5 Things to Know Before Buying a Hamster

Despite growing up with a variety of pets, hamster ownership brought some new challenges for my sister and her household. It seems our memories of living with hamsters glossed over some of the negatives. After reflecting on our experiences, here are five key points everyone must consider before adopting or buying a hamster -- especially if the new pet is for children.

Naptime Anytime
Technically, hamsters are nocturnal, but they sleep during the day and night. This limits playtime and means the cage needs to be in an out of the way area so they are not disturbed. Using a nesting box proved helpful because the sleeping hamster would stay inside, making it easy to tell when he was sleeping. It is also important to teach children not to disturb sleeping hamsters. Aside from stressing the new pet, grumpy hamsters can lash out by biting.

Personalities Vary
I bought a toy hamster car thinking the hamster would enjoy running inside the secure wheel and roaming around. Instead, he sat in the toy car looking scared. When he did move, the wheel barely turned. The popular pet toy was not a good fit for him. Loving care and frequent interaction can help a pet bond with its owners, but the truth is pets have unique temperaments and personalities.

The Great Escape
Hamsters are adept at escaping from even the most secure enclosures, including specialty hamster cages. The little critters can overturn food dishes and move toys to access doors or small openings. One hamster covertly gnawed and clawed an opening in one of the plastic play tunnels. It is essential to secure the habitat and look for signs of damage to prevent escapes.

Short Life Span
Some of the escape artists disappeared forever and none of us thought much about the lifespan of these animals. However, hamsters do not live nearly as long as other popular family pets, such as dogs and cats. The specifics vary with species and conditions, but Doctors Foster and Smith estimate hamsters have a lifespan of 18 to 30 months.

Noise and Odor
That squeaky hamster wheel -- and it will likely develop a squeak -- will spin frequently throughout the night because hamsters are active at night. Noisy gnawing and nesting mean it is best to place the hamster cage away from bedrooms. Even with meticulous care, a hamster cage usually develops urine odors just as a cat litter box does.

Hamsters make excellent family pets, but it is important to have realistic expectations before buying or adopting a furry friend.

Sources
"Small Pet Selection Guide: Which One for Me?", DrsFosterSmith.com