How to Make Hamsters Happy in Cages 2 and 3

Hamsters tend to be extremely clean animals. If they seem distressed and excessively groom themselves, it could be an indicator that something else is amiss.

Bethell and her colleagues then presented the hamsters with additional water containers containing sugary or bitter quinine water, in some of which there was more likelihood for those living in enrichment-rich cages to approach empty containers than those in standard cages.

Size of the Cage

Hamsters require plenty of room to play, exercise and explore. Studies have repeatedly revealed that larger cages provide them with the most optimal environment – the more space you provide the better your hamster will thrive and behave. Larger cages also allow more enrichment items, like wheels, baths and hiding places – creating a homelike setting which will make her happier overall.

As well as being large in size, you should ensure the cage is situated where you can easily interact with it daily for daily interactions with your hamster. Since they’re nocturnal creatures who need somewhere peaceful to rest their heads at nighttime and drafts such as windows can cause stress for them.

An ideal cage should feature a plastic base with wire top that’s easy to clean and escape-proof, and must also be located a safe distance away from other pets like cats (hamsters don’t get along very well), as well as away from living spaces; this will prevent their daytime activity being disrupted.

Hamster cages must provide at least 450 square inches (2,900 square centimeters) of floor space. Unfortunately, most colorful cages available from pet shops don’t meet this threshold and may cause your hamster stress. Furthermore, you should avoid cages with wire floors as these may make walking more difficult for him/her.

Find or repurpose a cage that fulfills the minimum requirement, or repurpose an old bookshelf as an enclosure that meets these dimensions. Just ensure it’s deep and long rather than tall as your hamster will spend most of her time resting beneath her bedding levels. Also include an accessible hideout within their cage as this provides another opportunity for them to chew other than wire bars; making one yourself out of wood or ceramic will give your hamster more options than plastic ones!

Enrichment

Hamsters are highly active animals that require plenty of space to explore. Caged hamsters will quickly become bored and unhealthy if left to roam freely for too long; to ensure they remain contentedly hamsterified, make sure that enrichment activities such as food-based ones stimulate sight, smell and touch while providing physical exercise are offered – along with ample physical stimulation via enrichment activities like climbing walls.

Your hamster may appreciate having various types of bedding to make their cage more pleasurable, such as cardboard tunnels (bury them and leave only their entrance visible), cork logs with diameters at least two inches for dwarf hamsters and three for Syrians, branches for creating hideouts (collect from outside, but be sure only use wood treated with insecticide or purchase from online), and burrows dug into its soil by digging and burrowing which makes your pet feel secure and comfortable.

Add a sand box to your hamster’s cage for multiple daily sand baths that will keep their fur clean and maintain foraging activity in their enclosure. Hamsters love foraging so try scattering food around and encourage foraging behaviors – you could also add safe forage plants such as spider plant, flax or herbs as potential extra enrichment options for them!

One way to enhance the environment of your hamster is to add toys and obstacles into their cage, including safe toys found online or at pet stores as well as branches, twigs and rocks. You could also include hammocks, chewable toys or mirrors to encourage exploration of their environment.

As part of your efforts to increase their happiness and engagement in their cage, be sure to regularly interact with your hamster through play sessions involving giving them toys such as balls to run around in and providing safe environments with no other pets or noise pollution.

Environment

Environment plays a significant role in a hamster’s happiness and wellbeing, with their cage being one of the first things they encounter when arriving home from a trip. Feeling restricted in their space may cause stress-inducing behaviors like obsessive bar-chewing, repetitive climbing and aggression; therefore it is essential that an adequate size cage with plenty of enrichment opportunities provides enough room for exercise and enrichment opportunities.

A secure cage should have a secure top that prevents your pet from sliding under, pushing up against, or squeezing through, as well as being in an environment with stable temperatures (18C-23C), free from drafts and dampness. Wire cages allow more drafts; glass or plastic enclosures may offer greater draft protection; to encourage burrowing hamsters’ natural instinct to burrow and dig tunnels more freely inside their enclosure.

Encourage physical activity by offering tubes and boxes for play, with openings large enough for them to enter and exit easily. Furthermore, make sure the cage is kept away from noisy areas like televisions, computers or vacuum cleaners which could stress out your hamster.

An additional way to encourage physical activity in your hamster is giving them some free run-around time outside their cage every day, giving them time to explore and get some exercise while also increasing socialization, which has been shown to boost happiness levels among hamsters.

Be mindful when playing with your hamster that they are natural tunnelers; without enough room in their cage for this activity, they may attempt to create their own tunnels from within their bedding. To prevent this, choose bedding which is nontoxic, dust-free and easily cleaned – such as dried corn cobs, processed wood shavings or newspaper printed with conventional inks; plain facial tissues cut into strips are popular nesting materials – although cotton wool may cause blockages in their legs or feet and should be avoided as nesting materials!

Security

Hamsters spend much of their lives inside cages, so ensuring they are both comfortable and safe is of utmost importance. A high level of security with a secure lid and strong base is ideal, while positioning in a quiet place without drafts or loud noises could prevent stress for your pet.

An appropriate cage that allows your hamster to interact with other hamsters and provide social interaction is another essential ingredient to keeping them happy. Overly small cages may lead to boredom in hamsters and lead to behavioral issues like cage-bar biting or excessive urine production – both behaviors that indicate distress in hamsters.

An expansive cage that gives your cat ample room to run and explore with room for toys and chewing blocks is essential. Consider also including nesting areas or an exercise wheel to increase activity within their cage.

Wire cages with solid roof and base structures are best for hamsters as they will be less likely to chew through it and escape, though some hamsters may become obsessed with chewing their bars; thus you must provide enough boredom busters in order to stop this from happening. Plastic cages may also work, just make sure there are no gaps or ridges that a hamster could chew through and escape through.

This Savic hamster cage is an excellent option for many owners as it provides lots of room for their pet hamster to explore and play in safety and comfort. Featuring clear door and base panels for easy viewing, as well as front door with roof vent and roof vent for air circulation and top of cage detached for quick cleaning, as well as multiple accessories including play tube and two non-slip ramps to access multi-level play area easily; nest nooks may also be added, along with hanging house for extra privacy for their hamster!