Hamsters say they are the perfect pet for inexperienced owners, with small, cute balls of fur that many families and professionals enjoy.
“They are really pets, just like everyone else,” said Tony Adler, co-president of the California Hamster Association, a nonprofit hamster advocacy group. “I think they resemble cats that are definitely self-sufficient. They can take care of themselves, but they benefit and enjoy human interaction. ”
So how do you care for rodents like these “cats”?
How to take care of a hamster?
Adler says it’s time to leave the 160-square-inch cage used by hamsters.
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“The current recommendation is more than 600 square inches of space and it’s not broken,” she said.
Owners need to fill the bottom of the enclosure with 6-15-inch bedding for the animal to dig a hole, Adler said.
Dr. Brittany Childs, a veterinarian at VCA West Suburban Veterinary Hospital in Westmont, Illinois, encouraged parents of new pets to thoroughly study their hamster diet before adopting them. She added that there are many hamster species, but the most common are Syrian and Russian dwarf hamsters.
Childs and Adler agreed that hamsters are animals that cannot live in the same habitat as each other. It is important to distinguish between hamsters and place them under strict supervision when exploring outside the enclosure.
“Hamsters don’t tend to get along with other hamsters, so it’s best to stay alone,” Childs said.
If your hamster has a baby, Adler will help the owner to separate the puppy from the hamster until he is 4 weeks old, keeping the hamster environment as stress-free as possible, and to avoid mothers hurting the baby I urged it.
“She has to be herself and then the babies (men and women) need to separate them so they don’t have more babies,” Adler said. “And in six weeks they have to be completely alone.”
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How much does a hamster cost?
It depends on where a person lives, Childs said. It’s best to call your local vet and learn how much it costs to own a rodent.
Alder estimated that hamsters will start out as the cheapest $100, then cost around $200 to $300 a year.
Are hamsters nocturnal animals?
Do you hear the hamsters ring in your cage at night? That’s because hamsters are nocturnal and most active at night, Childs said.
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