How To Choose The Best Hamster Cage

While there may not be a definitive answer to “What is the best hamster cage?” there really is some quality, and incredibly interesting products available on the internet. There is no definitive answer as the best hamster cage all depends on your breed of hamster, and any requirements that you have for a cage.

To choose the best hamster cage, you simply want one that comes with accessories such as food bowl, drinking bottle and an exercise wheel, that has plenty of space for your hamster. However, you may require a short cage, that is tall – and you would need to look for a multi-storey cage. Therefore, research is the key when looking for a new hamster cage.

Taking into consideration all these factors which are described below as well as nice design and good value for money, we created our Top 5 Hamster Cages.

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What to look for while choosing a hamster cage?

If you are looking to get a hamster, there’s one thing you need to do first – get a good cage. You surely don’t want your pet hamster to escape easily. Your kids might get stress for losing their pet, but the biggest issue here is with your furniture. Hamsters are rodents that like nothing better than chewing on pieces of wooden furniture. In order not to let that happen, the only solution is getting a quality cage. Still, before buying it, you need to see which cage will suit your hamster the best.

There are many important factors that you need to think about before hitting that “Buy” button. These include:

Bar Space: The gaps in between the wire bars of a cage may not seem important; however, a larger bar space could allow your hamster to get a limb trapped. Moreover, bear in mind that your hamster can escape if the gap is too large. The maximum bar spacing is 1/2 inch for Syrian and 5/16 inch for a dwarf hamster. A smaller bar space also means your hamster will be fully safe and secure, and cannot kick food or bedding out of the cage – as this soon becomes a huge mess.

Size: Cage size is the most important factor for a hamster. It should be measured by multiplying length and width only, height cannot be included. The reason for this is because, in the wild hamsters live in a very large open area, which means that the cage size applies to the one area of floor space and nothing more. Minimum cage size depends on the part of the world you want to listen to. For example, if you are from the USA or Canada, your minimum cage size is 360 sq inches. Most of Europe has established a minimum of 587 sq inches. But, the absolute champions in this matter are Germany, their minimum cage size is 741 sq inches. However, institutions such as ASPCA or HSUS have a much smaller minimum size cage:

ASPCA Minimum = 200 square inches

HSUS Minimum = 288 square inches

For Syrian hamsters, a larger cage is necessary as they thrive in large amounts of space. This may restrict you to wire cages, as plastic cages simply cannot offer large amounts of space. Unfortunately, that also appeals to almost all cheap hamster cages. Plastic cages are also unsuitable for Syrian hamsters, as they can easily become lodged in a tunnel – and it can be hard to get them out once they are stuck. If you have a Russian dwarf hamster, a plastic cage would be suitable, as would a wire cage – as they are much smaller, meaning they shouldn’t get trapped in any tunnels.

Ventilation: You need to ensure that the cage you are purchasing will have sufficient ventilation for your hamster and that it will also be right for the location. Where you decide to place the cage is also incredibly important, as the temperature has to be consistent – this means not near a fire or heater, and not near an air conditioner or fan – or a window!

Material: The main material of the cage is also a key factor, as a plastic cage is not chew proof – this means that mischievous hamsters can chew through the cage, and they can also choke on the plastic if they ingest it. This all affects the safety of your hamster. Plastic cages are still safe, but may not be suited to mischievous hamsters. A wire cage however, with a metal base is fully chew proof and safe – especially if the bar space is small.

Cleaning: I’m sure you all want a cage that is easy to clean, as nobody enjoys cleaning. Therefore, the easiest cages to clean are wire cages – as these have a base which separates from the wire bars, and can easily be cleaned. However, plastic cages with an abundance of tunnels and tubes aren’t easy to clean, as they need fully disassembling – and tunnels can be hard to clean properly.

Style: The style of the cage is a key factor. While adults may prefer the standard wire cage due to its functionality, young children will adore the plastic cages packed full of tunnels and ladders for the hamster to play with. Make sure you weigh up the pros and cons of each and make sure you get a good deal when buying your cage.

Safety: Many cages feature top access doors, as hamsters cannot open these due to the fact they would need to be able to hang from a bar, and push them open at the same time – they also have a clipping mechanism, to make them almost impossible for hamsters to open. However, make sure any cage you buy has this – and front or side access panels can often be used by hamsters – and it can be extremely hard to find your hamster within your house if it manages to escape. Also, remember that plastic is not chew proof, and therefore your hamster may easily escape if it chews through the cage.

