How to care for a hamster at home? Care for hamsters: reviews, photos. Hamster Care at Home: Expert Advice Proper Hamster Care

Cute fluffy hamsters with beady eyes are loved by both adults and children. They can be trained, they take up little space. The maintenance of the animal does not require large expenses, in addition, caring for these unpretentious animals is very simple.

How to care for a pet hamster

Deciding to get this cute animal, you need to start by choosing a suitable cage. It must be spacious enough. The distance between the bars should not be too large so that the animal does not escape from the "house". In addition, you will need to purchase accessories for your pet: a feeder and water bowl for water, a special stone to sharpen teeth (don't forget that you are getting a rodent), and a running wheel so that your hamster is always in good physical shape.

Of course, you need a good filler. So that the apartment does not have unpleasant odors, you will have to change it quite often. In addition to a filler with good absorbent properties, you will need to pour sawdust into the cage: hamsters love to burrow in them.

In no case should a cage with a hamster be placed in drafts, since the animal can catch a cold, and this is fatal for him. The animal must be constantly monitored, at the first sign of malaise, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

Hamsters are very prone to stress, so take care nervous system animal. To do this, you need to follow a number of rules:

• Never shout at a hamster, they are very afraid of loud noises.
• Do not make sudden movements near the cage, otherwise the animal begins to feel in danger.
• Provide the animal with peace and quiet. They don't like change, so you don't need to move the cage often.
• Do not show the hamster other pets or populate it with other hamsters.
• Try not to bathe your pet. If this leads to a cold, the animal may die.
• You can not punish hamsters, it can cause too much injury.
• Only those who do not emit pungent odors can stand next to the cage.
• Animals should not be taken out into the fresh air: direct sunlight is deadly for them.

What to feed a domestic hamster

As for the nutrition of hamsters, it should be given special attention. Feeding should take place several times a day, and the diet of the rodent should contain a special grain feed rich in vitamins and minerals. You determine the serving size yourself, in accordance with the appetite of the hamster. Usually the animal is enough no more than three teaspoons.

You also need to make sure that the hamster always has water. So that he does not overturn and do not throw sawdust in the bowl, you can buy an automatic drinker.

The most suitable food for hamsters is grains, nuts and seeds, as well as vegetables and fruits, although not all. From vegetables, without any harm to the health of your pet, you can give potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, apples and pitted pears. The forbidden ones include onions and garlic, which irritate the delicate stomach of the animal, citrus fruits and various Exotic fruits. Fruits and vegetables with a high water content are also undesirable: cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons.

You can include lean boiled meat in the hamster's diet and, as well as pamper him with useful vitamin supplements.

It is desirable that the animal always has a little food in the bowl. In addition, these animals are very thrifty and love to store food for future use. Children love to watch the cheerful glutton rushing around his cage, hilariously hiding especially tidbits of food in reserve.

We must not forget about an important rule: it is unacceptable to feed the hamster from your table. Animals love this very much, but such a habit shortens their already short life.

How long do hamsters live at home

Unfortunately, the age of hamsters is short-lived. When buying, you need to consider that they live less than other pets. On average, this is 2-2.5 years, however, with care and good care, your pet can live up to four years.

Given the short life of a hamster, it is worth buying a young animal. It is best if the hamster is about three weeks old so that he can eat on his own.

A hamster is a sickly animal, and it is difficult to treat them. Therefore, special attention should be paid to choosing a healthy animal. You can even determine the state of his health visually. The hamster should have bright eyes and even breathing, the coat should be smooth and without bald spots. Since hamsters can be carriers of dangerous diseases, it is best to purchase them at a pet store where all animals are checked by a veterinarian.

To prolong the age of your pet, carefully monitor the cleanliness of the cage. Any microbes and infections can be fatal for him. The hamster must have a good appetite, therefore, if the animal has stopped eating, this is also a serious reason to contact a specialist.

Buying a hamster will bring a lot of joy to the whole family. If you follow the simple rules of care, a fluffy ball with a wonderful character will bring a lot of pleasure to you and your children.

