Bringing Home a Hamster: A Checklist

There's a lot to know before getting a pet, including food, care, housing, and so on. For hamsters in particular, the amount of information can be overwhelming. So, we at Small Paw have compiled a checklist for the basics. Of course, pet care isn't easily put into a checklist because every pet is different. Use this list as a starting point and continue learning, growing, and changing to fit your hamster's needs.

Essentials:

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1. Bedding- At least 6 inches, unscented paper preferred

2. Cage- At least 450 square inches of UNBROKEN floorspace

3. Bathing- Constant access to a sandbath

   1. Use sand instead of dust- dust is unsafe due to how fine it is and can cause respiratory issues

4. Wheel- Approx. 12-inch wheel, solid ground (not wired)

5. Water- 24/7 access to clean water

   1. Bottle or Bowl (Bowl is my preference)

6. Food- fresh and dry food

   1. Diverse food mix (info on how to make to come)

   2. A variety of fruits and vegetables

7. Enrichment- Variety of hides, logs, rocks, toys, chews, and different substrates

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Other:

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1. Playpen- Playpen for exercise

   1. Make sure the walls are hamster-proof!

2. Travel Cage- For vet visits

3. Oat Sprays- Oat and millet sprays for extra enrichment and ambiance

   1. A variety of dry herbs also work

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Now that you've got the basics, feel free to take a look at some of our other blogs and learn more about what your furry friend needs. Thank you and have an awesome day!

-Elyse