A hamster can be an excellent pet - it is small, cuddly and joyful. What is more, caring for a hamster is easy and quite inexpensive. If you follow these simple tips, there will be absolutely no problems with the hamster you have decided to buy. Some of the rules may seem trivial, but it does not mean they are not important!
1. Keep the hamster’s cage in shadow and away from any drafts.
2. Cover the cage floor with a thick layer of wood shavings.
3. Remember about feeding your hamster twice a day using special hamster-food.
4. The hamster should always have access to a drinking water.
5. Remove all uneaten food in a day - old food can make your hamster sick.
6. Give the hamster a lot of chew toys, for example the cardboard tubes from the paper towels. Wood chews are also a good idea.
7. Chew toys aren’t everything - let your hamster exercise in an exercise wheel and/or a hamster ball (you can buy it in most pet shops).
8. Make sure that you’ve closed the doors in the room before letting the hamster out of its cage.
9. Don’t bathe your hamster, but clean its cage and bedding at least once a week. Any unpleasant odor you may smell comes from the bedding, not from the hamster.
10. Be gentle while caring for your hamster. They don’t normally bite unless they are very frightened, but they do have very sharp front teeth.
11. When you’re leaving for more than three days, arrange for somebody to take care of it (or take your hamster with you).
12. If your hamster becomes ill, go to a veterinarian immediately. Hamsters are fragile and can die quickly.
If you follow these rules, your hamster should live a long and happy life. If you need to know more about caring for a hamster, simply ask for help in a pet store - they can probably answer your questions.
