



Hamsters are such adorable little guys and they are really friendly if they are given time and attention just as you would give to other pets. If you keep them locked up in a small cage with little human contact, they will not be happy, and a companion hamster may not be a good solution.

Hamsters are fun-loving creatures who love activity. A hamster furiously spinning a wheel is a stereotypic image, but it's symbolic of all the energy in a hamster and in other small rodents.

Hamsters love to dig and to burrow. They are curious and like to explore. And eventually they get tired and want a nice quiet place to borrow and to sleep.

Pet hamsters may play well with other hamsters of the same sex, but it's best to keep them in separate cages, except for play time, and to watch over them while they are playing as, seemingly for no reason at all, they can become aggressive. (I did not know this several years ago when I made the mistake of housing two Teddy Bear Hamsters together....)





There are many breeds of hamsters, but the ones most commonly purchased as pets are the "dwarf hamster" varieties, usually 2 to 4 ounces at full growth. Syrian, aka Teddy Bear, hamsters, who grow up to 6 to 8 ounces, are also very popular.

No matter how small your hamster is, the more space in his cage the better, provided that he cannot escape from it. So you want to make sure that you purchase a cage intended for rodents his size or larger. The space between the wires should be 1/2 inch or smaller for dwarf hamsters, such as those on the cages below. If you are housing a baby hamster, I would look for cage wires smaller than 1/2 inch apart.

I prefer cages that have at least two levels; that affords more room to your pet and enables you to provide a good burrowing space at the bottom of the cage.

Here are 5 very special cages for pet hamsters. Most come outfitted with wheels, tunnels, food and water bowls, and beds, but you can substitute or add items you prefer for your pet.





Unfortunately, this modern tribute to arcades is really too small for Syrian hamsters. But, complete with food bowl, water bottle, tubes, platforms, a wheel, and a hideout, Critterville Arcade Hamster Cage is just what you need to get your dwarf hamsters going. And if you want to add more toys, the cage has attachments that allow you to extend to other tunnels and toys.

The base of the cage is deep enough for plenty of bedding and it is easily removed for cleaning.

And, as you see below, the arcade portion of the Critterville cage can be covered when not in use... or when you don't want it to be 'in use.'





Watch this hamster loving his cage:

The Critterville is one of the more imaginative Hamster Homes and I think the hamster who is starring in the video and photos really thinks so too!





Ferplast makes a variety of housing for rodents and other pets. The Ferplast Hamster Cage offers a double-decker for dwarf hamsters. Though it's not as tall as some of the other cages below, it makes up for it by being nice and wide at 23.6 x 14.4 x 11.8 inches. The cage comes with basic necessities, but you can substitute or add others if you wish. My favorite part of this cage is the spacious lower floor which gives your hamster room to borrow if you add more bedding. There is also room on the lower floor for a potty. And you have a 360 degree view of the little bugger in the cage! The Ferplast has very favorable reviews.





Lots to do in the Kaytee CritterTrail 2-Level Habitat, with plenty of space on the bottom for the burrower, platforms for food and water, a wheel, and plenty of tunnels. Cleaning the cage is easier than it looks too, as the lower part can be removed to sift the litter. Measuring 7.2 x 18.2 x 17.8 inches, the bars are spaced at only 1/4 inch apart, so it would be safer for baby hamsters than the 1/2 inch cages.

Perhaps the best part of the Kaytee CritterTrail 2-Level Habitat is that Kaytee makes several toys that connect to the cage to give your hamster even more activities to enjoy.





This cage looks like a lot of fun for a hamster or gerbil. This version of the Iris Hamster Cage claims to have three levels but there's really an extra hidden level on top. If you look on the top left of the cage, you'll see that the ladder enters a little "loft" - maybe a good hideout. The measurements of the 3 Level are 17.72"L x 12.20"W x 19.29"H. Currently available in this size is Blue, Transparent Blue (above), and Red.

The bottom of the cage is removable, making the Iris Hamster Cage easy to clean and there's access to your pet from the top and one side. There's also plenty of room to leave food for your buddy on two trays provided.





If you want to go all out on a hamster cage, the Omlet QUTE is the way to go. As you can see the QUTE is a piece of furniture and it comes in white (above) and walnut. It also comes in larger sizes that have storage drawers at a lower level. This QUTE is 25 inches high, 19 inches wide, and 14.5 inches deep, room for as many hamsters that can get along with each other! And this size can definitely hold the Teddy Bear hamsters as well as the dwarf hamsters. Additionally, the QUTE's size makes it really easy to clean.

Here's what comes along with the QUTE Cage.

You will have plenty of room to add a cubby, a toilet, and tunnels and toys.

Omlet QUTE Gerbil and Hamster Cages are made in the EU but are available in the U.S. and may be ordered from Amazon.com

Make sure that whatever hamster cage you choose, it is placed in a quiet area of your home, away from drafts, and away from pets and little kids that might make your hamster nervous.

That's the buzz for today!

Lady Bee

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