Both adults and children become attached to a fluffy pet. Communication with him brings a lot of positive emotions. To make your pet happy for as long as possible, you need to know how to care for a hamster at home.

dwelling

Mandatory elements of arrangement:

• litter - sawdust or special filler (corn, granular), as well as paper (not newspapers) for building a nest;
• non-leaking drinker, usually hanging, and a container for dry food;
• wheel, stairs, tunnels - devices for maintaining the pet's motor activity.

An obligatory element of the cage should be a running wheel. Depending on the size of the hamster, the diameter of the wheel can be from 20 (for the smallest breeds) to 30 cm. If the dimensions are right, your pet's back will not sag. You can not purchase wheels with crossbars or mesh. The animal in them can be injured.

At the request of the owner, you can put a house, toys. It is advisable to put tree branches in the cage so that the hamster can grind down his teeth. As well as a piece of chalk to replenish calcium reserves.

Hygiene rules

Caring for hamsters requires compliance with certain hygiene requirements. The padding is important. It should be hygroscopic (absorb urine), not have its own smell, because. this can lead to respiratory problems in the pet. The litter layer should be at least 3-5 cm so that the animal can dig into it.

The cage should be washed once a month with soapy water. In this case, the litter is completely replaced. The latrine of the rodent is cleaned two to three times a week, adding filler.

Hamster nails require special care, they need to be shortened periodically with scissors. If a small wound appears during the hygiene procedure, it must be treated with hemostatic and disinfectants.

Caring for wool is the prerogative of the animal itself. Hamsters are very clean. Experts disagree on whether it is necessary to bathe it. The best option is to use sand for this purpose, which is best purchased at a pet store. Human participation in the procedure is not required. When a container with sand appears in the cage, the animal itself begins to rub in it, somersault, cleaning the fur and grinding off the claws.

If there is severe pollution, you can bathe the hamster in the water. She must be warm. Only special detergents can be used. Water should not get on the muzzle, in the ears. After bathing, the animal is wrapped in a towel, then dried with a warm hair dryer until completely dry. Only a completely dry animal is returned to the house.

Knowing how to properly care for a hamster at home will help to avoid illness, injury, and prolong the life of your pet.

Nutrition

To feed hamsters in pet stores sell special mixtures. They can be granular, cereal. Fresh vegetables and fruits must be added to the feed:

• carrot;
• apples;
• cucumbers;
• greenery.

Treats for rodents - nuts and seeds. But frequent inclusion of them in the diet is also undesirable. A useful addition to regular food is low-fat cottage cheese, egg white, boiled chicken breast without salt and spices. Such diet meals are recommended 1-2 times a week.

Feeding hamsters should be regular, 2 times a day. The amount depends on the size of the pet. It is desirable that dry food be in the cage all the time. Drinking water is provided good quality. Change daily, make sure it doesn't run out.

There are different opinions on how to offer food to the animal: in a special bowl or scatter on the litter. Each option has its own advantages:

• in the first case, it will be possible to control the amount of food, maintain cleanliness in the cage;
• in the second, hamsters will be close to natural conditions for searching for food and stocking up, and for Djungarian hamsters living in a pair or group, there will be no reason for clashes.

Experts recommend correctly calculating the animal's needs for food so that it does not have the opportunity to create reserves for itself by storing part of the food. This will allow you to maintain hygiene rules without ruining your pet's pantry during cleaning. Animals experience severe stress when their stores are depleted,

walking

Hamsters in nature are very mobile animals that travel long distances in search of food.

They are very active, often coming into conflict with fellow tribesmen and natural enemies. The wheel, labyrinths, ladders in the cage help make your pet's life more diverse. To bring home conditions as close as possible to the conditions of the natural environment, you can organize hamster walks.

He is not allowed to walk freely around the room. There is a danger that he will run away, then everything that gets in the way can be damaged (from clothes to electrical wires). Yes, and he himself runs the risk of falling under the feet of the owners. It is better if you purchase a special walking ball for these purposes (its diameter will depend on the breed of your pet). Another option is to make a special walking area 1x1 m in size with a variety of devices for active pastime. Walking on the street of such small rodents is categorically not recommended.

