Bring Home a Hamster

Getting a hamster means taking care of him for the span of his life, which could be two years or more. You need to plan for his care. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have a safe place and enough room for a cage?
• Can you afford a cage, equipment and food for your hamster?
• Do you have time to clean his cage weekly and provide daily water and feeding?
• Do you have reliable help to take care of your pet while you're away?

Set up your hamster's homestead before you bring him home.

Cage. A typical Teddybear hamster is 5 or 6 inches long. A cage should be at least 12 x 18 inches and 12 inches tall. A 10-gallon aquarium or plastic habitat works well. The home should be well ventilated and escape-proof, and provide as much space as you can give him for burrowing and exploring.

Location. Set up the cage in a warm room out of direct sunlight. Place it out of reach of other pets. Hamsters get stressed easily — don't let your cat stare at him or your dog lick him.

Bedding. Cover the bottom of the cage with an inch or two of sawdust, hardwood shavings or shredded recycled paper. Avoid cedar and chlorophyll shavings, which release volatile oils, and cotton or wool, which your pet might ingest.

Water. A clip-on water bottle is a convenient way to give your hamster a constant water supply with minimal mess. Change the water every day.

Exercise equipment. Include an exercise wheel large enough that he doesn't have to bend his back to run. The flat, mesh types ones work better than the "ladder" variety that allow those tiny feet to slip through. You can also let your hamster "loose" in a plastic run-about ball for some supervised fun — avoid the stairs!

Stuff to gnaw. Chewing keeps their teeth from overgrowing. Make sure your hamster has plenty of chew sticks in his cage; you can buy them at pet stores.

Most pet stores sell commercial hamster food that consists of pellets and grains. Hamsters also enjoy timothy hay. When it comes to table food, hamsters enjoy fruits and vegetables, but do your homework — they love bananas and peaches, but foods like iceberg lettuce and raw kidney beans can be poisonous to hamsters. A hamster guide, available in bookstores or pet supply stores, includes long lists of table foods appropriate for your hamster and foods to avoid.

To serve his food daily, use a heavy dish that he can't easily spill or chew.

Once you've set up his home and learned how to feed him, a great place to start your search for an occupant is Petfinder.com. Do a zip code search under "small and furry" and you'll most likely find many hamsters available for adoption. Or visit a reputable pet store and meet the hamsters for sale. Avoid buying a hamster by mail — parcel post is really not a great way to travel.

Here are tips for if you're buying from a pet store:

• Visit the store in the late afternoon or evening when the hamsters are active.
• Buy a young hamster that's 1 to 3 months old.
• Look for a perky hamster with a smooth, shiny coat, clean eyes, and teeth that don't appear overgrown.
• If you want more than one, each needs its own cage. Hamsters can be violent if housed together.

One of the most popular types of hamsters is Teddybear hamsters, which are famous for their plush coats. They're also known as Syrian or golden hamsters, or called "fancy hamsters" or "angora" hamsters. Another type of Teddybear hamster is the Black Bear hamster, which is black and white and looks a bit like a teeny tiny bear.

A pet store or animal shelter usually provides a small box to transport your hamster home safely. The box should be filled with bedding for his journey. Keep the box upright and steady to give him a smooth ride home. Wait to offer food until you get home. Don't stress him out by showing him off to friends yet. He'll be happier in the long run if he's allowed to settle in first.

Open the box carefully when you get home and gently lift him into his new cage. Leave him alone for a while — even overnight or for a day or two — so he can comfortably adjust to his new surroundings. Chat quietly with him while you're feeding him and changing his water, but don't pick him up or pet him yet. Let him explore and make a nest. After a few days, gently pet him.

Once he is comfortable with touching, gradually try scooping him up briefly. Don't rush. He's more likely to be confident and affectionate if he's not overwhelmed at first.

As with any pet, you need to create a relationship with a good veterinarian who can help keep your pet healthy and care for him in case of injury of illness. Most small animal vet practices provide hamster care.

In addition to the exercise wheel or the run-around ball, there are all kinds of ways to have fun with your hamster. You can buy hamster playpens, or build one with blocks. Buy plastic hamster tubes, or put an empty paper towel tube in the cage. Your hamster will enjoy exploring — and nibbling on — anything you give him.