Hamsters have a reputation for being easy pets, and in part they are: you don't have to take them for walks or bathe them. But almost everything they need to live a calm life comes down to their home, and that's where most people go wrong. Here are the four keys.
1. More space than you think
In the wild, a hamster runs several kilometers every night. At home, it needs room to run, explore and hide. Veterinary recommendations in Europe call for a floor area of at least 100 × 50 cm, and many cages sold as "for hamsters" fall well short of that.
Floor space matters more than height: wider is better than taller. Levels and tubes are a fun extra, but they don't replace horizontal space. If you're choosing one, take a look at our hamster cages and accessories.
2. A wheel that won't bend its back
A wheel is essential, but a small one makes your hamster run with its back arched upwards, and over time that does it harm.
- Syrian hamster: around 28–30 cm in diameter.
- Dwarf hamster: around 20–25 cm.
- Smooth surface, with no bars, so its paws don't get caught.
The test is simple: watch it run. If its back stays straight, the wheel is a good one.
3. Room to dig
In nature, hamsters live in burrows. Digging calms them. Put between 15 and 20 cm of substrate in at least one part of the cage so it can make tunnels.
Avoid cotton or fiber-type bedding: it can get tangled around their paws or block their gut if they swallow it. Ink-free paper, hay or shavings made specifically for rodents are better.
4. Respecting its schedule
The hamster is a nocturnal animal: it sleeps during the day and becomes active at dusk.
- Don't wake it up to play. A hamster that's woken up against its will gets stressed and is more likely to bite.
- Place the cage away from direct sunlight and heating, and preferably outside the bedroom, because it makes noise at night.
One last tip
Add hiding places, a hay bag or net and a chew toy, and change the layout every now and then so it has something new to explore. A hamster with space, a good wheel and room to dig is a calm hamster.
In our hamsters section you'll find spacious cages, silent wheels, little houses and accessories.