Proper Hamster Cage: 5 Tips to Choose One

Hamsters do not have really long lives. Actually, when we consider How Long Do Hamsters Live, we soon realize that these little balls of fur will be by our sides for only one to two years.

That being said, it is really important for you, as a hamster pet owner, to provide your hamster with the best life you can as long as they are yours.

That’s why choosing a proper hamster cage is so important, and this guide made by Your Pet, Your Love, is going to show you exactly how to choose it.

What’s a Good Cage for a Hamster?

A good cage for a hamster should be a fun, ventilated, and spacious habitat for your hamsters. It is important to leave aesthetics behind for a while and focus on the things that really matter.

For instance, the space of the cage is way more important than matching the color of the cage with your room – priorities first! Also, choosing the location and position of the cage is also vital – you wouldn’t put a hamster cage on the floor if there were little animals wandering around, would you?

Do Hamsters Prefer Cages or Tanks?

It has been proven by multiple sources that hamsters prefer wired cages over tanks. Leave the tanks for fish – hamsters need to be active, climb onto walls, and explore every little wire around.

Thus, if you have the chance, avoid using hamster tanks and get a wired cage instead. This is vital if you want your hamster not to die from obesity, which is a real problem that hamsters have. 

Some people believe that hamsters can escape more easily in wired cages. Although this might be tough, it is important to get a high-quality cage so they cannot all of a sudden break the wires with their strong teeth.

How to Choose a Proper Hamster Cage

Choosing the right hamster cage is not optional – it’s imperative. If you are not going to give your hamster a good square space to live, then you might as well give it to another family!

Don’t think that choosing the proper cage for hamsters is stressful – it is part of your duties, so don’t wait any longer and check these important five tips.

1. Hamster Cage Type

As we mentioned before, the perfect cage for hamsters is a high-quality material wired cage. These cages often include tubes and toys that will keep your animal healthy and content at all times.

Do not use tanks unless you have no choice, and as soon as you have the chance, upgrade to a wired cage. It is important to keep your hamster happy, they will spend most of their short life inside the cage!

2. Choose the Proper Hamster Cage Size

The minimum recommended size for a hamster size is 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Of course, this is the bare minimum accepted – if you can get a bigger cage, then the better your hamster will feel.

There are different sizes and shapes of cages, and although your hamster will look pretty small when you get it from the store, it will grow. So, at first, you might think that you require a small cage, but as time passes (and believe us, hamsters grow really fast), they will need more depth to complete their adventures.

3. Get an Easy to Clean Hamster Cage

Hamster cages need to be cleaned every day without exception. Hamsters poop a lot, and they need to dig in the sand or hamster material you use for the cages.

That being said, it is important to get a cage that you can easily clean. If you cannot take out the box inside the cage or tank to clean out the poop and the dust, then things might get out of control pretty quickly.

4. Include Toys and Wheels

Hamsters need one essential toy: a hamster wheel. Having a hamster cage without a wheel is a sin – all hamster owners know it! Although the size and type of the wheel might vary depending on the different hamster species that are out there, what matters is to provide them with toys.

Some plastic toys will be enough. Give them something to chew on – they will want to chew everything as soon as the teeth come out!

4. Wisely Choose the Location of the Cage

This is one of the most important points when it comes to choosing a hamster cage. Where will you place the cage? You certainly will keep it away from the kitchen, and you surely want natural sunlight to hit it once in a while.

The ideal thing to do here is to look for a location in your house where the temperature doesn’t drastically vary, and you can have control over the cage at all times.

Pet Recap: How to Choose a Hamster Cage

Choosing a hamster cage doesn’t need to be a challenge – you just need to use common sense! Hamsters are not communicative creatures – you won’t know whether they feel happy or depressed at first sight.

What you can do is to ensure that the place they will be inside most of their life is as good as possible.

FAQ

Should I Cover My Hamster’s Cage During the Day?

No. There’s no reason to cover your hamster cage at all, unless you have it outside and it’s raining or something like that. Hamsters need the light of the sun, so there’s nothing bad about leaving the cage uncovered.

Do Hamsters Like Multi-Level Cages?

Hamsters absolutely love cages with multiple levels! There’s more space to explore, wander around, climb and play. If you truly appreciate your hamster’s life, then get a multi-level cage if you have the chance.