Care & Health of Hamsters

A clean hamster home is essential for a long and healthy hamster life. In contrast to rats or mice, however, care is much less complex.

Hamsters are naturally very sensitive to changes and disturbances. As soon as something is different, whether it is the cage furnishings or simply the smell in the hamster home, the little rodent can react disturbed or even stressed. For smaller maintenance measures, you should therefore make sure that you do not move all the furnishings. When cleaning the cage or terrarium, only do so at a time when your hamster is already awake. That saves him a lot of stress. Combine a thorough cleaning of the hamster home with a run for your little roommate. If he has to wait in a bucket or carrier while cleaning, it could put unnecessary stress on the little one.

The cleaning

You should check the cage for fresh food leftovers every day. Also, look into the little rodent’s hiding places. If there is only bunkered dry food, then leave everything where the little one put it. Change and move as little as possible during the daily check. This could only stress your hamster unnecessarily. Wet spots are always a health risk. Whether it’s from urine or a dripping water bottle, the wet spots in the litter should be cleaned up regularly.

Hamsters are always careful to keep their home clean. The rodents, therefore, set up a toilet corner by nature. In their natural burrows, the clean wild hamsters usually also have a toilet room, because after all, going outside would not only be a waste of energy but also life-threatening. With the help of a small shovel, you can easily remove the urine-contaminated bedding and replace it with fresh ones. Perhaps you will manage to set up a toilet bowl for your little rodent at this point, which he will also use. All you have to do is lift them out and clean them. The feeding bowls should also be emptied and cleaned daily. Do not use detergent for this – warm water is sufficient. You only have to empty the drinking bottle every two to three days and wash it out with warm water.

Large cleaning in the hamster home only in case of parasite infestation

Full cleaning is only necessary if there is a parasite infestation or if the hamster is sick. Otherwise, partial cleaning is sufficient. If you (have to) clean the entire cage or terrarium, the hamster has to go. A transport box pays off here, in which you put some old bedding and a cardboard tube in which the little rodent can crawl. However, if you combine the big cleaning with a free run for the hamster, you are doing him a big favor. Then the entire litter can be removed along with the hamster food. The “bed” from the sleeping cottage should only be partially removed. The floor pan is rinsed out with hot water and coarse dirt is removed with a brush. You can soak the place of the urine corner with some vinegar. Then dry the floor pan thoroughly.

You can wipe the bars with a damp cloth and vinegar water. If you have a terrarium as a hamster home, this must also be rinsed out with hot water and then dried. All furnishings should also be cleaned. You can rinse the drinking bottle, the feeding bowls, and all other objects made of plastic, ceramic, or earthenware with hot water. Dry brush furniture made of wood. Then reassemble the cage and fill in fresh bedding. The interior of the hamster home should be the same as before the “house cleaning”. As mentioned above, hamsters don’t like change. After you have filled the drinking bottle with fresh water and the bowls with new food and the rest is back in its place, you can put your little roommate back in the clean hamster home.