Once I decided a hamster was what I wanted, the first thing I really looked into was buying a suitable cage. There is a massive variety on the market but sadly a large portion of those are unsuitable, some even cruel. It seems that manufactorurs don't do any actual research regarding hamsters needs before designing cages. There are however, lots that are suitable. This guide is just a simple list of things to look out for and consider to give you a helping hand when deiciding on what cage to purchase for your furry friend. If you want to find out if the one you choose is definately suitable, don't hesitate to contact me or post a comment on here. The guys over at
Hamster Central (me included!) will be able to help too.
Hamsters are highly active creatures and need plenty of space - probably
a lot more than most people realise! Not only does a good sized cage
provide room for the essentials - wheel, house, food bowl, water bottle
etc - but plenty of room for toys and running about as well.
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Savic Ruffy 2 80cm x 50cm |
The RSPCA recommend cages be at least 75cm by 40cm although most
experienced hamster owners will tell you that Syrians need a little more
space and most dwarf species are happy in cages slightly smaller than
that. However, bigger is better*. There are numerous cages on the UK
market that reach and exceed, this size. Some are quite costly, reaching
up and over £100 but a lot are relatively cheap (£50 and under). There
are also alternatives to the bog standard, wire hamster cage including
aquariums, bin cages (storage boxes converted into cages using a bit of
DIY), furniture "hacks" and cages marketed for other species.
There are a number of things to consider when searching for the right
cage for you and your hamster, I'll try and cover as much as possible in
this post. In no particular order mind you! This is to help you make a
more informed decision when choosing a cage - so that when someone
recommends a particular cage you can decide if it's a good
recommendation, or if it's suitable for yourself and your hamster.
Bar Spacing: Syrian hamsters shouldn't be kept in cages that have bars
further apart than 1cm, a cage with larger bar spacing should be meshed
to prevent escapes. Dwarf hamsters can squeeze through tiny gaps,
although most adults will be fine in cages with 1cm bar spacing, babies
and smaller dwarf hamsters are safer in cages with smaller bar spacing
or in aquarium, tank or bin cages.
Shelving: If the cage includes a bar or mesh shelf, it must be removed
or covered as they can cause injuries and bumblefoot. Solid plastic or
wooden shelves are best.
Holes: Tank style cages, such as the ZooZones, have holes for water
bottle spouts and that, although a lot of hamsters will ignore them, if
you have a hamster that has a thing for chewing anything and everything,
the holes will need to be covered or blocked.
Height: The height of a cage can vary greatly. A tall cage (40cm plus)
must have a selection of shelves and hammocks to prevent falls, or even
better a full sized shelf which will not only prevent falls but provide
loads more room. Short cages can pose a problem where wheels are
concerned - make sure that the cage is tall enough to accommodate the
right sized wheel. Flying Saucers are good for shorter cages as they
aren't very tall.
Base Depth: Cages with separate bases and tops (like wire cages and tank
style cages) need to have a base that is deep enough to contain plenty
of substrate. Hamsters are burrowing animals and require a deep layer of
substrate.
Access: A lot of commercial, wire cages only have small doors which
makes accessing the inside of the cage difficult. Although putting your
hands inside the cage while the hamster is in it should be kept to a
minimum it does make life easier having decent access to the inside of
the cage. The position of the access should also be taken into
consideration - front access is needed if you plan on stacking cages, on
shelving units or relatively high.
Weight and Bulk: Heavy, bulky cages are difficult to move so unless you
are sure you can get help to move the cage when needed, ensure that
where it will be placed means you can clean it where it stands or that
it's light and easily picked up (Savic wire cages have secure handles
which makes them much easier to move).
*In most cases at least - nervous, shy, sick, injured or older hamsters are often better in smaller cages