Considering getting a Hamster, any advice

lisajane8482

Hi all,

My 11 year old daughter has asked if we can get a hamster, I’ve told her we will talk about it so I’m here to do some research.

I’ve been looking online and have done a little research but I always find it’s more reliable to get advice from people who have experience.

I have made a list of what I think I would need to start out with:

Cage – multi floor
Floor covering – wood shavings
Bedding – pet shop bought
Ceramic food dish
Water bottle
Exercise wheel
Hamster house – make sure holes are big enough for fully grown hamster
Food
Mineral and Salt block
Wood gnaws
Treats
Toilet roll middles
Hamster – Syrian?

So the questions:

Have I forgot anything?
Can anyone recommend any cages?

As we have 3 cats the hamster would most likely have to live in daughter’s bedroom where she spends most of her spare time. She would obviously keep the door closed so they couldn’t get in there and she has a bolt fitted on the outside so the cats cannot get in when she is not there (the door easily pushes open). I realise they are nocturnal which is a little bit of a worry, then again she is a heavy sleeper and can sleep through the herd of cats that tears around the house late at night so may not cause a problem. We do have another room where hammy could live that the cats do not enter but she would like to keep him in her room.

Does anyone have any experience with cats and hamsters? and hamsters in bedrooms?

TIA

pawsies

Use a bin cage- very cheap to make and you can get a much bigger cage than the pet stores sell.

Google it and you will see all different designs but get the biggest you can find.

Shavings are not good for hamsters as can cause respiratory problems so I would go for shredded paper or compressed paper like carefresh (but this is expensive).

Something like this is suitable but is 17kg so consider storage space
http://www.finacard-uk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=46&products_id=120&zenid=tgssrv1fukngl6r2fe06f2gnh1

Have a look at hamster forums they are up to date and can tell you what to go for. I use a wodent wheel as this is big enough (the pet store ones are shockingly small and not big enough at all!).

Forget the mineral and salt lick. I use wild bird food rather than hamster food- it's half the price and is more natural for them. The one I get has mealworms and raisins in which mine likes. A lot of what pet stores sell are expensive rubbish so I just give treats like fresh fruit, meat and millet spray.

sheramber

the door easily pushes open)

would this apply overnight when I presume the door would not be bolted.

lisajane8482

Thanks Pawsie, is this the type of wheel you were on about?


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rodent-Semi-Enclosed-Exercise-Lavender-exercise/dp/B00DOZJ3HE


I can't find anywhere that they are in stock, would this be ok as an alternative?
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/accessories/exercise_wheels/174195


She has a hook and eye on the inside so that she can shut her door and the cats can't open it but if needs be I can get in with a good hard shove.


Also, are those ball things that they run around in outside of the cage any good? I remember having one for my hamster when I was little but I am not convinced that they're any good.

TBagpuss

Is she set on a hamster? They are nocturnal which means that not only may it keep her awake at night, but it will mostly sleep during the day, which reduces opportunities to socialise.

Having had both, at different times, we found gerbils much more rewarding, although you do need to get more than one as they are not solitary.

When you talk about wit with your daughter, talk about what her reasons are for wanting a hamster, and wht her expectations are.

Also check your local RSPCA - you may be able to adopt, rather than buying one (I had a quick look and they have 25 hamsters available for adoption within 25 miles of where I live, for instance)

arbrighton

Wish someone had told my hamsters they were nocturnal- they were equally likely to be up and demanding attention/ treats in the day time!

Evil_Olive

I second the gerbils for all the reasons above - if properly socialised when young (make sure you get them from a good source where they've been properly 'brought up') they are very friendly, don't bite and are much more fun than hamsters (mine used to crawl all over me and sit on my shoulders and sleep in my bra )
They don't do well on their own so you would need two. It's best to get 2 sisters from the same litter - males, and also females if unrelated, tend to fight quite nastily and a male/female pair are a no no for obvious reasons

dandelionclock30

Get a pet rat from a breeder, not a pet shop, they are fantastic pets. Miles better than hamsters.
Also if you get a hamster you need to think about the fact it will be making a racket on its wheel all night. So it will keep your daughter awake if its in her bedroom.

meritaten

I think Rats are a better choice too! my son loved his hammies - but didn't love the racket they made at night. and they are 'escape artistes' par excellence. We never did work out how his first hamster managed to escape his cage and then his 'habitat', get out of sons bedroom, cross the landing under the nose of the dog, get onto my bed (avoiding the cat) and curl up with me on my pillow! Through TWO closed doors!
second hamster used the curtain next to his cage to 'line his nest'! but was not very human friendly - he BIT!
third hamster was lovely - but very very boring - he slept 18 hours a day! and his 'awake time' was from 2am!
fourth hamster - another escape artiste - was always 'going awol'! for days at time, then suddenly appearing in the living room as if nothing had happened!

pawsies

lisajane8482 wrote: »

Thanks Pawsie, is this the type of wheel you were on about?


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rodent-Semi-Enclosed-Exercise-Lavender-exercise/dp/B00DOZJ3HE


I can't find anywhere that they are in stock, would this be ok as an alternative?
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/accessories/exercise_wheels/174195


She has a hook and eye on the inside so that she can shut her door and the cats can't open it but if needs be I can get in with a good hard shove.


Also, are those ball things that they run around in outside of the cage any good? I remember having one for my hamster when I was little but I am not convinced that they're any good.

Yeah that Zooplus one is grand! It is huge though hence the need for a bin cage lol

nonnatus

Hamsters are horrible, NOISY nocturnal blighters - very unsociable at times that your daughter will want to play.

A rat from a good breeder, that has great parents and has been well handled is far, far better. Beautiful, clean, CLEVER and affectionate. Even capable of learning tricks and things. Lovely creatures.