Hamsters have become famous as the most unpretentious pets. This is not entirely true: rodents require a responsible attitude. If you find out in advance how to care for a hamster at home, this is, and the owner will avoid disappointment and dissatisfaction due to deceived expectations. In this age of accessible information, it is enough to use the Internet to read everything about hamsters.

Care for hamsters at home begins with the purchase and arrangement of the cage with all the necessary equipment. But the organization of hamster life does not end there. The animal in a confined space is completely dependent on the owner. Care must be taken to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room all year round.

It does not matter at what temperature hamsters live in nature, at home it should be 20-24 C.

The cage is protected from sunlight, and in hot climates, it is recommended to equip the room with air conditioning. should not be placed close to the heater.

The air should be fresh and clean, free of harsh odors and smoke. Airing the room, beware of creating drafts.

Rodents do not tolerate noise well, so do not turn on the TV, music or loud household appliances near the cage.

A hamster cannot be awakened during the day, it is good if it will stand in a cage so that the pet can hide. Children should be explained how to properly care for a nocturnal animal, and prepare to endure.

How to care for hamsters: daily care

Feeding

The hamster is fed 1-2 times a day, usually in the evening. The basis of the diet is dry food, but it is very important that the pet also receives juicy and protein foods. It should be carefully studied, otherwise the animal may get indigestion or even die.

Taking care of hamsters is often entrusted to children: watching them during a meal is very interesting. Small pieces can be prepared ahead of time.

Pet stores have a rich selection of treats for rodents, but it is better to choose not sweet, without honey and other substances harmful to the hamster. Dried dandelion roots, millet spikelets are a great option for.

The pet is provided with fresh drinking water. Even in a closed drinking bowl, it is recommended to change the water every day.

Maintaining cleanliness

Many are interested in how to care for hamsters so that there is no unpleasant smell from the cage. It is very important for the pet to be healthy and not too "fragrant". Every day, the remnants of food that can deteriorate are removed - rotting fruits or stale meat are dangerous for the owner of the pantry.

The bottom of the cage should be generously covered with filler. Previously used sawdust, but now the most popular. The litter not only absorbs urine, but also allows the animal to dig, make hiding places.

It is necessary to clean up after the hamster daily, removing the soaked filler and adding fresh filler instead. The animals are clean and most often relieve themselves in the same place (""). And general cleaning with a complete replacement of the filler and washing of the cage is not required so often: 3-4 times a month. Excessive zeal in this matter will lead to a nervous breakdown in the hamster.

Communication

Hamsters are far from the most contact rodents, because in nature they live strictly alone. At home, keeping a hamster is also, if there are several animals, then there should be several cages. Such a pet also does not seek to communicate with the owner, so you will have to spend a lot of time taming an independent rodent.

There are certain rules of communication, if they are not followed, the hamster will show fear and aggression, annoying the owner. In the first days after buying the animal, it is better not to disturb him at all, no matter how much you want to cuddle a fluffy lump. For about a week, he will get used to the new house, and at the same time to the voice and smell of the owner. At this stage, it is recommended say the pet's name while feeding.

Domestic hamsters differ little in temperament from wild counterparts, they must be patiently accustomed to hands so that communication brings joy to both the owner and the pet. With hamsters, the main remedy is food reinforcement - you need to teach the baby to take a treat from the palm of your hand. Gradually, the rodent will get used to the hand, then it can be pulled out of the cage. Care must be taken when handling the animal - a tiny animal can be injured if it jumps out of your hands or is squeezed too tightly. It is safest to clasp it with your palms, forming a "house".

Contraindicated:

• wake up the animal
• take from above, from the back (association with a predator attack);
• make sudden movements (even in case of a bite, you need to remain calm).

Hamster care should include daily socializing. If you do not take the pet in your arms for a long time, a “rollback” will occur, and you will have to start over. Contact should occur at the time of activity of the animal (in the evening).

Ensuring activity

Despite the need for movement and diversity, you can let your pet out for a walk around the apartment only at. Otherwise, the hamster at home is in mortal danger - it can get stuck, be crushed / pinched by the door, fall, fall into the pan, eat a poisonous plant, gnaw through the wire under electricity.