Fundamental rules

A few more simple rules of care:

1. Hamsters are very responsive to loud sounds, noises, sudden movements. This environment can cause stress.
2. It is important that the rodent feel comfortable while cleaning the home. Alien hands in a cage is perceived as an encroachment on the territory of a competitor. Therefore, it is better to put him in another box for this time.
3. The owner's hands should not have a strong smell. Its appearance in the cage, on the pet's fur is also a cause for stress.
4. There should be no sharp objects in the cage and walking area. Hamsters are not afraid of heights, falling from the table, shelves can damage the internal organs.

The appearance on the territory of a permanent inhabitant of another animal can lead to conflict between them. The formation of a couple, pregnancy and childbirth is a topic for a separate discussion.

Hamsters (Crsetinae) are rodents belonging to the Hamster family. These are small, rather dense rodents that have short limbs, small ears and a characteristic short tail.

What to look for when buying

When choosing and purchasing such a pet as a hamster, it is necessary to make the most careful examination of the animal:

• first of all, you need to examine the eyes, which should be cheerful, healthy and shiny, not scratched and without pathological discharge;
• you also need to examine the anus. Around the hole, the fur should not be stained with secretions, since in this case one can assume prolonged diarrhea in the animal, which is caused not only by nutritional errors, but also by infectious or somatic diseases;
• among other things, the coat is subject to careful examination, which should have a uniform, shiny, fluffy or smooth, absolutely healthy appearance.

After an external examination of the hamster is performed, the animal should be carefully picked up and gently felt:

• the tummy of a pet should be elastic and dense, without concavities, which does not allow protruding ribs to be clearly felt;
• with manual palpation, it is very easy to determine the places of scratching or biting, which are most often located in the lumbar region or near the sacrum.

Among other things, only by picking up a hamster can you first determine its character and attitude towards people. The animal should show keen interest, and not bite, scratch or tear out of the hands.

It is interesting! Before you buy a hamster, you need to find out its age. The best option would be to purchase a one and a half month old animal, which very quickly adapts to its new habitat.

Basic rules for keeping a hamster

For proper maintenance, the owner of such a pet is enough to perform the most basic hygiene procedures, including washing the feeder, cleaning the toilet, and updating the litter as needed. It is important to remember that by making any permutations in the cage of a rodent, you can provoke very serious stress in the animal.

It is interesting! It is not recommended to frequently change the location of the cage with the hamster, since such “moves” usually have an extremely negative effect on the psyche of the pet, and the systematic removal of the rodent outside the living quarters is a completely bad idea.

Housing arrangement, habitat

Any pet needs its own, convenient and comfortable home, and living conditions in such a house should be as close as possible to the natural habitat. Of course, the conditions of the cage keeping of a hamster imply some restrictions, but a responsible owner will always try to provide his pet with an optimal existence. In the process of choosing a cage, it is very important to consider the size, as well as the number of pets and their habits.

Experts determined the smallest size of a cage suitable for keeping a hamster at home - 50x30 cm, which is explained by the increased motor activity of such an animal. Under natural conditions, a hamster is able to run more than ten kilometers in a day, and a strong lack of movement or physical inactivity can adversely affect the health of a rodent, provoking the development of obesity or pathology of the cardiac and vascular system.

Of particular importance is attached to the rods in the future home of the hamster. They should not be placed vertically and have too narrow or wide distance between them. For dwarf hamsters, the distance between the twigs is set within 3-5mm, and a gap of no more than 8-10mm is sufficient. There should be two or more floors in a standard cage, at least a quarter of a meter high and no more than 30-35cm high. To distinguish between floors, special plastic shelves are used without fail, and not lattice bases.

The most popular are metal cages with a solid bottom and rounded corners or a standard exhaust pan. The door should open upwards and have a high-quality fixing latch. It is very convenient to use structures with a removable ceiling part, which makes it easy to carry out regular cleaning of the cage. In recent years, more and more often, owners of domestic hamsters have purchased Plexiglas houses covered with a special lattice.