Summary

• Size – minimum 360 sq inches.
• Material – metal
• Safety – solid floor
• Bar space – small gaps
• Cleaning – easy to clean

You need to take into consideration the size of the hamster, so you could choose the right cage.

• Two-Story Cage with Transparent Walls is a Luxury Villa for Your Hamster

  

   

  Check its price on Amazon here:

  No one can be indifferent to the design of this pet cage, undeniably it looks cool. The word that best describes it is awesome! With two stories connected by stairs, this fully transparent cage seems ideal for tireless types of hamsters, such as dwarf hamsters.

  In fact, it seems that this cage is ideal for dwarf hamsters as it is not too big. A Syrian hamster would probably not feel too comfortable in a cage with the size of 13.8 x 9.8 inches. However, the cage is big enough for a dwarf hamster!

  Hamster Toys Inside the Cage

  The best thing about this cage is that it comes with a number of super-interesting features that will make the life very fun for your pet hamsters. Actually, your hamsters will probably never grow bored of these toys, meaning that every time you look at the cage, you will see them enjoying their life!

  The hamster cage comes with a number of fun items included, such as a running wheel, which the hamsters will find irresistible. There is also a wooden seesaw, although the hamsters probably will not know how to use it, at least not as a human would. Instead, the hamsters might jump on one end, using the toy as a sort of catapult. The same goes for a large wooden swing.

  Apart from the toys, the cage also comes with a couple of food containers and a kettle. With so many features included, it might be a bit difficult to assemble this cage, which is actually the only bad side about this product. The instructions manual is in Chinese-language only, but the good news is that it contains a lot of images that explain everything. Basically, all you need is to use common sense, and you won’t have problems putting it together.

  Here you will find more cool hamster cages.

• Need a Massive Pet Cage That’s Also Cheap? Choose Niteangel Small Animal Habitat!

  

  Check its price on Amazon here:

  This cage is definitely good value for money. In fact, Niteangel Small Animal Habitat might be one of the cheapest pet cages you can find, considering how big it is. With 18.6 inches in length and 12.8 inches in width, this cage has plenty of room to be the home of several large hamsters, gerbils or mice. You probably will not be able to find such a massive cage for under 30 dollars!

  Another thing that makes this cage amazing is the fact that you can use it for literary any type of pet rodent, regardless of the size. It is even suitable for dwarf hamsters, which usually don’t grow larger than 2.5 inches in length. Still, regardless of how tiny they might be, they will not be able to escape as the bar spacing is only one third of an inch!

  If you want to make the life more interesting to your pet hamsters, you should think about putting a couple of toys in the cage. In fact, as there is plenty of room in the cage, it would look nice if you would put a rolling wheel inside, or a swing. Another idea to use up space is to put a cozy wooden hamster house. This is a great idea, especially if you have dwarf hamsters, which are known to be quite timid, so a wooden house would be their safe haven.

  The cage is compatible with most items on the market, including food containers and water tanks, all of which you can easily attach. The cage itself is also very easy to assemble, for which you will need only a couple of minutes. Speaking of easy handling, the same goes for cleaning it, which is done in a few easy steps.

  Here you will find more cheap hamster cages.

• Marchioro Goran 82 – Perfect Cage for Syrian Hamsters

  

  Check its price on Amazon here:

  Syrian hamsters are among the most popular pet rodents, not only because they look lovely with their golden-colored fur, but also because they can be a lot of fun. Of course, it’s not fun when they escape as Syrian hamsters love chewing on wooden furniture. That is why it is crucial for the sake of both you and your pet hamster that you buy the best possible cage.

  One such is Marchioro Goran, a spacious pet cage with strong metal bars. This is really big cage, it has dimensions of 32.25 x 20 x 16.5 inches, which means that your pet hamster will have plenty of room to play. In fact, the cage is designed especially for Syrian hamsters, which are the biggest of all hamsters, growing up to 8 inches in length.

  The cage is also suitable for other types of hamsters, although not for dwarf hamsters, which are twice as small as the Syrian. The problem with dwarf hamsters is that they’re so tiny that there’s a chance they could wiggle out between the cage bars, which are on about half an inch distance from one another.

