Housing Your Hamster
| House your hamster in a quiet and dimly lighted area of the house. The cage should also be situated away from other pets such as dogs and cats. Avoid placing the cage under direct sunlight as this may cause dehydration in your pet. This is especially important for hamsters housed in aquarium cages because exposure to direct sunlight can create the greenhouse effect in the cage and keep in extra heat in the cage.
Hamsters will thrive satisfactorily in temperatures ranging from 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but they can adjust to any climate and humidity. Avoid drafts and drastic changes in temperature, such as in an air-conditioned room, as they can contribute to respiratory problems. Before you bring your hamster home, wash its cage with a few drops of mild disinfectant and water. Rinse it out, and dry it well. Cover the cage floor with lots of bedding and nesting material. Bedding should be clean, dry, non-toxic, and absorbent. The most popular bedding choice is wood shavings. You need to avoid cedar shavings, since this smelly wood can be too intense for small rodents. Instead go for pine or aspen shavings. (These must be shavings that are produced specifically for the care of small animals.) Also do not use any cotton wool or fluffy bedding cotton material because it can be dangerous for a hamster if eaten. Nesting material can consist of hay, white paper, and cardboard. Put a little in the nesting box to encourage your hamster to make its nest there. Lastly, put some food in the cage and set up the water bottle. Add some wood chews, the exercise wheel, and maybe a toilet paper roll for your hamster to play in. When you get home, let your hamster settle into its cage as soon as possible. Your hamster may be nervous after the journey, so instead of picking it up to put it in the cage, place its carrying box open on the floor of the cage, and let it come out when it is ready. Though you would probably like to start the taming process immediately, you need to leave your hamster alone for the first couple of days (except to feed it, of course). Remember that changing homes was probably a stressful experience for it so it is best to let it explore its new cage. Make sure the cage isn't too close to a window that gets the hot afternoon sun, or by a radiator, or in a draft. The cage should obviously be out of the reach of cats if you have them. Although a cat probably couldn't get in, it could still frighten your hamster. You will have to clean out the cage once a week. After you've cleaned it out replace the food that your hamster stored that won't get moldy. Once a month, clean out the whole cage and wash everything with soapy water and a few drops of mild disinfectant. Rinse and dry well before adding new bedding. Hamster Proof Your Home You should also hamster proof your home to ensure that in the event that your hamster should escape, it will not meet with mishaps. The household is a place of potential danger to hamsters, and steps should be taken to create a safer environment. 1. Potentially dangerous objects, such as household chemicals (e.g. insecticides), household appliances and exposed wires and pointed objects should be tucked away from normal reach of hamsters. 2. Exposed pipe openings should be blocked with a brick to prevent your hamster from falling in. 3. Doors should be ledge or closed to prevent a hamster from being crushed by a sudden door slam. 4. Watch your steps when your hamster is running in the room to prevent stepping on it. 5. Place chemicals with strong smell (e.g. vanish, work glue) away from hamsters as inhalation can cause poisoning.
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| Copyright � 2001 by Amanda |