Important! Remember that for home maintenance dwarf breeds hamsters are well suited for small cages, and for Syrians, you will need to pick up a fairly large dwelling with a large drum.

In addition to the standard wheel in a hamster cage, you need to place various ladders and cubes, a walking ball, as well as safe driftwood and pieces of wood. As a refuge for the animal, a small house made of environmentally friendly plastic or properly processed wood is most often used.

Hamster Nutrition Features

A significant part of the standard diet of a domestic rodent should be a special food designed to feed the hamster. Such ready-made diets are granular or seed-based mixtures, which allows you to fully provide your pet with the nutritional components necessary for full growth and development.

It must be remembered that, regardless of breed, hamsters are extremely difficult to tolerate any significant changes in their diet, so it is recommended to constantly purchase the same, but well-balanced and complete food. The transfer to another type of food is carried out very smoothly, within a few weeks. Beans, onions, potatoes, rhubarb and tomato tops, as well as chocolate and any sweets, spices and pickles are strictly contraindicated for pets.

Among the most useful foods for a home rodent are vegetables, represented by turnips, carrots, chicory, spinach, parsley, pumpkin, endive and cauliflower.

Broccoli, green beans and asparagus, raisins, apple and pear, plum and peach also have a positive effect on the health of the hamster. To maintain the teeth in good condition and supply the body of the rodent with all necessary components, it is recommended to use special mineral blocks. Also, special drinking bowls are necessarily installed in the cage, which are regularly filled with clean water.

Important! To quickly replenish the diet of an active pet with proteins important for the body, the protein of a hard-boiled egg is periodically used as a supplement to the main food.

Hamster care and hygiene

Proper care of a domestic hamster includes a number of specific rules, which are as follows:

• it is best to keep a domestic rodent alone, in a separate and optimally sized cage;
• in the room where the cage is located, normal temperature conditions and sufficient silence must be observed;
• you can’t put your hand in a cage with a hamster, since a rodent can perceive such a movement as a threat to its personal possessions;
• rodents, in order to maintain vitality, must move a lot, eat varied and very fully, and also sleep a sufficient amount of time;
• it is strictly forbidden to punish a hamster, because in this case home pet become shy and experience extreme stress.

Animal care also includes hamster cage hygiene.. Despite all its functionality, a glass cage will require more care from the rodent owner than a traditional metal dwelling. The glass cage needs regular wet cleaning, which is done without the use of cleaners and chemicals. After washing, be sure to dry the cage well in the sun or near heaters.

The biggest problems arise when cleaning the most modern cells, which have a large number of chambers connected by passages and tunnels. Smooth plastic and complex design do not allow complete replacement of the hygienic filler, as well as high-quality washing of the cage.

As a result, inside the pipes accumulates bad smell which adversely affects the health of the pet.

Many of us have fond memories of pet hamsters, which is why these increasingly popular pets are often the first choice for children. They are relatively easy to keep and with regular care and training can become very tame. But hamsters are quite fragile and small creatures that do not lend themselves to rough handling, and therefore are not suitable for very young children.

There are several types of hamsters that are commonly kept as pets, such as the Syrian hamster, dwarf hamster, Russian hamster, Chinese hamster and Roborovski hamster. Depending on the breed, hamsters live an average of two to three years.

Hamsters are sociable little animals, and tend to stay in pairs or small groups, although female Chinese hamsters can be aggressive towards other females, so they are best kept alone. If you plan on keeping more than one hamster, you should get a pair or group of pets together, as they rarely accept new mates once they're already in a cage. Although they generally get along well with each other, occasional skirmishes can occur occasionally, so it is advisable to make sure that the cage is suitable for the whole group, that there are various zones in it, and that, if necessary, an individual can run away.

dwelling

Although specific types of hamsters have slightly different housing and maintenance requirements, the Rotastak system, with multi-colored plastic boxes connected to each other with pipes, will be a good choice for all breeds. Hamsters are nocturnal animals and are somewhat sleepy and quiet during the day, but at night they are very active and love to play, climb, run and explore their surroundings. You can purchase the Rotastak system with the option of installing additional sections, and, in the future, it is easy to change the structure of the housing, or install additional parts and zones in it, which will best suit the needs of your pets.

