Your new friend will groom themselves, but it’s up to you to make sure that you keep your hamster’s cage clean. To make this easier you can train your new hamster to use a damp corner. Put some of their damp wood shavings into a little plastic tray and put it in one corner of the cage. Your hamster will smell the urine and go to the spot every time they need to pee. This makes your life a lot easier as you are not having to constantly change the bedding or shavings in the cage.

Once a week: Give your hamster’s cage a full clean from top to bottom. Though leave a small amount of the old bedding in place so that the hamster recognises some familiar smells when it returns to the cage.

While you are cleaning, you need to make sure that your pet is secure and cannot escape. If you purchased a small animal carrier when you first bought your pet, you can put them in this while you clean the cage.

It’s not a good idea to put them in a hamster ball unless there is someone else there who can watch them. You can’t concentrate on cleaning the cage and keep an eye on your hamster’s ball manoeuvring skills at the same time.

1. Choosing a type of hamster


2. Buying your hamster


3. Your hamster’s home


4. Feeding your hamster


5. Getting to know your hamster


6. Exercise


7. Cleaning


8. Health problems