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 hamster's cage contain 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 small cages are well suited for home keeping of dwarf hamster breeds, 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 rations are granular or presented with 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 domestic 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 the 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! In order to quickly replenish the diet of an active pet with proteins important for the body, hard-boiled egg protein 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, as in this case the pet will become shy and experience severe 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, an unpleasant odor accumulates inside the pipes, which negatively affects the health of the pet.

There are several types of hamsters. Most of them live for about two years. Hamsters are nocturnal, which means they need daytime naps. To ensure your hamster has a happy and healthy life, you need to feed him the right food, provide him with enough exercise and play time, and clean his cage regularly.

Steps

Part 1

Buying a hamster

Find a place that sells hamsters. If you want to get yourself a fluffy hamster as a friend, go to a pet store, a hamster breeder (if you are looking for a hamster of a special color), or an animal shelter. Hamsters are relatively inexpensive. You will spend significantly more money on buying a cage, toys and veterinary care for them.

Choose a healthy hamster. A healthy hamster should have clean ears, a clean and dry bottom, a small rounded tummy, no bald spots or swelling (except for areas of odorous glands on their thighs, which can be confused with cuts or scabs), clean bright eyes and healthy teeth that should not be overgrown or curved upwards.

Think about the size of the hamster you want to purchase. Syrian hamsters can reach 12.7-17.8 centimeters in length as adults. Campbell's dwarf hamsters and winter white hamsters grow up to 7.6-10.1 centimeters. Chinese hamsters can grow up to 10.1-12.7 centimeters in length. Roborovsky hamsters barely reach 7.6 centimeters in adulthood.

Think about the coloration of the hamster. Syrian hamsters are mostly golden, but can be found in other colors. Campbell's hamsters are usually grayish brown with a black stripe down their back and a white belly. Winter white hamsters have a white color with a red or grayish tint. Roborovsky hamsters are sandy brown in color with a white belly. Chinese hamsters are dark brown with a milky belly.

Ask permission to put your hand in the hamster cage. If the store staff or breeder (depending on where you went) react negatively to this, ask the person to put their hand into the hamster cage on their own. Avoid getting a hamster that bites or scratches aggressively. Also, do not buy a very fearful hamster who prefers to hide and not come out of hiding. A good choice would be a hamster that dares to sniff your hand, even though it won't climb into it. Another option would be a hamster that will be curious and gently try your hand on the tooth (similar to how some puppies do).

Make sure the hamster cannot escape. You will be amazed at how smart hamsters are when it comes to escape planning. Make sure that all openings are closed so that the hamster cannot open the moving and removable parts of the cage. If you are using a metal cage, make sure your hamster cannot slip through or get stuck in the bars.

Understand the territorial instincts of hamsters. Only keep Syrian hamsters alone. They begin showing territorial behavior as early as 5-8 weeks of age and will fight (often to the death) with other hamsters if housed together. Many dwarf hamsters can be housed together if they have been properly introduced at an early age.

Provide your hamster with bedding. The bottom of the cage should be covered with a layer of bedding about 7.6 centimeters thick. Pine and cedar sawdust are not suitable bedding for hamsters as they can cause many health problems. They can contain harmful essential oils and lead to respiratory problems. However, aspen sawdust does not contain harmful essential oils and is ideally safe for use in a hamster's cage. Never use cotton wool as bedding. This is very dangerous for the pet, as it is unable to digest the cotton wool when consumed, in addition, the cotton wool fibers can wrap around the hamster's paws and pinch the blood circulation, which is potentially deadly for your pet.

Part 3

Providing food and water

Feed your hamster daily. Give your hamster enough food each day to fill both cheeks, about 15 grams for a Syrian hamster or 8 grams for a dwarf hamster. Fresh food in the pet's bowl should appear daily. Particularly practical hamsters will stockpile food. Cleaning out these supplies can be stressful for your pet, so if you're worried about the quality and safety of your hamster's food, simply remove the old food and replace it with new food in the same place where the hamster stocked up.

Ensure constant availability of water. The hamster does not drink much water, but when he gets thirsty, it is important that water is always available. Don't put the water in the bowl, as this will quickly get dirty or the hamster will just knock it over. Instead, use a special wall-mounted drinker. If possible, change the water in the drinker every day to keep it fresh, or at least once every three days maximum.

Use kibbles or kibbles. Grain mixtures allow hamsters to eat selectively and choose what is tastier but usually less healthy. Provide the basic diet with kibbles or kibbles and use grain mixes as supplementary feed. Be sure to check that your hamster has eaten a good amount of pelleted food before offering a grain supplement.