Sleeping sections should accommodate bedding and preferably be small so that hamsters can snuggle up to each other, other sections, for example, for entertainment and games, should have toys and have as much space as possible. Floors and ceilings of various areas should be lined with wood shavings, and it is best to place pieces of shredded paper in the sleeping compartment. Do not use hay or straw as a substrate, as their sharp edges and edges can damage the delicate cheeks and eyes of hamsters.

You need to be able to maintain a constant temperature in the sections, so make sure the dwelling is located away from direct sunlight, as well as away from radiators and other heat sources.

Feeding

Hamsters thrive on quality hamster food made from grains and seeds. Hamsters also love fresh vegetables and fruits, such as chopped carrots and apples, but it's best to feed them sparingly to avoid indigestion. Another pleasure for them is to chew on spikelets of various grains, such as wheat, to get to the seeds inside. You also need to provide your hamsters with mineral stone to make sure your pet is getting all the nutrients it needs.

Their bowl should be large enough not to tip over during their frantic playtime, and food should be replaced on a daily basis, and the bowl should be cleaned well. You also need to provide your hamsters with a water bottle, periodically refilling it with fresh, clean water.

Games and education

Hamsters, as nocturnal animals, should be allowed to sleep during the day. When you first bring your hamsters home, give them a few days to get used to their new surroundings and get comfortable before handling and handling them. Periodically talk to your pet so that he recognizes your voice, and then put your hand in his dwelling for him to smell it, and, if possible, offer him a treat. Stroke the hamsters very gently and try to encourage them to climb onto your hand. Hamsters are small animals, so you must be very careful not to startle them or touch their ears and head. Hamsters are also quite agile and tend to be constantly on the move, so be careful when holding them high off the ground. Hamsters love to climb and explore, so they may think you are a piece of furniture and will climb up and down you.

Children should always know how to properly approach, stroke and handle hamsters, be sure to watch them to make sure they don't do it too rough. Remember that hamsters can bite when scared or hurt, so always supervise children when they are around their pet.

Hamsters love playing in pipes, climbing ladders, and of course they love their "running" wheel, which is always fun to watch. You can also purchase a special hamster ball that can be placed on any flat surface, and the hamster inside the ball will spin and run safely and without fear of running away.

Cleaning and care

At home, it is advisable to clean the home of hamsters every one to two weeks, using pet-safe disinfectants, at the same time it is necessary to replace all pieces of paper and sawdust located on the floor. Remove droppings and leftover food daily, at certain times, hamsters can be quite dirty animals, but as a rule, this should not take more than a few minutes. Hamsters usually use one spot in the cage as a litter box, which makes cleanup a little easier, and once you've identified that spot, you can place a small litter box there.

List of required equipment

Once you have decided that keeping hamsters is a good choice for you and your family, try this checklist to make sure you have everything you need.

• Rotastak system or similar sections for housing of suitable dimensions
• Wood shavings for the floor
• Pieces of shredded paper
• Suitable food for hamsters
• Feed bowl
• Water bottle and brush to clean it
• mineral stone
• Vitamins and Probiotic Supplements
• Special wheel or ball for hamsters
• Ladders, pipes and toys
• Suitable disinfectant for pets

Hamsters are very cute, mobile and cozy pets. And since these animals tend to be most active in the evenings, they are very convenient to raise for those who return late from work. Caring for hamsters is as easy as taming them. Unlike other small rodents, they do not have a tail, so hamsters look much cuter than their long-tailed relatives.

Origin. There are about 240 thousand varieties of hamsters in the world. The most popular, which people most often keep at home, are Syrian (or golden) hamsters. They can grow up to 13 cm in length. They were first mentioned in written sources as early as 1839, but after 1930, when a female hamster was last seen in the Syrian desert, it is believed that they do not grow in the natural environment. Just like the Syrian ones, Djungarian hamsters and Roborovsky hamsters are also popular. Sometimes at home you can also meet Chinese, Transcaucasian and Eversman hamsters.

