How to make a hamster happy

[WhoNeedsaLammyInTheWorld]

Relative bought a hamster from pet shop. Biggest cage they could get. It was a bit jumpy from the start and prone to biting
Relative has turned put to be allergic so I am looking after it and will probably keep it. I feel bad for it. It doesn't seem happy (I think it is pretty cruel to keep them) the cage is far bigger than the recommended size. It did have tunnels but relative read they could be dangerous and removed them
I would pay for an even bigger cage if it improved its life. It doesn't seem to like company

Hamsters are solitary animal. They are meant to be kept alone.

How big is the cage? the minimum is 80 cm by 50 cm for a dwarf and 100 by 50 cm for a syrian hamster. this is my cage: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324575286050 It also needs a decent wheel (trixie wheel) and lots of toys. As well as a lot of bedding- paper or hemp bedding as they like to burrow.

Hamsters tend to bite if they don't know their owners well. I would be patient and gentle first; after leaving it alone for 48 hours, feed it lots of treats (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, small bits of veg) and stroke it gently. You can also google the bathtub method, which is when you sit in the bathtub and let the hamster explore it (put lots of toys in the tub) . You can also get one of those children pop up playpens and let the hamster explore it while you sit in it.

My hamster was a pet shop hamster but is extremely friendly now. when i change his water bottle, he often comes up to me to investigate (even in the day!) and I will pick him up for cuddles.

Hamster cages need to be far bigger than people think! Keep the cage, and put the tunnels back in - as long as they're attached securely, they're not dangerous.

A wheel in the cage is pretty much essential, buy the biggest one that can fit in there, so the hamster can run in it comfortably. Seed sticks that can be hung from the bars are great, they keep their teeth in good condition too.

Handle the ham for short periods of time at first - rub some sawdust from the cage onto your hands first, so you don't smell alien to them. If they nip or become agitated, pop them back in the cage, try again later.

Watch this youtube channel:

Ours had a jar (no lid just the glass bit) to sleep in. He moved all his bedding into it. I think they like snug sleeping places.

It's this one. I think 80 x 50
I like the bath tub idea

What kind of hamster is it and how large is the cage? Does it have toys? Levels?

All baby hamsters are nervy and bitey at first. Ours used to like being talked to. She lived in the dining room and would get up at dinner time and have her dinner with us. They're quite sociable once they get used to you. Just chat to it as you go about your day. They like to dig and to climb and run through tubes. Tubes are safe if they are big enough which sometimes the standard ones aren't. Most cages are far too small for them as they need room to run about and have things to play with. Syrian hamsters I sometimes buy tubes meant for guinea pigs as they can grow to the size of a small guinea pig.

Or cut loo roll tubes lengthways so that they are still a tube but if the hamster tries to turn in there, it will open a bit so it doesn't get stuck.

We've recently got a hamster. A Syrian. He seems happy! We take him out about 5 times a week for a run about with us .
He has a large enclosure and they needs lots of chewing things, tunnels etc. He has a large wheel I his cage which he loves running on.
He seems used to us now - had him 1 month - and is friendly

Ive a Syrian , apparently they need a big cage. She’s got lots of toys and a nice hidey house. Also a nice big ball to roll about in. She’s very tame and pesters to come out once a day for a fuss and cuddle 🥰

They do tend to bite at first. They need time to get used to you.

Definitely make sure it has a wheel. Tubes are good too. They also love to climb on the bars of their cage.

We've had several hamsters. When we had a very secure living room, we had one we used to let run free in the evenings. She would climb up the curtains and run along the curtain rail. For others, we had a ball for them to run in. One though, worked out how to open the door on it so needed watching carefully.

Hamsters are lovely, really full of character. Sadly, they don't live very long. :(

That cage would be just about big enough for a single dwarf but not a syrian. I'd have at minimum 100 x 70 for a syrian.

www.amazon.co.uk/Pawhut-Hamster-Rodent-Animal-Wooden/dp/B07SS9DGKV/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&crid=1SIC1FRAOSATE&keywords=hamster+cage&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1634677985&sr=8-12

This one is a good size if the budget would stretch to it.

My hamster is from a pet shop and was very jumpy at first but is lovely and friendly now. Don't rush handling him. One week of putting your hand flat in the cage to get him used to your scent and presence. Then after a week or two of doing this place a treat in the palm of your hand and allow ham to walk onto it. Do this for another week or two. Then you can slowly introduce stroking gently and picking up on your hand and move from there slowly. I have the mamble 100 cage for my hamster. At least 6 inches preferably 8 inches of bedding for them to burrow in. I use auboise and tea bag bedding mixed together. I also have loads of wicker tunnels and balls for him to hide in. I have steps and platforms and hammocks that you can attach to the bars to provide enrichment and also act as fall breakers as the mamble 100 cage is quite tall. I feed him science selective pellets 7g a day and museli mix every 3 days. Two different fruit or veg, size of the hamsters ear, no bigger, 2 or 3 times a week. Occasionally give 2 dried mealworms as a treat. Also have a pop up playpen for time outside of the cage.