Distribute food around the cage and hide it in toys and tunnels. Make the hamster look for him. Simply putting the food in the bowl may cause your hamster to gain weight and be less interested in physical activity.

Don't give your hamster "human" food. This includes candy, pasta, raw meat/fish, sugar, and desserts. Hamsters can develop diabetes. Even food that you don't consider very sugary may be too sweet for your hamster. And it's bad for his health.

Give your hamster treats. Give your hamster treats regularly 2-3 times a week. Hamsters' favorite treats include cucumbers, carrots, apples, bananas, peppers, lettuce, celery, kale, collard greens and dandelion leaves, as well as many other vegetables and fruits. Some of them can be used in the daily diet of hamsters. You can also buy hamster-specific treats at pet stores, such as yogurt chips, hamster chocolate, or pieces of wood that hamsters love to chew on. Some vegetables and fruits are not safe for hamsters. For example, onions, garlic, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and citrus fruits.

Give your hamster a tooth grinder. They come in a variety of sizes, colors and flavors. Since your hamster's teeth are constantly growing, he needs to grind them down. For this purpose, these sticks are suitable. Try to offer your hamster different types of sticks to see which ones he likes the most. Some hamsters completely refuse these sticks. If this happens in your case, be prepared for the fact that the hamster will gnaw on other objects in the cage, such as its bars.

Part 4

Hamster Acclimatization

Leave your hamster alone to explore a new home. When you bring your hamster home for the first time, put him in a cage with fresh food and water and leave him alone. Cover the cage with a thin cloth so that the pet can explore the new home without anxiety. Make sure he has enough food, water and toys to keep him busy for a few days, as you should not disturb him during this period. If there are children, friends or guests in the house, let them know that they should also not disturb the hamster.

Start gradually getting to know your hamster. After about 3 days of loneliness provided to the hamster, you and your pet can begin to get to know each other. When approaching the cage, speak slowly to alert the hamster to your presence. Your hamster may be nervous at first, but don't be upset, remember that he hasn't gotten used to you yet. Start doing normal activities like changing the water and adding food, and replacing old toys with new ones. Also, try to remove soiled bedding. The hamster will begin to get used to the fact that your hand is periodically present in his cage.

Start taming your hamster. Starting from the second week of your hamster's stay in your home, you can start giving him short lessons on domestication. Most hamsters are active from early to late evening and at night. Try to study your hamster's personality and do taming lessons when he is most active.

Respect your hamster's need for naps. Despite the fact that hamsters are nocturnal animals, from time to time they run around the cage in search of food during the day. Although they may appear awake, they will not be in the mood to play with you unless you tell them otherwise. For the same reason, try to minimize other people's attention to your hamster in broad daylight. At this stage, it is important that the hamster gets used to you, the rest of his friends will appear later. Now he needs to understand that it is you who are his friend and will never harm him.

Part 5

Providing a hamster with physical activity

Purchase a running wheel suitable for your hamster. The wheels that come with the cages are usually too small to fit the hamster's back. When using a running wheel that is too small, the hamster's back curves upwards. For dwarf hamsters, get a running wheel with a diameter of at least 20 centimeters, and for a Syrian hamster, at least 28 centimeters. Don't be afraid to get a bigger wheel.

Be sure to provide plenty of toys to keep your hamster entertained. Your hamster will love toys such as cardboard toilet paper tubes, empty paper boxes, tubes and tunnels, nest boxes, plastic tunnels, and other toys that you can chew on. Most hamster owners simply provide their pets with a running wheel and a walking ball for fun. As a result, the hamster develops unhealthy habits, such as throwing around the cage and biting its bars (if the hamster is kept in a metal cage). Your hamster needs more than just a running wheel and a walking ball to keep your hamster entertained. You should have enough toys to periodically update them and keep your hamster interested in them.

1. Set up a play area. Your hamster will love the opportunity to explore outside of his own cage. Having a playpen also makes it easier to clean the cage when you need to get your hamster to a place he can't escape from. For this purpose, you can use a plastic basin with high walls or a small special play arena for animals, which can be found in pet stores.

   • Make sure your hamster can't get to objects that are dangerous to him (such as wires that he can chew on) and that it's impossible to escape from the room.