When to purchase. If you decide to get this pet for the first time, and still do not know how to care for a hamster at home, then it is best to get a hamster that is 4-7 weeks old, because it is young pets that are easier to raise and train. During the day, hamsters most often sleep, so be careful when buying: if an awakened hamster looks curious and explores environment, then everything is fine, and if he behaves passively, then it may be that he is not healthy. In healthy hamsters, the coat is even, thick, without bald patches and wounds, naturally shiny, the lower abdomen is free of plaque, the eyes and ears are clean, without pus and other secretions, the ass is dry.

It is best to bring home from the store in a special plastic box designed for animals (you can use it later to keep the hamster there while you clean his cage). If you are going to carry a hamster in a paper or cardboard box, be vigilant: with the help of sharp teeth he can simply gnaw through his temporary house and run away.

Single or couple.Hamsters, especially Syrian hamsters, love to be alone from birth., so if you buy a pair, they might fight. Even during mating, one must be vigilant: if the hamsters grapple, they must be quickly separated. Djungarian hamsters and Roborovsky hamsters can live in pairs. If this is your first hamster, it's best to raise him alone. After you bring the pet home, try to communicate with him as much as possible, in this way you will tame him faster. You can talk to him in a calm voice and gradually accustom him to hands. Try to handle your hamster carefully so as not to squeeze his tummy, and do not use cosmetics or perfumes with an intense smell, so as not to irritate or scare your pet.

Varieties. Syrian hamsters are one of the largest. The average length of these hamsters is about 9-13 cm, weight is up to 200-300 g, the coat can be of different colors, but the most popular is golden. It was from this color that the second name of the Syrian hamsters appeared - golden. Djungarian hamsters are slightly larger than ordinary mice. Their fur is fluffy and soft. The back has a brownish-gray or ocher-gray color, the sides are darker, the tummy is completely white. A narrow dark stripe is visible along the back.

Roborovsky hamsters are the smallest. The length reaches only 4-5 cm. A distinctive feature of this variety of hamsters is their white “eyebrows”, which give them a very attractive appearance. But it must be borne in mind that Roborovsky hamsters are very fast and difficult to hold in their hands, so it is not recommended to trust them to small children. On the other hand, it is these hamsters that differ good behavior and rarely bite.

Features of caring for a hamster

Caring for a hamster at home is not difficult. Enough to provide him with a comfortable home and proper nutrition. Otherwise, the animal will not bring you any trouble.

The most suitable dwelling is a metal cage for hamsters (not less than 30x40x30cm) with special equipment (food bowl, drinker, wheel, house, etc.). The bottom of the cage can be filled with sawdust or special fillers that can be found in the store. It is not recommended to put newspapers, cotton wool, threads, synthetic fabrics, straw on the bottom of the cage.

These rodents must be allowed to gnaw tree branches (oak, apple, birch), otherwise teeth will grow too long. Also in the cage should be chalk for rodents or mineral stone. In the house in which hamsters most often sleep during the day, they like to build their cozy nest, so when you clean the cage, do not throw everything away and leave at least a piece of the old nest: hamsters like to smell their own. Try to choose a cage with a wheel so that your pet can play sports. During the night, the hamster runs up to 2 kilometers. The most suitable wheel is plastic, without gratings - it is more comfortable and safe for a hamster.

Nutrition. Hamsters should be fed 2 times a day (20-30 grams of food per day). The best food is for rodents. Various grains, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, nuts are also suitable. Give your pet and greens (sprouted wheat, clover, dandelions, lettuce, apples, carrots, cabbage leaves). Do not feed your hamster chocolate, candy, or other sweet treats. It's dangerous for his health.

It's worth knowing

Hamsters do not feel fear of heights, so do not let them run too high: for example, on the surface of a table or bed. Falling from a great height can cause injury to your pet. internal organs and die.

Try to feed your hamster every day at the same time, in this way he will not overeat, but will take the rest of the food to storage. Throw food out of storage every day and add new food to the bowl. Do not overfeed your pet, as a fat hamster becomes less mobile, lethargic, and may even die.