When you look for the perfect cage for you; there are numerous factors you should take into consideration; such as:
Style: The style of the cage is incredibly important; many hamster owners love wire cages, whereas children may prefer a plastic cage full of tunnels, like these ones! However, you need to make sure that whichever you buy – is right for you. Larger hamsters are better suited to wire cages, as they may get stuck in the tubes and tunnels which can be found within plastic cages.
Ventilation: Ventilation is incredibly important, as this will keep your hamster healthy if they can get fresh air 24/7. Plastic cages may look aesthetically pleasing, but they lack good ventilation. Wire cages may not be the most attractive at first, but they offer superior ventilation. Wire cages can also be packed full of accessories as they are extremely versatile, and this can improve the aesthetics.
Cleaning: When looking for a new cage, you need to think about how hard it will be to clean. You will find yourself cleaning the cage often, so therefore a plastic cage will take a lot more time to clean, than a standard wire cage. Wire cages simply detach from the base, which can then be emptied and cleaned within a matter of minutes, however plastic cages may need fully disassembling – which can take time, and tubes and tunnels can be hard to clean thoroughly.
Size: The size of the hamster cage is also important. If you are looking for the most space possible for your hamster, then a wire cage is perfect. Many hamsters prefer as much space as they can get, as they are wild animals – and therefore don’t thrive within captivity. Plastic cages tend to not be amazing for space, however if you have one Russian dwarf hamster – they will be fine. Syrian hamsters are larger, and therefore may not enjoy plastic cages as much as they could become stuck. Read our review of big hamster cages.
Safety: If you are buying a wire cage, make sure that the gaps between the wires are small enough that your hamster cannot get their limbs trapped in it. The wires also tend to be chew proof, which is great. However, plastic cages are not chew proof – so if your hamster tends to be mischievous, it may not be right for them.