Hamsters are one of the most popular pets and have conquered millions of people's hearts. Their content does not cause difficulties even for beginners, but you still need to know some of the nuances of care.

Content pros and cons

Hamsters are loved and adored all over the world, due to a number of their valuable qualities.

• Animals do not take up much space in the apartment and are quite content with a small aquarium or cage.
• Rodents grow and develop well alone and do not require the purchase of a pair. The second individual can be brought either at will, or for breeding.
• Hamsters are fairly quiet animals and, unlike cats, dogs, and birds, make little to no noise.
• Animals are absolutely not vindictive and do not hold grudges.
• Hamsters are able to breed in captivity and are unpretentious in food.
• Rodents are good with children, which often turns into not too good consequences for themselves.
• Hamsters are easy to care for at home.
• The cost of a rodent is much lower than the cost of purebred puppies, kittens and other pets.

Most of them live from 2.5 to 4 years, in connection with which their death can cause deep emotional trauma to the child and cause a deep shock.

Basic Needs

Before you get a hamster, you need to familiarize yourself with its basic needs and make sure that they can be fully satisfied. A hamster's needs include a cozy home, thermal comfort, cleanliness, lack of stress, entertainment, proper nutrition, and proper care.

dwelling

As can be seen from the rather impressive list of conditions necessary for a hamster, the maintenance of this rodent is a responsible matter. Among the priorities facing the future owner is the choice of a comfortable and functional home. This point is especially important because hamsters are prone to frequent stress that occurs in them for the most trifling reasons. Therefore, the animal needs a reliable shelter and its own territory, where it would feel completely safe.

As a home for a hamster, experts recommend choosing either special cages or large aquariums. However, the cage in this case is more preferable, as it allows you to install many useful and necessary devices inside. In no case should animals be kept in cardboard boxes, plastic containers and glass jars. The last two types of containers are suitable only as a temporary shelter for the animal, for example, when transporting it from the store to the house.

When buying a cage, you should pay attention to its size, which should not be less than 60 cm long and 40 wide. The height of the structure does not play a special role, the main thing is that the wheel fits inside and preferably a small house. It is optimal if the rods are located in a horizontal direction, which will allow the hamster to move freely in any plane of the dwelling. Sawdust, hay and corn litter can be used as bedding, however, many hamster owners prefer hay.

The fact is that hamsters love to “build nests”, and the use of hay for this purpose is the most convenient.

In addition, if the owners want to leave the house for a couple of days, then straw is also a better option, as it will allow the liquid to go down and will not let the smell out. The sawdust instantly gets wet, creates discomfort for the hamster and starts to smell. In the absence of ready-made fillers, in extreme cases, you can take toilet paper or old newspapers, however, such materials require daily replacement with new ones, otherwise an unpleasant odor from the cage is provided. Cotton wool and fabric are not suitable for bedding at all, so their use should be excluded.

After choosing the filler, they begin to complete the house. It must necessarily contain a drinker, which is a small vessel with a dosing ball or an elongated tube through which the hamster will drink.

Two feeders are also needed, one of which will be for dry food (grain), and the second for fresh vegetables and fruits. Both the drinker and both feeders must have fasteners, through which they are hung on the walls of the cage.

Another necessary accessory for the cage is a mineral stone. It performs two functions at once - it allows the rodent to grind its teeth and saturates its body with useful substances. The place of the toilet in the cage is not indicated in any way: hamsters independently choose a certain corner, and in the future they go only to it. However, when this place becomes too dirty, they move to another, clean corner, and relieve their natural needs there.

You need to place the cage in a quiet place, away from radiators, drafts and direct ultraviolet rays. Also, you should not put it in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bchildren's games and on the aisle, where the animal will not have any rest.

Nutrition

Feeding a hamster is quite an important event and determines the health and well-being of the pet. Below is a list of allowed foods for the rodent, many of which are sure to please him and become his favorite treat.

