When you first bring your hamster home, he may be a little nervous, perhaps even distressed. The way you handle him from the start can make a big difference in the way he reacts to his new home. Also pay attention to his reaction to certain surroundings and actions. My children have cared for numerous hamsters, some that came from delicate situations. Help soothe your hamster's transition into a new home by using some of the methods we had success with in multiple cases.
Give the hamster time to get used to you. When you first bring your hamster home, you may immediately want to interact. But keep in mind that may be the exact opposite of what your hamster has in mind. It doesn't mean he hates you. He just needs time to adjust. Soothe him by granting that adjustment. Wait a few days before handling the hamster. Approach your hamster slowly to ease his fears. Start out with a gloved hand at first. Place your hand into the cage and leave it there a few minutes at a time each day. Eventually the hamster will come up to you and may even start sitting in your hand on purpose. Never feed your hamster food from your hand, unless your goal is to create a biting habit. After a while, once your hamster used to you, the glove probably won't be needed. Provide a hideaway. Your hamster needs to have one or more places to hide inside his cage. Being hidden can be soothing, especially during a transition. One of our hamsters enjoys his edible log for this purpose. The other likes a small wooden house, as well as his enclosed hamster wheel. No matter what you choose, be sure it is safe for hamsters. It also should be something the hamster can fully fit inside when he needs to retreat. This helps calm the hamster down when he is nervous or scared. Keep familiar items in your hamster's cage. If you are just switching your hamster to a new cage within the same home, transfer some of his favorite items into the new cage. We recently switched cages for one of our hamsters and he felt soothed by his favorite log and food dish. Though we switched out some items, we kept those two things to ease his transition. He was very happy in the new cage and is adjusting well. At first he would sniff the new items and test them out. Then, he would retreat to his log for a little while. That helped him feel secure. If you are just bringing your hamster home for the first time, you may not be able to use items from the previous habitat. Purchasing similar items is the second best option. *The author is not a licensed veterinarian. Always ask your veterinarian for the best advice specific to your hamster. **I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network
0 Comments
If you bought your hamster's cage at the pet store, you may get it set up at home and discover it isn't as big as you'd like it to be. So how do you solve that issue? Perhaps you did buy a large cage but it has a second floor that's pretty high off the ground. Should your hamster's cage have a second level?
A second level could give a hamster more room. The bigger the cage, the more room your hamster will have to run around and play. This is always a good thing. Some people find that adding a second floor is a simple way to give the hamsters more room because it will take up less space in the house than a longer cage would. Hamsters also enjoy climbing. So a second floor may give them the best of both worlds. Syrian hamsters will especially need a great deal of room. Dwarf hamsters don't need as much space. But they still need the freedom to roam. Hamsters have a poor sense of depth perception. Their vision is not great and they are known to walk right off an edge. If your hamster does this on a second level, it could cause serious injury. Think about your hamster's habits. When held, is your hamster running all over you not really paying attention to the varied heights? If so, most likely the same will occur with a second level cage. A second level may be safe if height is limited. With proper bedding underneath and no more than six inches between the first and second level, another floor could be safe for your hamster. When thinking of adding additional floors, keep the same safety precautions in mind. If you add a third floor, fourth floor, and so on, consider how far your hammie can fall from each level. One solution to that issue is to section off each floor from the previous one and provide only tunnels for the hamster to travel through for each level. How large is your hamster's main area? If your hamster's main area is already large, a second floor may not be necessary. Just be sure your hamster has plenty of toys and an exercise wheel and ball. On the other hand, if the space is compact, adding the second floor may be the best option for your hamster. You can create this floor yourself by attaching a wire cage atop an aquarium filled with bedding. There are also cages for sale that feature a second floor. But be careful to choose one with appropriate bar sizing for your hamster's size and breed. Should my hamster's cage have a second level? It really depends on each unique situation. Ideally, large and small hamsters should all have plenty of space. Beyond that, each hamster's needs will vary. With you hamster in mind and with the help of a licensed vet, you should be able to tell what's best for your hamster. *Always contact a licensed veterinarian for the health of your animals. The information above is not meant to replace the advice of a qualified professional and is derived solely from the author's own personal experiences. Hamsters are already considered one of the most green pets to have. But that doesn't mean you can't take it a step further and be even more green with your hamster's care. Our family is always looking for more ways to be green and save money. As such, we've figured out many ways to be green in the care of our fur babies (aka family pets). Our hamsters are spoiled, but in the greenest ways we know.
