Hamster Accessories and Toys (Part IV)

Hamster Accessories and Toys

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Hamster Accessories and Toys (Part IV)

·                     Recommended Hamster Supplies

·                     Hamster Accessories

1.                  Exercise wheel

2.                  Exercise ball

3.                  Gnawing Toys

4.                  Other Toys

5.                  Harness

6.                  Special insecticide

7.                  Bathing supplies

·                     Playtime

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Recommended Hamster Supplies (9)

Hamsters need a water bottle, a dry food dispenser and a dish for treats. For their bed choose from plastic, wood, or grass houses and/or a hammock or sleeping bag. They need an exercise wheel, and also enjoy tubes, climbing toys such as ladders, ropes, and branches, and chew toys. (6)

Hamster Accessories (17)

1. Exercise wheel

The exercise wheel is not a luxury item but a NECCESITY for the hamster. Hamsters are naturally active and a lack of exercise might result in paralysis, where an afflicted hamster will spend most of its time hunched over, often unable to raise its head. (16)

There are many kinds of exercise wheels available in the market today. Metal/wire wheels provide a strong base but rust easily if the hamster chews on them. They are prone to squeaking when a hamster runs on them but this can be easily remedied by rubbing some Vaseline or vegetable oil on the joints of the wheel. Similarly, a plastic wheel can be easily chewed away. Wheels with bars should be avoided as a hamster's feet might get caught in them. Opt for a gnaw-proof plastic base wheel instead. Electronic wheels that record the distance your hamster runs daily should be avoided if your hamster have a tendency to urinate on the wheel. (16)

2. Exercise ball

The exercise ball allows your hamster to run all over your room without you having to worry that it might get lost or be attacked by other animals. It is also ideal when you wash the cage, for putting the hamster in the ball makes its wait more fun and bearable. (16)

To avoid exhaustion and dehydration, you should not put your pet in the ball for more than 20 minutes. Urine and droppings can penetrate the holes in the ball designed for air circulation, so you should supervise the area that your hamster runs on. In addition, make sure that the hamster does not roll the ball near stairways, deep holes, and other dangerous obstacles in the house. (16)

For added value, get an exercise ball that can be used both inside and outside the cage. (comes with a stand) (16)

3. Gnawing Toys

Gnawing toys satisfies your hamster need to gnaw and your pet will be less inclined to gnaw on other objects in the cage such as the water bottle or its toys. As a hamster's incisors are always growing, gnawing helps to keep their teeth trim and sharp. There are many kinds of

gnawing toys available. Some examples are wooden chews and the fruit flavoured gnawing toys. (16)

4. Other Toys

        

Hamsters like to have fun! Provide different toys specially designed for hamsters, such as tubes and play loops, to provide a variety of fun for your furry friends. Toilet rolls, small boxes and ice cream sticks are some examples of free toys you can give your hamster. Huts and hideaways satisfy your hamster's natural need to hide in the wild, and hamsters like to use them as sleeping nests. Ladders offers good climbing exercise, and tubes and tunnels lets your hamster practice their tunnelling skills! (16)

5. Harness

A small animal harness allows you to "walk" your hamster for short periods of time, but not every hamster likes to wear a harness around its body. It is more suitable for tamer hamsters, for untamed hamsters may bite you if you try to get them into the harness. Do not pull the hamster too hard when you are "walking" your hamsters so as to avoid injuries. (16)

6. Special insecticide

Never use household insecticide in the room you keep hamsters to kill household pests. As hamsters lick themselves during grooming, they will consume the toxic chemicals as well. Use a small animal safe repellent specially designed to kill pests but would not harm your hamster. (16)

7. Bathing supplies

As hamsters spend a large amount of time grooming themselves, a human-style bath is usually not necessary. If you wish to give your hamster a wet bath, you should buy a hamster/small animal shampoo instead of sharing your own or your other pet's shampoo with your hamster. These shampoos may contain toxic ingredients that are harmful to hamsters and perfumed products may also interfere with the hamster's own natural scent gland odours. Bath your hamster as quickly as possible and dry them with a towel to avoid your pet catching a cold. (16)

Some hamster owners also like to give hamsters a dry bath using dust powder (usually for rabbits). Sprinkle the dust powder over the hamster's body and dust them off, avoiding the eye area.(16)

        

Most hamsters also like to roll in bathing salt (usually for chinchillas). Place the bathing salt into a broad container (you can use a food dish) and let your hamster roll in them. The bathing salt will eliminate oily and dust particles in your pet's fur. Watching your hamster bath in them is highly enjoyable and the bathing salt should be changed daily. (16)

Playtime

Hiding treats around the cage and providing toys that stimulate natural behaviour will help keep your hamster amused. Houses and tubes allow hamsters to have hideaway holes for food just as they would in the wild. As well as helping to keep your pet’s teeth short, wooden gnawing toys are fun too so make sure there’s always a gnaw toy in your hamster’s cage. Hamsters are very active at night as they are nocturnal and need lots of toys to play with while you’re asleep. Tubes and tunnels will keep your pet entertained and a wheel will allow it to burn off energy. A hamster ball is ideal as it means that your pet can exercise outside its cage and you don’t have to worry about it escaping.(8)

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