• dry mix for hamsters is a composition prepared from grains of wheat and barley, pressed grassy granules, sunflower seeds and dried corn, taken in various combinations. This food has a balanced composition and is designed taking into account the needs and preferences of rodents. Dried pieces of various fruits can be added to the finished mixture, but they should be used in small quantities.
• herbal ingredients in the form of fresh and boiled peas, clover leaves, vetch, alfalfa and bluegrass are also necessary for proper nutrition of the hamster. From vegetables, carrots, beets, zucchini, fresh cucumbers and tomatoes, beans, sweet peppers, cauliflower and a little pumpkin are recommended. From fruits, you can offer bananas, pears, apples and grapes, provided that the stalks and seeds are removed.
• Boiled rice, buckwheat, oatmeal and millet can be given 2-3 times in 7 days, the main thing when preparing them is not to use salt.
• Dried fruits in the form of banana chips can be given daily, while dried cherries, dried apricots and prunes are offered much less frequently and exclusively as a treat. This is due to the high content of sugar in them, which, like salt, is quite harmful to hamsters.
• Seeds and nuts also can be given daily. Most hamsters are very fond of walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds.
• From dairy products, you can give a little low-fat cottage cheese and occasionally a small piece of hard cheese. As a source of protein, especially for pregnant females, hard-boiled egg white, boiled chicken, beef and lean pork are suitable. The main thing is that the meat is well-cooked and not tough, since it is strictly forbidden to offer it to hamsters raw.
• flour products in the form of biscuits, dryers and unsweetened cookies, it is allowed to give no more than once a week.

However, a rich diet of permitted food does not at all indicate the omnivorous nature of hamsters. There is a fairly large list of foods that rodents should not eat. Below are briefly considered the most harmful of them, the use of which can cause significant harm to the health of the pet.

Spices are strictly contraindicated for hamsters, they, along with sour and spicy foods, can cause burns to the mucous membranes of the mouth, stomach and esophagus. In this regard, feeding the animal with barbecue, dishes with the addition of vinegar and too peppery food is prohibited.

Despite the fact that most fruits are well absorbed by the hamster's body, the use of some of them is strictly prohibited. These include all citrus fruits and kiwi fruit, which can irritate the rodent's digestive system with a high acid content.

Fatty foods and sweets, including honey and sweets, should also not be given to your pet, especially for Djungarian hamsters. This is due to their tendency to diabetes, which practically does not occur in Syrian counterparts.

Also, pets should not be given pickles, mushrooms, onions, garlic and white cabbage, as well as fruit pits and cones of coniferous trees.

Temperature

The room where the hamster is kept should be at least 20 degrees. Otherwise, the pet will become cold and sick. However, putting the cage next to heating appliances is also not worth it. It is better to determine the dwelling in the back of the room and protect it from the effects of drafts. If the cage is located on the windowsill, then for the time of airing it should also be removed to another place.

calmness

A hamster is more prone to stress than anyone else and needs a calm atmosphere. Putting another adult hamster into the cage has a very strong effect, regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl. Hamsters should be together either from a very young age, or live in different cages. Another cause for concern is bright light. Hamsters are perfectly oriented in the dark and do not need additional illumination. Dirty bedding and lack of food and drink can also cause severe stress.

In addition, the cage should not be constantly moved from one place to another, as well as talking loudly next to the pet, placing it near the TV and leaving a mobile phone next to the cage - a sudden call from which the animal can be very frightened. Females who have just had offspring really do not like it when the owner checks the babies endlessly. As a result, the mother becomes angry and may bite.

Also, you do not need to take your pet outside and let cats, dogs and young children near the cage. It is also not recommended to clean the hamster's cage in front of his eyes. It is better to put the pet in a temporary container and calmly wash the house.

Toys and attractions

Hamsters need entertainment, so it is advisable to complete the cage with a running wheel, a slide and a ladder. You can also purchase a walking ball in which the pet can walk around the house. If time and imagination allow, you can design a walking park for the animal by constructing obstacles and labyrinths in it. To do this, you can use tubes from paper towels and toilet paper, plastic bottles and cardboard.

Water procedures

The next point of care for a decorative animal is the processing of its claws. To do this, you just need to purchase manicure tongs and clearly follow the instructions. So, you need to cut only the free edge of the claw, trying not to hook the capillary. If there is dark pigmentation on the surface of the claws, then you can use a fluorescent lamp that shines through the claw.

In addition, during the procedure, it is necessary to keep hydrogen peroxide and a bandage ready, and in case of accidental damage to the capillaries, immediately treat the wound and the area around it.

Diseases

With proper nutrition and proper care, hamsters rarely get sick, but no one is immune from a number of common diseases. Below are the most common diseases, as well as their causes and recommendations for treatment.

As a treatment, pets are moved to a bright place and 2 drops of Trivita are drunk daily for two weeks.