Use recycled or recyclable bedding. This can be bought in the store or made at home. If you use a paper shredder at home, don't throw the paper in the trash. Put it in your hamster's cage as bedding instead. They'll enjoy playing in it and it will reduce waste, as well as save you money on store-bought bedding. If you do go store-bought, most hamster bedding will be green to a certain extent, but if it can be recycled or has been made from recycled materials, it's even better. Edible hideaways offer shelter and reduce waste. Hamsters love to sleep and hide in various shelters. Dual purpose shelters made for eating or chewing are greener than those made from plastic. Once the plastic ones wear out or are no longer used, into the landfill they go. But if you purchase chewable or edible hideaways, your hamster will most likely devour much or all of the material before it goes to the waste bin. Because it's edible, what's left is most likely biodegradable, unlike plastic. Use chew toys that double as treats. Your hamster needs something to chew on in order to keep his teeth healthy. Chew toys like alfalfa sticks and small twigs are great for this because they double as a treat. That way, there is little to none left to throw away when they finish with it. You may have to experiment with a few different edible chew toys to see what your hamster likes best. Keep a small catch dish under your hamster's water bottle. Even properly installed water bottles will drip from time to time, especially during or right after use. Keeping a small dish underneath prevents the bedding from getting wet. This reduces the frequency of cage cleanings, thereby reducing the amount of bedding being used. Also be sure the bottle is properly secured and working correctly. A leaky water bottle not only wastes water, but causes too much dampness in your hamster's cage. This can lead to mold if not changed often enough and a high waste of bedding if changed accordingly. Make homemade treats. Not only will your hamster enjoy fresh treats, but you'll reduce plastic and transportation waste that comes from store-bought treats. Just be sure to get approval from your hamster's vet to make sure the homemade treats are safe. Here's a recipe on homemade vegetable bread snacks for hamsters. *I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network If you care for both a guinea pig and hamster, you may wonder if they would make good friends to each other. Hamsters and guinea pigs might seem similar in some aspects. But should you house guinea pigs and hamsters together in the same cage? While it might at first seem a bright idea to some, here's why this long-time animal nurturer and pet parent says "absolutely not!"
Dietary needs differ significantly. While there may be some similarities since both animals are in the rodent family, what they need to much on all day is not exactly the same. Some selections, such as carrots, are the same. But others are very different. Also, the makeup of hamster food differs from that of guinea pig food. If both foods are available in the cage, there is no telling which each animal will pick. This could cause nutritional deficiencies, as well as overdoses or exposure to harmful food for either animal. Neither should eat the other's food. But they likely will, if available. Territorial habits may cause difficulties. Both animals like to claim their space and do what they please with it. Many hamster breeds are extremely territorial. Most cannot even be housed with other hamsters due to this issue. Just imagine what they will think and do when something big (and possibly scary) moves into their house. It's not going to be very nice. Your hamster might simply hiss at the guinea pig and hide. The guinea pig may let out some squeaks of warning. On the other hand, either could react badly as well. Both animals like to kick and bite when they get upset, especially over their territories. While some may get along as playmates, it's not very common and they should never be left alone (and most likely, not even supervised) in the same confines. Unfair match-up plays a role. Remember that guinea pigs are much larger than hamsters. Even though guinea pigs are more docile, the do still have sharp teeth. Neither of these animals is carnivorous. However, if your guinea pig is bitten by the hamster or otherwise threatened, there is no competition. A guinea pig's size immediately gives him the advantage. Housing hamsters and guinea pigs together is a very unfair mix. Take a look at your hamster's teeth. Yes, they are sharp. But also glance at your guinea pig's teeth. There should be no question at all who would win in a showdown. Different cage needs can pose a problem. The bar spacing of hamster and guinea pig cages are not equal. Guinea pig cages have much wider spacing, from which hamsters can easily escape. They love climbing. Because of that, someone might opt to put both animals in a hamster cage instead. Think again. Hamster cages are not large enough for guinea pigs at all. On top of that, they are not built for guinea pigs, who may