Make sure your hamster has a suitable place to live

 Facts

• Wild hamsters live in warm, arid climates.
• Hamsters are sensitive to bright sunlight.
• Hamsters are very sensitive to high frequency sounds which we cannot hear, and can find this stressful.
• Wild hamsters live in deep burrows.
• Pet hamsters prefer to occupy a cage with a solid floor covered by a suitable litter material
• Hamsters naturally build nests.
• They quickly dig burrows, and can escape easily from poorly constructed cages.

Things you should do

• Provide your hamster(s) with a comfortable, dry, draught-free, clean place to live, in a quiet place where they can rest undisturbed. Make sure they are not exposed to draughty or damp conditions.
• Make sure that you house your hamster(s) in a room where the lights go off at more-or-less the same time each night. Try to avoid erratic hours of lighting.
• Make sure you house your hamster(s) away from items in the home which can generate ultrasound, such as television sets, computer screens, vacuum cleaners or sources of running water.
• Provide your hamster(s) with a suitable home cage, and appropriate bedding and nesting material, see Home cage for Hamsters (PDF 254KB).
• Make sure your hamster has a suitable place to hide, see Shelters for Hamsters (PDF 235KB).
• Make sure their cage is clean (Cage Cleaning for Hamsters (PDF 228KB)) with dry bedding and nesting material.