Critters Collection: Hamster



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Hamster Extras

Your hamster has sharp incisors that protrude underneath its small nose and expressive whiskers. These grow throughout the hamster's life, so it gnaws and chews on things to wear them down. Giving your hamster chew sticks or wood blocks will keep it in good health and prevent you from having to take the hamster to the vet to have its teeth shortened. A hamster that is unable to shorten its teeth will have its ability to eat impaired and will eventually die.

Because they are active little creatures, hamsters need toys to help them expend some of that boundless energy. The exercise wheel is the most popular toy, at least it seems with the hamster. Some hamsters may even get addicted to running on it. If your hamster seems to be on the wheel for hours at a time, remove it while the animal is sleeping and replace it temporarily with a different type of toy.

Hamsters like to climb and will scale the bars of metal cages. To satisfy your pet's climbing instinct, you can purchase ladders, seesaws or other climbing accessories. You can help your hamster create tunnels by giving it a cardboard tube from a bathroom tissue roll or by providing more permanent tubes, available in different lengths and shapes from your pet store. Don't crowd the cage with too many toys, however; instead, rotate them so your rodent has plenty of variety and still has space to walk.

Author(s): Moira C. Harris

Critters Home Page: Critter Collection: Hamster

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