  Cleaning the Marchioro Goran Cage

  Because the cage is big, with the large upward-opening door, it won’t be a problem to clean it. On top of that, the depth of the cage base is 6 inches, meaning that all the mess the hamster makes will remain in the cage, instead all around your house.

  Not only is it easy to clean, the cage is also practical when you want to take the hamster. The cage is designed so that you don’t have any problems feeding your pet hamster. If you want to put some toys so that the hamster can play, there’s plenty of room in the cage, meaning that you can fit a roll-wheel or some other pet toy.

  Here you will find more large hamster cages.

Hamster Travel Cage

You can’t leave your beloved pet when you’re going on a holiday. But, taking your pet hamster with you requires proper equipment. As travel is a stressful experience for a hamster, you need to do as much as you can to make it easier for the animal. The best way to do it is getting a good travel cage.

A hamster travel cage will make any trip an interesting experience to your pet hamster, reducing the stress as much as possible. Apart from using it for long trips, you can use the travel cage to take your pet hamster to a vet or use it when you are cleaning the main cage. Whatever the purpose, you can be sure that the cage will come in handy.

But, how to choose the best one? The answer is simple – the cage has to be spacious for hamster and lightweight for your convenience. Another criterion to consider when choosing a hamster travel cage is its price. Because you will use it only for a limited time, that is, while traveling, the travel cage should not cost more than the main hamster cage. To make it easier for you, here are a couple suggestions.

Hagen Living World Pet Carrier

Check its price on Amazon here:

When looking at this hamster travel cage, you will see that it gives away an impression of being strong and durable. Still, because of its dimensions (11.8″ x 9″ x 8.3″), this cage can be used for hamsters and other small animals only. Speaking of its size, the cage is very easy to carry. On top of being lightweight, it’s also very practical as it features two top leveraging handles. The cage is made of durable plastic, so you don’t have to worry anything about it getting damaged.

When it comes to the comfort of your pet hamster, this cage provides plenty of space and ventilated environment.  The floor of the cage is rigged, meaning that the pet won’t slip around, while being transported.

Considering the price of it, this travel cage seems a bargain. If you are looking for a safe and durable travel cage that’s also pretty affordable, look no forward than Hagen Living World Pet Carrier. The only problem you might have with this cage is assembling it. It might not be that easy to set it up, but if you follow the instructions properly, all should be alright.

Kaytee CritterTrail Portable Petite Habitat

Check its price on Amazon here:

The first thing that comes to mind when looking at this travel cage is how amazing it is for the pet. First of all, the cage is designed so that it provides a lot of light. It’s made of transparent plastic and the bars are spacious enough to let the light in, as well as the air. Your hamster is bound to fall in love with traveling if you get the Kaytee CritterTrail Portable Petite Habitat.

There is an exercise wheel in the cage, as well as food and water container. The truth is that water bottle can be leaky sometimes, especially if the cage is moved around often. Still, the solution is simple – do not overfill the 10-ounce water bottle.

The cage is made of lightweight, yet durable materials. This means that even a child can carry it. However, with the dimensions being 8 x 12.5 x 7.5 inches, the cage is meant only for small animals, such as dwarf hamsters. If your pet is a Syrian hamster, Hagen Living World Pet Carrier would be a better solution. Still, all considered, Kaytee CritterTrail Portable Petite Habitat is one of the best carriers you can find on the market today. On top of everything it provides, this cage is also among the cheapest.

Best Dwarf Hamster Cages

As their name implies, dwarf hamsters are tiny. In fact, Roborovski hamsters or Robos grow no larger than 5 centimeters (2.0 in), while at birth, they are less than 2 centimeters (0.8 in) in size. Because of that, you need a cage through which they won’t be able to slip through.

In general, dwarf hamsters are easily scared, so the cage needs to be placed in a place without loud noises. It is also recommended that there is a hide-house in their cage, where they can run into when scared. You don’t want to keep it in your bedroom, as hamster’s gnawing at the bars will surely wake you up.

When buying the dwarf hamster cages, make sure to add a couple of toys to the cart. If you reckon that playing with the hamsters is a good idea, we urge you to think twice. Dwarf hamsters are better off with toys in their cage than playing with you. It’s because they’re fast and agile, meaning that they’ll probably escape as soon as you take them out of the cage.

