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AIBU?

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Original poster

Not to get a new hamster cage?

219 replies

hollyfrost · 21/09/2019 18:16

Hi, I'd be really grateful for some advice from any hamster owners out there.
My DD begged me for weeks about getting a hamster, and I finally gave in after she showed me a hamster up for adoption - we didn't have a cage, so we bought the largest one our pet store had (this one - www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/pets-at-home-wire-grey-hamster-home-extra-large ).
Fast forward a few weeks - DD absolutely adores the hamster- she spent nearly £50 on buying the hamster a 'better' wheel (apparently the old one was too small Hmm ) and overpriced toys. Fine, it's her money, I didn't stop her.
But now DD is obsessed with getting her hamster a new bigger cage - I keep telling her that the one we have right now is perfectly fine (it is) and that the hamster sleeps all the time anyway (it does), but she just starts yelling at me for being 'cruel'.
I'm not cruel at all, I just don't think it's worth spending £££ on a hamster which already has everything it needs. Is DD being unreasonable, or am I?

(In case anyone's wondering she wants to get this one - www.zooplus.com/customerpicturedisplay/shop/rodents/cages/rabbit_cage/120_cm_cages/348157 . WAY too expensive for a hamster IMO)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
hidinginthenightgarden · 21/09/2019 18:22

What is has is sufficient but if she wants to save up so it can have a better cage then I wouldn't stop her.

MarigoldGlove · 21/09/2019 18:28

We used to have pet mice and my dd would make the mice ‘fun activities’ from boxes and kitchen roll tubes. Upside down egg boxes were the best. Perhaps she could do that as a way of keeping her hamster entertained. And herself!

AloeVeraLynn · 21/09/2019 18:30

The habitat she wants is a lot better for the hammy's quality of life to be fair.

CSIblonde · 21/09/2019 18:31

The first cage is ridiculously expensive & tiny. I'd have shopped around I think as I'd have thought it was a total rip off. The second is just a too huge box . I'd go for a happy medium & Google those ones with tunnels that you can buy add ons for as you go along.

Proseccoinamug · 21/09/2019 18:32

She’s right that the cage she’s found will give the hamster a better quality of life than the existing one but you’re also right that it’s not essential.

Why not let her save up? It’s a good use of her money imo and her commitment to her pet is to be encouraged

Proseccoinamug · 21/09/2019 18:33

Point out to her though that one that allows climbing would be better than the glass tank

HugoSpritz · 21/09/2019 18:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Venger · 21/09/2019 18:37

The cage you've bought doesn't meet the minimum size recommendations for a hamster. It's not your fault, it's the fault of the pet shops who sell them knowing full well that they're much smaller than what a hamster needs.

A good budget option is the Alaska cage. Meets the size requirements and is around £35 including p&p.

Mogtheanxiouscat · 21/09/2019 18:37

We have the original cage. I think it's plenty big enough and it exceeds the minimum square inchs recommended. We added a rope hammock and loads of wood shavings so its deep enough for burrowing.

HeckyPeck · 21/09/2019 18:40

I think one like this would be better with the extra levels as hamsters love to climb.

Does she have money to pay for one? If so I’d let her use it, but bearing in mind you can get much better cages for the same money or less.

Not to get a new hamster cage?
Isithometimeyet0987 · 21/09/2019 18:40

No she is correct. Did you not research anything about hamsters before you got one? If not you should have! Hamsters need a big space to run around and for room for different toys to keep them from getting bored. A cage such as critter trail is also not good for a hamster as pp have suggested. People seem to think hamsters are small animals that can be put in a small cage and hardly looked at because “oh all it does all day is sleep it’s fine”. A hamster should be handled everyday out of the cage and should have a good sized cage because it is awake all night when you are asleep and need space and activities!

FamilyOfAliens · 21/09/2019 18:43

Is it for a Syrian hamster? If so, it’s current cage is too small.

However, I wouldn’t buy a glass cage as Syrians love to climb and hang off the bars of their cage.

Stompythedinosaur · 21/09/2019 18:45

The cage you've got is not great for a hamster, they need quite a lot of space. I'm sure there will be a cheaper option than the one she's found though.

Venger · 21/09/2019 18:47

If it was Pets At Home I bet they'll have sold you fluffy bedding too.

DifficultSituation19 · 21/09/2019 18:52

Yes she’s right, the cage you have is too small. Buy another one - zoozone 2, savic plaza or hamster heaven, Alaska, barney, Alexandra, living world eco habitat are all good ones. You will be able to take the old cage back to pets at home and tell them you were missold as it doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, and you will get your money back. Lots of people have done this (join the hamsters uk Facebook group and see for yourself).

Bigger is always better with hamster cages. They also need a wheel which is at least 28cm, most ‘hamster’ wheels are nowhere near that big. They damage their spines on smaller ones.

mytvwatchesyou · 21/09/2019 18:53

If you or your DD is on Facebook then search the groups Hamsters UK, and Syrian Hamsters UK - really helpful advice on cage size and enrichment and all other aspects of hamster owning.

jgjgjgjgjg · 21/09/2019 18:53

According to both the National Hamster Council and the RSPCA the cage you have is too small.

For Syrian hamsters, the National Hamster Council recommends a minimum cage size of minimum of 1000 cm2 usable floor.

CottonSock · 21/09/2019 18:55

I'd be inclined to wait to Christmas. Good she loves her hamster though.
I got guinea pigs recently and seem to be buying an upgraded cage monthly.

DifficultSituation19 · 21/09/2019 18:56

@cottonsock Christmas is still a big chunk of hamster’s life away! Long time to be living in an inadequate cage.

Venger · 21/09/2019 18:58

I agree, the right sized cage should be a priority as its cruel to keep using one that doesn't provide an adequate quality of life.

CottonSock · 21/09/2019 18:58

Its not like she has it in a shoe box. I looked online and it is around the minimum standard. You can make it more interesting with new levels etc. Do you have space for a bigger one?

DifficultSituation19 · 21/09/2019 18:59

OP I see it is the living world eco habit your daughter is after. It’s great, I have one for one of my rescue hams. I picked mine up second hand for £75, it’s always worth keeping an eye on eBay and Facebook marketplace.

Mogtheanxiouscat · 21/09/2019 19:00

I'm rubbish at maths but I'm pretty sure 70 x 46 is way more than 1000cm2. It's over 3000cm2. That's why I thought it was an okay cage?

DifficultSituation19 · 21/09/2019 19:00

It’s below the minimum standard...ideally cages should be well above the minimum, not slightly below.

BringTheBounceBack · 21/09/2019 19:01

If it’s her money I’d leave her to it. It’s good to see she’s being wise about her hamsters habitat, and it’s not in those horrible small cages

The Barney cage is a good compromise, but I did hear the Alaska is good too

Google those ones with tunnels that you can buy add ons for as you go along

I wouldn’t, hamsters do have a tendency to chewing holes in the tunnels