escape. What about a large aquarium? Even if you house these animals together in an aquarium or other cage that can contain both, there are still all of the other factors mentioned. Varying behavioral instincts can spell trouble. Many hamsters are nocturnal creatures. This means they are active mostly at night and will be sleeping much of the day. Guinea pigs, on the other hand, are diurnal. This means that when your guinea pig is running around squeaking up a storm, it will interfere with your hamster's sleeping time. The same goes in reverse. It's doubtful the guinea pig will appreciate a hamster rooting around his area when he's trying to sleep. Also, each animal likes to keep special areas for everything in their cages. If these areas conflict (for instance, the hamster tries to store food where the guinea pig wants to sleep), that could create a serious problem. *I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network You're perusing a magazine or website and notice they are holding a contest. Should you enter your pet in a free photo contest? As a pet parent, I've seen these offered many times. Recently, on the advice of a friend, I was reminded to read the fine print and dig deeper before entering my pets into any contests. How do you know if the contest is really the best thing for you and your pet? Consider the source. Does the company pass a scam test? How long have they been around? What is the company's purpose? While contests from smaller companies could certainly be legitimate, if you can find no information on the company, that could be a red flag. Do you really want your pet's photo in the hands of a company who has no visible track record? Look over the rules. Is it clearly laid out what will happen to the photos during and after the contest? Make sure you are comfortable with what's stated. If there are no rules posted, it's probably a better idea not to risk it. You have no idea what they have planned for your pet's photo. The rules need to be clear and they need to be in easy-to-find location. If I can't agree with the rules or even fond them, you can guarantee that my pet's photo is not getting sent to anyone. What is the prize? Check out all of the prize offerings and make sure it is something you and your pet will benefit from. For instance, your pet will not gain anything from a prize consisting of food that he does not eat. If the prize offers stardom for your pet, will it be compensated? Starring in ads, commercials, or magazines should always be compensated. If that is the only prize your pet will receive in the photo contest, think about the company's motives. They may simply be using the contest as a way to avoid paying for pet models and actors. If our pets are photo contest winners, I would want them to reap the most benefits, not me or the contest host. Does your pet like posing? If your pet is not comfortable posing for pictures, don't stress him out just to enter a contest. However, if your pet enjoys the practice, let her soak up the attention of the camera. Remember to have plenty of water, nourishment, and entertainment available if the photo shoot will take a considerable amount of time. Make posing for the photo contest a fun event for your pet. If you just have fun with your pet and don't force it, the experience will be more enjoyable for your both. The hamsters in our family enjoy posing for the camera. That's probably due to the fact that we just let them do their thing and snap away, instead of trying to force them into posing a particular way. Is it something your pet should be paid for? This can be a huge deal-breaker. As mentioned above, some companies hold pet photo contests simply to create PR buzz. If the company is trying to cut down modeling and acting costs by having a contest, is this really a company you'd want your pet working for? If my pet is going to star in a commercial, on a website, in a magazine, or anywhere else, I want them to be compensated fairly. Just like humans should not work for free, neither should animals. They should be fairly rewarded for their efforts. How many photos will 'win'? If you are entering a contest, the number of winners should be much lower than the number of entrants. If everyone who enters is a winner, the contest is likely not very legitimate. Also, watch for companies who ask you to purchase the items your pet is featured in once they win the contest. If your pet is a contest winner, you should not have to pay any money for any reason. Government taxes on a prize are legitimate. But if you are asked to pay anything other than that, you may be the victim of a pet photo contest scam. When entering your pet into a photo contest, it's always important to check all the facts first. While it can be exciting and you want to see your pet's name up in lights, there are many factors to consider first. Choose wisely and your pet has a better chance of something worthwhile should she end up a winner. Jump in and you may end up dealing with more than you bargained for. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network |
Pawsitive
|