What do You Need for a Hamster? Hamster Essentials Checklist

When you bring home a new hamster, you’ll need various things to ensure your pet stays healthy and happy. You’ll require a hamster cage, food, bedding, and chew toys. It’s important to be well-prepared for your new hamster.

We’ve made a checklist that covers all the supplies your hamster needs, including the necessary ones and some extras.

Hamster essentials checklist (with prices)

Here’s our list of things you need for your hamster before bringing it home. Once you have all the items listed below, you’re ready!

Essentials:

1. A good hamster cage (we’ll discuss this later)
2. Bedding and material for the cage floor
3. Hamster houses (for nesting)
4. Food bowls
5. A water bottle
6. Toys for fun (like climbing structures, tunnels, and wheels)
7. Chew toys
8. A wheel for exercise
9. An exercise ball
10. High-quality hamster food
11. Hamster treats
12. Safe cleaning supplies
13. Fresh fruits and vegetables

Total estimated cost = $265

Nice-to-have (but not necessary):

While not necessary for your hamster’s basic care, you might find these extra items beneficial for your pet’s comfort and enrichment:

1. Gnawing blocks or sticks: These can be a helpful addition to encourage healthy dental hygiene for your hamster. Gnawing blocks provide a chewing outlet, which can prevent overgrown teeth and keep your pet’s teeth in good condition.
2. A ladder or climbing frame: While not vital, hamsters are natural climbers and enjoy exploring different levels and heights within their cage. A ladder or climbing frame can add a sense of adventure and exercise to their daily routine.
3. Plastic tubes: Tubes can serve as an entertaining maze for your hamster. They provide tunnels for exploration and create a fun and stimulating environment inside the cage. Hamsters love to scurry through tubes, and it can be a source of mental and physical stimulation.
4. Litter scoop: Though not a must-have, a litter scoop can make cage maintenance more manageable. It allows you to quickly and efficiently remove soiled bedding and keep your hamster’s living space clean and hygienic.
5. Travel cage: While not essential for daily life, a travel cage can be incredibly useful when you need to transport your hamster, whether it’s for a vet visit or any other reason. It provides a safe and secure space for your pet while on the go.
6. Sand bath & hamster bathing sand: While not a fundamental requirement, a sand bath can be a delightful addition to your hamster’s life. Hamsters enjoy rolling in the sand to clean their fur, and it can be an entertaining activity to watch. Providing a sand bath with hamster-specific bathing sand can offer your pet a grooming opportunity and mental stimulation.

Total estimated cost = $80

Let’s delve into more details about some of the essential hamster supplies, along with tips and potential issues to be aware of.

Hamster essentials checklist (with prices)

Choosing the right hamster cage is crucial. It should be spacious enough for your new pet to move around and have fun. If you plan to have multiple dwarf hamsters in one cage, you’ll need a slightly larger cage to accommodate them.

Important Tip: If you’re keeping dwarf hamsters, be cautious with wire-top cages (shown below). Sometimes, the gaps between the metal wires can be too wide, and dwarf hamsters might squeeze through them! Look for a cage with gaps that are about 1cm wide.

The Woodhamstercage – our top pick

Price: $169.99

This is likely the finest hamster cage available right now. It offers ample space for your hamster to roam and can accommodate a small group of Robos. It comes with many accessories, is simple to put together, and is easy to clean – Know more information about the wood hamster cage

Prevue Pet Products 528– often recommended by hamster owners

Price: $165.5

This hamster cage is a recommended one with a deep base for natural burrowing, multi-level design for exercise, easy access for cleaning, durable construction, good ventilation, and dimensions of approximately 32.5 x 19 x 17.5 inches, making it a versatile choice for hamster owners.

What type of hamster should I get?

There are several types of hamsters, and they come in different sizes with varying care needs. If you plan to have two or more hamsters, you should go for a dwarf hamster species. Syrian hamsters, which are larger, need to be kept alone.

Dwarf hamsters are often more active and fun to watch, although they can be a bit more challenging to handle (but practice helps).

Here are the different hamster options you can consider:

• Syrian hamster
• Campbell’s dwarf hamster
• Winter White dwarf hamster
• Roborovski dwarf hamster
• Chinese hamster

Bedding & Substrate

Substrate is the stuff you put on the bottom of your hamster’s cage. It’s usually made of wood shavings or soft materials like CareFresh. Substrate keeps the cage clean, soaks up smells and waste, and gives your pet a comfy surface.

Hamster bedding is what your hamster uses to make a cozy place to sleep. It’s usually softer than substrate and is kept in the hamster’s home or hideout inside the cage.

There are many different types of substrate and bedding, but avoid using sawdust because it can make your pet’s breathing hard due to the dust it makes. We suggest using trusted brands and choosing wood shavings for the substrate and CareFresh for bedding.

Food bowls & water bottles

Having food bowls and water bottles in your cage is really important. A food bowl lets your hamster know where it can always find food, and your hamster might even wait near it when it’s almost mealtime!

If you have more than one hamster, feeding time can sometimes lead to fights. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a few food bowls because hamsters can get pretty protective of their food. You should also get a water bottle that you can attach to the cage because your hamster needs fresh water every day.

What hamster toys should I get?

Choosing hamster toys can be tricky because there are lots to choose from! It’s a good idea to get a mix of toys for your pet. You can switch them out to keep your hamster entertained and curious about its environment.

