Source: thesprucepets.com

How to Choose the Right Cage Size For Your Syrian Hamster

If you’re planning on adopting a Syrian hamster, the first thing you’ll need to do is to find a suitable home for it to inhabit.

As all hamster breeds do, Syrian hamsters have their own unique needs that can’t be met with just any cage. Factors like size, ease of cleaning, and proper ventilation must be considered first.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about choosing the right cage for your pet, so you can provide it with the living conditions it deserves.

Without any further ado, let’s get right to the bottom of it!

It should be spacious enough for your hamster to move around

Source: smallpetjournal.com

When it comes to the size of the cage, the bigger the better! Measure the space you have in your home and get the largest cage you can afford – your hamster will appreciate it.

The minimum dimensions should be 24 inches by 12 inches, with 12 inches of height. You should not go below that if you want to keep your pet happy and healthy. If the enclosure is too small, the animal is likely to feel stressed, which can lead to many health issues down the road.

Again, you’re encouraged to go bigger than the size we’ve provided above, as hamsters love to run around and be active (hence the hamster wheel)!

Additionally, be careful where you decide to position your cage. It shouldn’t be in a high place where it would be at risk of falling over, for example.

The cage should be secure

Hamsters are surprisingly intelligent animals. If you fail to secure the cage, your hamster’s likely going to learn how to open its doors rather quickly. This can be incredibly dangerous, especially if you have cats or dogs, or there’s a way for your Syrian hamster to reach the outdoors.

So, when you’re buying a cage, make sure its doors are properly secured. You don’t want your small friend to run away, as there are all kinds of dangers outside.

As Syrian hamsters are domestic animals, they’re unable to fend for themselves or survive without your attention and care. Their safety is your responsibility, so don’t leave anything to chance.

Depth is also an important factor to consider

Source: squeaksandnibbles.com

Look for cages that feature deeper trays that will provide enough room for your hamster’s bedding. The deeper it is, the better – in most cases at least. Hamsters enjoy burrowing more than anything else, as it helps them to feel safe and stay warm when they need to. So, make sure they have everything they need to do so!

Again, don’t automatically go for the first option you see at the retail store. Most of these cages, even if they’re marketed as such, simply aren’t suitable for a Syrian hamster.

The wheels are great, but they shouldn’t be too small

What would a hamster cage be without its hamster wheel? It’s what the animals are famous for!

However, not all wheels are suitable for the Syrian hamster breed. As they’re a bit larger than some of the other hamster species, they require bigger wheels in order to stay healthy and active.

If the wheel is too small, your hamster will have to arch its back in all kinds of unnatural positions. This could, in turn, lead to a plethora of painful health issues if you’re not careful.

So, instead of going for the standard hamster wheel that you found at the nearest retail store, look for wheels designed for rats and other larger rodents. It’s a much better alternative than buying something that could possibly harm your fluffy friend. You can look at examples if you check this website.

Ventilation should also be considered as well

Source: bluecross.org.uk

Wire cages allow for better airflow than solid-sided ones. Like all animals, your hamster needs fresh air to thrive – something that might prove to be problematic to provide in a plastic cage.

Of course, this doesn’t mean wire cages are considered to be some sort of a superior solution in every case. Hamsters living in wire cages need extra protection from drafts – something you’ll have to deal with in order to keep them healthy.

Ease of cleaning

Your cage will need to be cleaned regularly to provide your hamster with the surroundings it deserves. The smaller the cage is, the more often you’ll have to clean it. Therefore, again, go big or go home!

Besides the size of the cage, the ease of cleaning will depend on the way the cage is designed. Make sure you browse around different cages until you’ve found something that’s convenient both for you and your wonderful little pet.

Your budget

Source: smallpetjournal.com

While we said you should try to get the biggest available cage for your hamster, this doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on it. Just make sure it’s something reasonable – your pet doesn’t deserve to feel trapped in its own home just because you’ve wanted to save a couple of bucks.

Make sure to compare and view different brands until you’ve found something that suits both your needs and your budget. Compare their prices and do your research – you’ll certainly find something you deem suitable very quickly.

Either way, your budget is an important factor to consider when buying a hamster cage. If you don’t have the money to provide your hamster with a cage that’s spacious and comfortable enough, then you shouldn’t be adopting a Syrian hamster either.

The bottom line

All in, all choosing the right cage for your pet hamster can be extremely difficult, especially if it’s your first time owning a small rodent. There are just too many things you need to consider all at once – budgeting, size, design, ventilation – and so much more on top of that!

So, in this article, we’ve provided you with a couple of beginner-friendly tips and tricks on finding the perfect cage for your fluffy friend. We hope you’ve found it to be useful and we wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.