Hamsters

Hamsters are adorable, and if you had one as a kid, you probably remember them being easy pets to care for. That is, of course, because your parents likely took care of your hamster. As you can imagine, it isn’t as easy to care for a hamster as it looked as a kid, but once you get into it, you may find that it isn’t all that hard either. 

If you are thinking about getting a hamster for your child, it would be best if your child is in elementary school or older.

“Unfortunately, this isn’t the perfect small pet for young children. Hamsters require a lot of care, can get nippy [and] are not always great in tiny hands,”

said Laurie Hess, author, exotic animal veterinarian and owner of the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Bedford Hills, New York.

If your child is old enough to handle a hamster carefully and help clean the cage, however, then Hess says a hamster can be a good, fun, educational pet for families. When heading out to the pet store, you’ll want to pick up the following:

• Your hamster: whether you buy one or two depends on your preference and, more importantly, the type of hamster you’d like. Syrian hamsters should never be put in pairs, as they will violently fight over territory once they reach maturity, said Cindy Cribbs of Haven for Hamsters Rescue & Sanctuary. Dwarf hamsters, Russian or Chinese, are also popular hamsters, and while they can be territorial, they do well in pairs only if they are littermates or a mother and child, Cribbs said.
• A cage: purchase a cage at least 15 inches long by 12 inches high, but opt for something larger if you can to give your hamster more room to exercise and explore. Make sure the cage is also escape-proof.
• Bedding: as a general rule, the best and healthiest type of bedding is one that isn’t made of wood shavings. Try to find bedding made from cellulose or plant-based paper fibers and avoid cat litter, corn cobs, newspaper and any scented bedding (which contains chemicals that can cause respiratory trouble).
• Toys: an exercise wheel is a must to prevent boredom, and you can also purchase a ball for your hamster to run around a room in under your supervision.
• Food: you can buy bags of hamster mix, which will generally have a blend of fruits, vegetables and seeds and grains, but you’d do well to also give your hamster small pieces of fresh vegetables and fruit, Hess said. You’ll also want to give your hamster access to fresh water at all times.

Not all greens are good for hamsters, neither are all fruits and vegetables. Stick to broccoli, parsley, apple, pear, carrot and turnips while avoiding onions, garlic, chives, leeks, lettuce, raw potatoes and oranges. As hamsters can be prone to diabetes, you’ll want to give them fruit (which is laden with sugar) sparingly.