As escaping is a major concern when it comes to dwarf hamsters, it is wise to get a cage with the mechanism for feeding. This will allow you to keep the cage closed while feeding the hamsters. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be hard for them to jump out of the cage and run away.

Best Syrian Hamster Cages

Unlike Robos, Syrian hamsters are larger in size. However, they are equally lively. Also known as Golden hamsters due to their looks, these animals are very fun. Not only do they look interesting (especially males with long yellow fur), they also have loads of energy, which is best spent on chewing toys. Alternatively, they will chew on the cage bars, creating an annoying noise.

When it comes to buying Syrian hamster cages, you need to make sure that it’s large in size, so your hamster will have plenty of room. The cage bars don’t need to be too close to one another, but you need to make sure they are strong enough. It’s because Syrian hamster is the strongest of all hamsters!

You might have already heard the fun fact about the law in Switzerland that bans keeping only one hamster in the cage. This rule, however, doesn’t apply to Syrian hamsters, which are fierce little creatures. If you put two of them together in one cage, they will fight. Instead, a better solution is letting them release their aggression on a plastic toy.

When it comes to feeding and playing with the hamster, you can open the cage without worrying that it’ll run away. It is because, compared to other hamsters, Syrian hamsters are fairly docile. They will either keep close to you or hide from you in their hide house. Of course, “better safe than sorry” is the rule here, so keep an eye on the hamster all the time when the cage is opened.

Types of Cages

There are many different hamster cages for sale nowadays. However, they can be classified into three main categories.

Wire: Wire cages are often the best, due to their unbeatable security, functionality, and versatility. They offer great value for money and are therefore the most popular hamster cage currently available. Many accessories can be attached to the wire walls, and they come in large sizes – perfect for multiple hamsters.

Aquarium: Aquarium cages are the least popular of them all. They tend to offer bad quality ventilation, and often leave hamsters feeling isolated; which can negatively impact on their mood and morale. Aquarium cages are either manufactured from glass or plastic, glass can be incredibly dangerous. If the cage smashes, then this can be deadly to your hamster – the weight of a glass aquarium cage is also quite heavy.

Plastic: Plastic cages are quite popular, especially with young children. They offer a huge amount of versatility, as some are fully modular – and can, therefore, be connected to other plastic cages, to create one huge living space. However, they can be incredibly difficult and time consuming to clean, along with being awkward to assemble. Some hamsters can also chew through the plastic, impacting the security of the cage. Large Syrian hamsters also aren’t suitable for many plastic cages, as they can become lodged within the tunnels.

Hamster Food

You surely want your hamster to be happy and gleeful, but they need energy for that. This is why it is crucial to get the best possible food for your hamster. However, this doesn’t mean it is necessary to spend hundreds of dollars to feed the pet. On the contrary, you can find a hamster food that is highly nutritious, yet very affordable.

Check its price on Amazon here:

Kaytee Forti Diet Pro Health

This hamster food was designed by experts who understand the nutritional needs of these animals. Hamsters, same as all the other rodents, like chewing more than anything. That is something you need to provide them with food unless you want them to chew on the bars, toys, or even your furniture if they manage to escape.

Apart from being crunchy, this food contains all the nutrients your hamster needs. Kaytee has been in this business for over 150 years, during which they learned that a healthy hamster needs a balanced diet, with enough protein and fiber, but also with plenty of prebiotics and probiotics, which serve to support their digestive system.

Here you will find more information about hamster food.

Hamster Bedding

Hamster beddings which can be bought in the pet store are mostly good enough to put in the cage. However, there are some that need to be avoided. Never get a cedar, pine and scented bedding. The last one can give your hamster respiratory problems. Nonetheless, beddings which you should buy vary in terms of dust it contains, odor control and how well it absorbs the liquid. There are two main types of beddings: wooden shavings which have to be aspen, because it is the only safe kind and paper-based bedding. Both are good, but our experience shows that paper- based are the way to go, because of better absorption. You can make a mix of those two to create the more diversified ground for your hamster. Two companies that count are Carefresh and Kaytee Clean & Cozy. Below you will our choice of bedding.

Check its price on Amazon here:

Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding

Carefresh is made of cellulose fiber which is 100% natural, that means no clay no inks and other contaminants. It is absolutely safe for small animals like hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, etc.