Here are some toys we suggest getting:

An exercise wheel
An exercise ball
A climbing frame (hamsters enjoy climbing!)
Swings
Ladders
Tunnels
Balls
Chew toys

Exercise wheel vs. Flying saucer

Exercise is really important for hamsters. In the wild, they run for long distances every night! Allowing your hamster to get some exercise on a wheel or a flying saucer helps keep them happy and healthy.

Most hamster owners prefer exercise wheels over saucers because they let hamsters run more naturally. But make sure your pet’s back doesn’t curve when it runs, as that means the wheel is too small. Also, be careful with wheels that have small spaces or holes, as some hamsters can get stuck in them. It’s best to avoid those if you can.

Hamster exercise balls

An exercise ball lets your hamster run and explore an entire room without any limits! Hamster balls are awesome because they let your pet burn off energy and satisfy its natural curiosity.

These balls also come in handy when it’s time to clean your hamster’s cage every week. Just put your hamster in the ball, make sure the lid is locked, and you can clean the cage without worrying about your hamster getting in your way.

Safe cleaning products

For cleaning, you’ll want to use a disinfectant spray that’s safe for animals to get rid of any harmful bacteria. You can find these sprays in most pet stores or choose from good options available on Amazon.

What is the best hamster food?

Before bringing a new hamster home, make sure you have enough food and treats ready. The best way to feed your hamster is with a healthy hamster mix for daily meals, and you can give them occasional treats.

You should provide about a tablespoon of hamster food per hamster per day. You can also add fresh fruits and vegetables to their diet, and some hamsters can even eat mealworms!

Important Note: Be cautious with high-sugar treats, especially for dwarf hamsters, as they are prone to diabetes.

Here are some safe fresh fruits and vegetables for hamsters

• Apple (without seeds): Here’s a complete hamsters eat apple guide if you’d like any more info.
• Banana
• Blackberry
• Blueberry: Also a guide for: Can Hamsters Safely Eat Blueberries? Delving Into The Hamster Diet
• Cantaloupe
• Coconut
• Cherry
• Grapes (seedless)
• Guava
• Honeydew
• Lychee
• Mango
• Melon
• Papaya
• Peach
• Pear
• Plum
• Raspberry
• Strawberry

Avoid these toxic and unhealthy foods

• Almonds
• Avocado
• Apple seeds
• Chocolate
• Watermelon
• Jam
• Onions
• Leeks
• Garlic
• Junk foods
• Rhubarb
• Pork

Should I get a carry cage?

A hamster travel cage, also known as a carry cage, can be handy if you need to move your hamster frequently or if you plan to relocate. It’s also useful when taking your hamster to the vet, as it’s more convenient than carrying a big cage.

While it’s not a must-have for a new hamster, you might consider getting one when you find the need.

What about a sand bath?

Even though hamsters groom themselves regularly and don’t need regular baths, they really enjoy a sand bath! A sand bath is a small container where your hamster can roll around to clean its fur. It’s quite amusing to watch! While not essential for your pet, your hamster will appreciate an occasional sand bath if you can provide one.

Think about getting hamster tubes

In the wild, hamsters live in narrow burrows on the desert floor. These burrows can have many entrances and become quite intricate as a hamster grows. Having tubes in your hamster’s cage can replicate this natural behavior and make your pet feel more comfortable in its new surroundings.

Hamster climbing toys

Hamsters are excellent climbers by nature, and they enjoy having a small climbing frame in their cage to play on. Chinese hamsters, in particular, are skilled climbers thanks to their long tails.

Tips: How to make hamster toys at home?

Here are some simple, safe ideas for DIY hamster toys:

1. Toilet Paper Roll Toys: Use empty toilet paper rolls to create tunnels or cut them into rings and reassemble them into balls. Make sure there is no adhesive residue on the rolls.
2. Paper Bag Hideaway: A plain brown paper bag can be a great hideout for hamsters. Cut a small entrance and ensure there are no inks or dyes on the bag.
3. Hanging Treats: Suspend vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower on a piece of string from the top of the cage, making sure it’s low enough for the hamster to reach. This stimulates their natural foraging instincts.

What not to put in a hamster cage? (List)

We’ve covered all the best supplies for a new hamster, but it’s also important to know what items to avoid for the well-being of your pet. Here’s a list of common hamster products that you should steer clear of due to potential health, injury, or other concerns that could affect your hamster’s quality of life:

1. Scented substrate/bedding: Some scented materials can cause respiratory problems in hamsters.
2. High-sugar treats: Feeding your hamster too many sugary treats can lead to diabetes (hamsters are prone to this) and digestive issues.
3. Cages with a small surface area: Some ‘small animal enclosures’ may look fun, but they don’t provide enough space for your pet to run and exercise.
4. Wheels with holes: Exercising wheels with holes can often cause injuries.
5. Tunnels with small holes: Be cautious with tunnel toys designed for dwarf hamsters; make sure any holes are big enough for your pet to crawl through easily to avoid them getting stuck.
6. Transparent hamster homes/nesting areas: Your hamster’s sleeping area should provide privacy for relaxation.

We hope our checklist has been helpful, and you now have a clear idea of the hamster supplies you need to create a perfect home for your new furry friend! Feel free to explore our other posts below, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.