Rules for caring for newborn hamsters

Caring for newly born hamsters is to create the most favorable conditions for babies and their mothers. So, in no case should newborn babies be touched by hands, and this applies not only to pets of dwarf breeds, but also to all rodents without exception. Otherwise, the mother, smelling someone else's smell, at best, will stop feeding the hamsters, and at worst, she will bite and eat them. The best option would be to leave the family alone for a few days and only constantly monitor the availability of food and water for the mother.

5-7 days after birth, the mother and children are transplanted into a box and the cage is cleaned, replacing the litter and thoroughly washing the items there. In the future, it is recommended to do this every two days. As soon as the babies are covered with wool, they begin to introduce complementary foods. To do this, put a couple of cabbage leaves in a cage, and when they reach a month old, finely chopped boiled chicken. A month and a half after birth, the female is sent to the male, and the babies are seated in different cages or sent to a new place of residence in another family.

For information on how to care for a hamster, see the following video.

Cheerful and playful indoor hamsters, care and maintenance at home require minimal, even a primary school student in terms of strength to look after this tiny pet. At this time, domestic rodents have become widespread and are considered by many as a good alternative to restless cats or dogs.

Keeping hamsters at home

Hamsters are freely sold in pet stores, markets, and forums. There are no problems with houses for funny creatures, there are many options for how to independently equip a cage for a new pet. He will, under normal conditions, live next to the owners for several years, turning into a small member of the family. Before studying the question of how to keep a hamster at home, it is advisable to weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of the appearance of this original pet in the apartment.

Pros of breeding hamsters in an apartment:

1. These are extremely quiet animals, absolutely not interfering with their cries or squeaks to home inhabitants and neighbors.
2. A hamster is a non-aggressive and unforgiving creature.
3. If desired, rodents of any kind are easy to propagate at home.
4. A cage or other device for living an animal does not take up much space.
5. Hamsters in the care and maintenance at home are simple, novice lovers do not have to study special complex literature before buying pets.
6. Children who look after furry creatures develop faster and become independent.

The main difficulties in the question of how to keep hamsters at home:

1. To maintain cleanliness and eliminate sources of unpleasant odors, constant cleaning of the cages is necessary.
2. Rodents living in the wild often spoil the legs of furniture, wires, shoes, and other items. Hamsters require care and maintenance at home in cages or terrariums.
3. Even shy pets can bite with the wrong attitude.
4. Hamsters can hibernate during the winter months.

Glass jars or aquariums are suitable for animals as a temporary shelter. If you decide to keep a hamster at home, it is best to buy a comfortable and inexpensive cage for him. Experienced amateurs recommend purchasing metal structures with horizontal bars and minimum dimensions of 50x30 cm. You can’t buy cages with large lattice cells, tiny animals easily run into the gap between the wire. "Hamsters - care and maintenance at home" is a serious topic that requires a systematic approach.

How to equip a cage for hamsters:

1. Rodents need two feeders for dry and wet products at the same time.
2. Be sure to install a convenient drinker for your little pets.
3. Hamsters need a mineral stone to regularly sharpen their sharp teeth.
4. The animals are happy to use their activity on a durable and beautiful wheel for running.
5. Make entertainment simulators strong and safe, with a solid surface, in order to avoid unwanted injuries to pets.
6. Sawdust, granular or pressed filler, help get rid of odors.

House for a hamster at home

Care and reproduction of hamsters at home is best done in cages equipped with cozy houses. This device plays the role of decoration and a convenient shelter for shy pets. They make it on their own or purchase it ready-made in retail chains, you can order a miniature apartment from amateurs involved in the manufacture of artificial dwellings for rodents from different materials.

Types of houses for hamsters:

Hamster care at home

The basic rules for caring for a hamster are simple and easy to understand. There are a few nuances that need to be studied by a person who dreams of acquiring this miniature pet at home. They are associated with feeding the animal, bathing animals, their life rhythm, depending on the time of year. Fans who want to breed hamsters for sale are required to familiarize themselves with the most important information about the life of newborn babies of this species without fail.

It is desirable to know exactly if children and other family members are allergic to rodent hair. Review the layout of the living space to see if there is free and accessible space for a cage in the apartment. Talk to your children about whether your heirs are eager to look after a tiny tenant or are negative about this prospect.

