MEET THE HAMSTER
Known for filling up their huge cheek pouches with tasty treats, hamsters are one of the most popular pocket pets in the US. There are several different species of hamsters kept as pets from the larger Syrian hamsters to the smaller dwarf species such as Campbell’s, Roborovskis, Winter Whites and Chinese.
Lifespan
2 - 3 years
Diet Difficulty
Low
Good With Kids
Older, respectful children
Space Requirement
Small
Time Needed Outside Cage
Medium
Potty Trainability
Medium
Care Difficulty
Low
Cleanliness
High
Human Interaction Needs
Medium
Cuddliness
Medium
CARE GUIDES
ADOPTABLE HAMSTERS
ENCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Dimensions
Syrian hamsters: 2 cubic ft
1 dwarf hamster: 1 - 2 cubic ft
2 dwarf hamsters: 1.5 - 2.5 cubic ft
Other Notes
- Generally, cages that have more floor space are better than vertical cages as hamsters are great at climbing but not so good at getting down and may be injured if they fall too far. If you opt for a cage with levels be sure to place the levels close to each other and/or add hammocks to fill in the gaps and catch them if needed.
- Wire floors must be covered (we recommend fleece)
- No wire wheels
- No wood bedding of any kind
- Bar spacing must be 1/8” or smaller for dwarf hamsters and1/4" or smaller for Syrian hamsters
Required Enrichment
Variety of chew toys (wood, lava, cardboard)
Nesting material
Hide (igloo, box, etc)
Toys
Wheel