What you need to keep a hamster?

Hamsters are cute furry creatures that are great as pets. But, despite the small size of these animals, they require special and proper care. For this reason, before you buy a hamster, you should create the conditions for its comfortable living in advance. Below is a list of what the future pet must buy:

• cell;
• a house;
• drinking bowl;
• feeding trough;
• fillers;
• restroom;
• mineral stone;
• wheel;
• ball for walking;
• toys

The cage is the main attribute, because it is in it that the fluffy pet will spend all its time. How to choose the right cell and what you need to build on is described below.

• The material of manufacture. It can be metal or plastic. Plastic cells are usually immediately equipped with all necessary equipment, including a wheel, tunnels and other attributes. Of course, this option with a full package is not cheap. For this reason, a metal cage will become a more affordable and equally good choice.
• Dimensions. An adult should be in a cage with dimensions of at least 50x50 or 30x50 cm - this depends on the breed of the pet. A small cage will adversely affect the health of the hamster. Also, do not put your pet in a cage that is designed for a parrot or guinea pig. It should be equipped specifically for hamsters, have the appropriate size and quality.
• Rod Material. This is an important criterion, because hamsters tend to gnaw twigs. It is better that they are made of stainless steel, do not bend or break. It is important that there is no paint on the bars, otherwise the hamster will get rid of harmful substances. As for the distances between the rods, it should be from 5 to 10 mm (depending on the hamster breed).
• Door. Usually there are two doors in a cage. The pet enters and leaves one of them, and the other is located upstairs to make it easier for the owner to clean inside, namely, to clean the feeder, the toilet and update the litter.

You can not put two hamsters in a cage, otherwise the struggle for the territory between them will be inevitable, in the process of which individuals can injure each other. Nature laid so that these fluffy animals live alone. For this reason (if the owner decided to have two hamsters) they need to be placed in different cages.

Another important point: in the cage, nothing can be rearranged, even if the pet, according to the owner, made a mess there. Any rearrangement can be a serious stress for the animal. Often, getting a hamster from its permanent habitat is also not recommended.

A little pet needs a cozy corner where he would create his own nest and stock up on food. The main thing for a home is strength, safety, non-toxicity and weight. There are several types of houses.

• From the tree. This option is environmentally friendly and familiar to the hamster. Shops offer a variety of designs of wooden houses - you can choose the original design.

• Of plastic. Here it is necessary to approach the choice with responsibility. It is important that the plastic is non-toxic, otherwise the hamster may be poisoned. In the shops you can find a lot of plastic houses - from single-storey to multi-level, with different colors.

• From ceramics. This material is considered safe, non-toxic and durable. The hamster will not be able to move it because of the weight of the dwelling, which is a plus. As for the design, you can choose ceramic houses in the form of a fruit or mushroom.

• House carrier. A convenient option that easily turns from a place to rest to a pet into a convenient carrying bag. It is useful if the owner leaves somewhere or simply cleans up in a cage.

• Cloth and other houses. Sometimes the owners buy a house in the form of a hammock or make a cardboard house with their own hands. This is not to say that such materials are durable, because a hamster does not need to quickly chew on its habitat.

No cage can be imagined without these important hamster attributes for food and drink.

The feeder may be one, but it is better to stock up on two at once - one will pour a cereal mixture, and the other - juicy food. The material for the manufacture of feeders is plastic or ceramic. It is better to stay on the ceramic version because of its weight and durability. It is worth noting that hamsters love to climb into the feeders, so it is better that there is a place in it not only for food, but also for a small pet.

As for the drinkers, it is divided into several types.

• A bowl. It is the most common and inexpensive option. But it is worth noting a minus such a drinker - it easily turns over. For this reason, the owner will have to clean up the cage quite often, otherwise the raw filler will cause fluffy pet diseases.
• Drinking vacuum. It is hygienic, simple and convenient. But it is important not to choose soft plastic as the material, otherwise the hamster will quickly gnaw it.
• Automatic and ballpoint. This drinker is convenient and reliable. Pet quickly figure out how to use it properly, so there will be no problems with adaptation. It is only important to choose high-quality material so that the drinker does not leak.
• With a pocket. Such capacity has a special pocket-nose, from where the animal receives water. This option is reliable and hygienic, although the water may be contaminated from the filler, so the owner should take such a moment into account and periodically change the water.

You can not leave the cage without filler. There are two reasons for this: hamsters love to dig in the filler, equipping their habitat with it, and the filler eliminates the sharp smell of rodent urine. The main thing is to choose a safe and comfortable option for the animal.

Fillers can be from various components.

• Hay. This material will be familiar to the hamster, in addition, it is environmentally friendly and low price.
• Sawdust. This option is popular among hamster owners. Only sawdust does not absorb enough odor, and the pet can scatter them around itself, thereby polluting the area next to the cage.
• Pressed sawdust. This option differs from the previous higher quality absorption of odors.
• Cellulose. If the pet is allergic to other types of filler, then you can stay on the cellulosic material, although he is far from the leader in the absorption of odors and moisture.
• Corn. This option is the safest and most effective. But, accordingly, it will have a higher price bracket than previous types.

Another important attribute in the cage is the toilet. Hamsters are very clean animals, so after buying a triangular plastic container you need to put it in one corner or another. Pet quickly get used to the toilet, and the owner will be easier to clean the cage.In this case, you can even get a model with a special scoop and filler.

Many owners are wondering - is it really a running wheel needed for a hamster. This attribute is not entertainment or a toy, without which you can do. The wheel need hamsters to maintain activity. These rodents love to run, but they do not have such a possibility in the cage.

For this reason, the owner is important to buy a wheel, focusing on some criteria.

• Dimensions. They depend on the breed of pet. The wheel can be with a diameter of 14 to 18 cm.
• Surface. It is for her that fluffy pet will “roll circles”. It is important that it is not too smooth and not lattice. In the first case, the hamster will slide and fall all the time, and in the second case, the pet runs the risk of injuring the paws. It is also important to pay attention to the safety of the wheel mounts.

The owner should be prepared for the fact that running in the wheel is a rather noisy activity, and the hamster can do it all night long. In the store you can purchase a silent option, for example, a wheel-plate. The main thing is to have enough space in the cage for this item.

In order to satisfy all the needs of a furry pet, the owner can also purchase an accessory such as a mineral stone. He is needed in order to hamster gnawed at him, thereby obtaining the necessary vitamins. In addition, this stone will take care of the health of the teeth of a rodent.

As for other toys, for example, swings, labyrinths, ladders, all these accessories are fully capable of replacing the wheel, because the main thing for a hamster is to move. Toys can be made by hand, just do not forget about the safety of materials and convenience for the hamster.

About what you need to keep a hamster, see the following video.