Would it chew a wood cage?
I am happy to upgrade. It looks sad and I want to improve its life.

@WhoNeedsaLammyInTheWorld it can do, but it probably wouldn't chew out of it because the wood is strong. my friend got the pawhut for her female syrian and the hamster chewed up a lot of the levels. But its safe in there.

Hamsters love a LOT of space, and they like to burrow. When we had a hamster, she was in a huge cage (a Ferplast), which was on a small table. I bought extra tubing and created a tube system down to a large, sawdust- filled plastic box, on the floor, half full of sawdust for her to burrow in.

We used to set up assault courses in a dry bath tub for our Syrian. She went in daily for enrichment.

She also worked out how to open her cage, so we had to padlock it!

She was awesome.

Keep cage recommendations coming please. I want to get this one right

Have just checked - our cage was a Savic Hamster Heaven. It was huge.

Ours used to love an empty toilet roll. All my childhood pets were hamsters and we LOVED them! We handled them every single day and let them run loose around a room with no escape (no fireplace etc). We really got a lot out of them! They’re great little creatures and if you’re scared of it nipping maybe handle at first with some gardening gloves on - they’ll run over and over your hands if they get used to you.

Hamsters don't like climbing. They are not natural climbers. Knawing and climbing are signs of stress.

They need way more room than you think - and they need to be able to burrow and dig. Look up bin cages if you would find thatuseful. Russians do not need a smaller cage than Syrians just because they are smaller. It is about a bare minimum of 450 square inches of floor space - tubes and different levels do not count.

Hamsters chew, they have to, their teeth grow like our nails and chewing helps keep them to a good length. If you include other things to chew that should help, although my last hamster had goodies galore and still managed to chew her plastic cage!

A simple toy to create is from a toilet roll tube. Cut in into thin rounds, about 1cm thick. Put them together to form a ball (sort of) and pop a peanut in its shell inside. Hamster has to chew the cardboard to get to the nut and then through the shell to get the nut. For extra complexity, bury the ball slightly.

Another good thing to get is this Trixie Metal Fruit Holder, 20 cm www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0009586MA/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_TPCHMXDX2SQ1FC2MFVY9?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21
Add small pieces of veg/fruit such as carrot, cucumber, apple, grapes. Just means they have to work a bit harder for their food.
Also scatter their seed mix across the floor of their cage so they have to scavenge rather than using a food bowl.

Do you have a boy or a girl? Boys usually have obvious testicles giving them a large rear end.

My cage is a Skyline Barney but I don't think they're made anymore. It was £50 from zooplus, DD was 7 at the time and could fit in it! I added tubes and platforms - there was an additional extendable tube that I suspended from the top bars that went from the blue sputnik to the wooden
platform.

We had 2 much loved and happy dwarf hammies.

They would come to the door of the cage and ask to be let out when we came in from work and they would nabber about on us and run up sleeves. If they got out they would usually be found back in their cage after a night on the tiles.

They seemed to like making nests and they loved getting new bedding nearly as much as food. They would go mad for that. They also liked sawdust to dig in, toilet rolls and things to chew on. They ran in their wheels a lot and had lots of tunnels to run about in and places to hide.

They aren't dead clever or affectionate but they are really cute and gave me a lot of joy. I honestly don't think ours were unhappy.

Echoing what's said above, cage of a minimum of 100x50cm. I have a DIY Linnmon which is great, lots of ideas on google for that. Absolute minimum of 6 inches of bedding for burrowing. Wheel needs to be 28cm (these guides are for Syrian hamsters). Plenty of hides and enrichment. I'd not even try to handle them for a week personally. You could put your hand in the cage slowly and gently and just let them have a sniff around you, they have really bad eyesight so no sudden movements.
Also, hamster balls and flying saucer type wheels are dangerous. Shavings for bedding are also bad for their health. You can get teabag bedding or similar in bulk online. You'll also need a sand bath and ensure the sand is not calcium enriched. Reptile sand is usually a good bet.

As the owner of several hamsters over the years, its lovely to hear you're doing your best for the wee guy!
Mine have always had Rotastak housing over the years in several different set ups. They're easy to clean but provide natural tunnels and plenty space for hamsters to live happily!
Lots of yummy treats-bananas, carrots, toast! and take your time making friends. If he gets scared and bites, try using a toothbrush to get him used to being touched gently,
Think a picture of the wee guy is needed!!

oh yes, they love sand baths! Meant to say Rotastak can be picked up cheap second hand and you can add to it if you want a change!