simple, but spacious cage. The rodents themselves will not appreciate either the color scheme or the aesthetics of their home. What is important for them is sufficient space, which they can arrange for themselves.

DIY cage

Anyone can make it. Such work will not take much time, and you can be confident in the result - “homemade” products are in no way inferior to factory-made products.

Materials and tools

You need the simplest preparations:

• large food container made of transparent plastic;
• “square” mesh with small cells;
• glass;
• a piece of bamboo wallpaper.

Did you know? If the wheel were not secured, but left on the road, then the “average” hamster could travel 7-10 kilometers in a day.

The tools are also simple:

• pliers and wire cutters;
• hacksaw;
• needle file;
• stationery knife and powerful scissors;
• glue gun;
• marker for marking.

If all this “housekeeping” is already at hand, then let’s see how to make a hamster cage with your own hands, step by step.

Different breeds have different standards

Syrians and Dzungarians differ from each other in size and behavior. Therefore, they require different cells.

Djungarian hamsters

This breed is famous for its increased activity. Djungarians run a lot, so it is better to put a running wheel in their house. The dwelling must be securely closed, and the distance between the bars must not exceed the norm.

Buy houses for the Djungarian breed with a good ventilation system, otherwise a toxic odor will begin to accumulate inside.

Syrian hamsters

Compared to other breeds, the Syrian is a rather large animal, so it needs appropriate housing. The size 35x20, often found in poultry markets, will not suit the Syrian rodent, as it will be too small for him. Large houses are perfect for such hamsters.

The distance between the rods should be 5 mm, because the cubs of this breed in the first days of life are able to squeeze into seven-millimeter gaps.

Single-story or multi-story: what to choose?

The classic option is a one-story metal cage. It is easy to disassemble, convenient and quick to clean. This design can be additionally equipped with a tunnel or pen: the dwarf will have more room to run.

The second option is a cage of several floors. For such a house there are a number of additional requirements.

Cparks/Pixabay

The distance between floors is from 17 to 25 cm. If the height is more than 30 cm, the level of injury risk increases.

The floor should be solid plastic, since food, bedding and the rodent’s paws will fall through the grate when running. Please note that the cages have height-adjustable tiers.

So which option is better? It is recommended that Djungarian hamsters choose single-story cages with a large area. Individuals love jogging and free space. This is much more interesting for them than climbing or climbing up bars.

How much does a hamster cost along with a cage?

In various groups or ad sites you can often see people selling cages with their pets. The thought immediately arises: will such a purchase be profitable? Certainly!

If you buy the animal together with the house second-hand, this pleasure will cost 2–2.5 thousand. Agree, definitely a budget option.

If you buy a standard cage with a hamster, which costs about five hundred rubles, in a specialized pet store, then you can spend 3–3.5 thousand. This is quite small compared to other animals. In addition, further maintenance of the rodent will be cheap, which makes these small animals one of the most budget-friendly pets.

Design

This aspect can be divided into three additional ones.

Possibility of disassembly

You will have to clean the cage at least a couple of times a week, so the more convenient it is, the better. The ideal option is detachable models, which allow you to literally “unfasten” the grille from the pallet with one movement and gain convenient access inside.

Aquariums, which are also used by some owners to keep rodents, perform the worst in this regard. Looking ahead, it is worth noting that the aquarium was not originally intended and is poorly suited for a comfortable life for hamsters.

Where to put a hamster cage

The place where the house will stand is very important for the animal’s subsequent residence. Hamsters do not perceive changes in environment well, therefore, if possible, it is necessary to choose a place from which the house will not move in the future.

You cannot place a rodent’s home in a draft, otherwise the animal will blow out, and treating a cold is not the most exciting activity. It is also important to protect this place from direct sunlight, but you should not place it next to the curtains - the hamster will tear the fabric. There should be no radiators or other heating devices nearby. Houseplants need to be kept away - rodents are quite curious and can chew on everything they can reach.

The temperature in the room is not lower than twenty degrees, the room must be ventilated often. Do not allow other pets near hamsters. In addition, the cage should be located away from noise sources such as radio and television, as this can be stressful for the rodent.

Of course, a pet’s house cannot be placed on the floor; it must be on a hill (table, chest of drawers). Hamsters live by instinct, so they perceive everything that is located above as a threat to life.

A good option for the location of the cage would be the bedroom. But here take into account the fact that these animals are active mainly at night. If the rustling interferes with your sleep, the house will have to be rearranged.

Size

In nature, in their natural habitat, hamsters of all breeds are extremely active and energetic, because their life directly depends on the ability to run quickly: they need to go scouting for new food, collect it and take it to their burrow, simultaneously escaping from a predator.

Pets do not need to do all this, but nature takes its toll and requires that energy be spent moving around the cage; accordingly, the rodent should have enough space for this. In addition, he will need separate areas for toileting, eating, sleeping and storing supplies.

The recommended cage size for keeping one individual is 30x30x45, but more is possible. If you are limited in space, you can take a closer look at two-story options, but young and active animals often fall from the second floor, which can lead to injury.