Rodents in nature have learned to survive by eating both grain food and animal products. They subconsciously bypass harmful plants or poisonous insects, avoiding poisoning. In apartments, pet owners are tempted to give their crumbs pieces of food from the table in order to please the pet, which sometimes brings them irreparable harm. In the question of what you can feed hamsters at home, be careful, it is advisable to know exactly what products are prohibited for these animals.

Plant foods allowed for hamsters:

• ready-made dry diets for hamsters,
• germinated grains of oats, wheat, other cereals,
• different types of nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts),
• sunflower and pumpkin seeds,
• cherries, gooseberries, blueberries, other berries,
• pieces of vegetables processed in boiling water without salt,
• raw vegetables and fruits,
• peas in pods or grains,
• a small amount of wild rose and celery,
• Jerusalem artichoke fruit,
• dried fruits,
• deciduous tree branches,
• greenery.

Permitted animal products:

• fermented milk products (cheese, cottage cheese, unsweetened yogurt) with a fat content of up to 1%,
• boiled chicken meat without spices,
• boiled eggs,
• boiled low-fat fish,
• in rare cases, pieces of peeled shrimp,
• bought in pet stores worms, insects.

Domestic hamsters can easily tolerate care and maintenance at home, but for them there is an extensive list of prohibited foods:

• potato,
• fatty cheeses,
• prepared bird food
• fresh bread,
• acorns,
• red beans,
• brazil nuts,
• any spices,
• fresh milk,
• garlic with onion,
• cabbage causes gas in hamsters,
• muesli,
• fried food,
• tropical fruit,
• mushrooms,
• sweet cookie,
• wild-caught insects and bloodworms,
• tulip bulbs,
• chocolates,
• ice cream.

The hibernation of these pets resembles outwardly a torpor, which novice lovers often confuse with illness. The life of hamsters at home with the onset of winter goes into an economical mode, pets stop responding to stimuli. Several factors contribute to the transition to hibernation - a decrease in room temperature, a poor diet, and poor lighting. After being placed in a warm place, over time, the rodents wake up on their own, but it is not recommended to force them to wake up.

The content of hamsters at home during this period changes slightly, the cage is not cleaned for two weeks after birth, the temperature is maintained at 21 ° C. It is impossible to touch the offspring and disturb the nest after childbirth. A woman in labor is given a balanced protein diet rich in fats, babies start drinking water from 10-20 days of age. When self-nurturing, crumbs are pipetted with hamster milk replacer or powdered infant formula, in the second week, babies begin to look for food without outside help.

Hamsters for home keeping

There are several common species of these animals, slightly different in size and coat color. The smallest is the Roborovsky hamster with a body size of up to 6 cm, and an ordinary hamster will grow up to 30 cm in length. Among amateurs, only 3-4 species are popular, but in nature there are up to 60 of them. Proper care of a hamster is necessary regardless of its origin.

With a black stripe along the ridge, they are popular and best studied, their back is brownish-gray and ocher-gray in color. This species comes from the countries of Asia and Western Siberia, with good care, animals grow 10 cm in size. Caring for Djungarian hamsters at home is simple, they are kept in cages on sawdust, and there is no smell when cleaning the nest daily. It is recommended to settle pets in pairs, to allow breeding from 3 months of age.

Initially, (golden) hamsters were bred for laboratories. Soon, amateurs liked the meek reddish-sand color animals up to 18 cm in size, they began to be intensively bred for home maintenance and care. They love temperatures around 22 ° C, when it gets cold they can fall into a stupor. In the question of how long Syrian hamsters live at home, these rodents do not differ from their counterparts, delighting us with their company for an average of 2-3 years.

There is no separate breed in the natural environment, they are a kind of common Syrian hamsters, differing from their relatives in an incredibly beautiful fluffy coat of different colors. It is not uncommon for babies with smooth and fluffy coats to appear in Angoras' litters. Their back color is varied - white, gray, tortoiseshell, spotted, silver. For this hamster at home, care is required simple without complex nuances.

Outwardly, Siberian hamsters are similar to the Dzungars, but have a slightly lighter back color. In winter, their coat becomes noticeably whiter, which is why they are often called Russian white dwarf hamsters. They live in the steppes of Tuva on flat and hilly terrain. Siberian hamsters are not demanding in care, their habits do not differ significantly from other species. These pets love to wash and brush their hair in a funny way, with the onset of cold weather they burrow into the litter.