Even if your hamster is a pet that requires less maintenance than a dog or a cat, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take care of it!
One of the most important things you can do for your little rodent’s well-being and hygiene is to clean its cage. As this is his main habitat, it is extremely important that this environment is as pleasant as possible for him to avoid any health concerns.
How often should I clean my hamster’s cage?
Some elements require daily maintenance. This concerns the water and food accessories. As for the cage, it should be cleaned completely every week or so when you notice that the substrate is mostly soiled or gives off bad odors.
On a daily basis, remove the droppings. Hamsters tend to relieve themselves in the same place in their cage. Therefore, you should know that there are small litter boxes or toilet houses for hamsters!
Just like a cat’s, it is a plastic container, with or without a roof, in which you just have to put a little substrate so that the hamster comes to do its needs. Also, there are corner models that are perfect for placing in a corner to optimize the space in your rodent’s cage.
It’s also important to remove food waste every day. As we all know, hamsters love to store their food in their cheeks and carry it to different parts of their cage. Remember to remove all food and waste to avoid mold and mildew.
Also, check the level of substrate and add some if necessary.
Last but not least, your hamster should have access to fresh water and food.
Be aware that the hamster, regardless of its breed, is a very sensitive little animal that needs to live in a clean and healthy environment. Thus, neglecting the cleaning of its cage can cause real health problems for which you alone will be responsible.
How to proceed for an effective cleaning?
First of all, since the entire cage must be thoroughly cleaned as well as all the accessories, it is advisable to place your hamster in another place in complete safety. Why not take the opportunity to place your hamster in an exercise ball and let it roam around your home! The more cautious will prefer maximum safety by placing their rodent in a temporary transport cage for the time of cleaning. Be careful, no more than 30 minutes.
Then take all the items out of the cage to clean them individually. Take the opportunity to check their appearance, if they are not broken or gnawed, thus risking to hurt your pet. In the case of wooden toys that you cannot clean, do not hesitate to throw them away if they are too dirty or if mold appears.
To sanitize, the easiest way is to soak the small items in a mixture of water and cleaner or to use a pure solution, depending on the instructions. The best is to use a product specially reserved for this purpose. Without any danger for your animal, it allows to eliminate the odors and to disinfect. Be careful not to use bleach or any other product with a strong odor.
Then, empty the entire soiled substrate into a plastic bag that you will close and place in a trash can, then proceed to clean the tray.
For a plastic tank and a plastic cage, given the dimensions, the easiest way is to place in a bathtub or shower in order to wet, disinfect and rinse easily and completely.
In the case of a cage with bars, clean them individually with a cloth soaked in solution.
Then, let the cage and elements air dry or dry with a clean cloth.
Finally, you can place clean substrate in the tray and rearrange the cage of your small rodent by reinstalling its games, its hiding place … Take the opportunity to change its food bowl and renew its water.
You can put your hamster back in its cage and let it enjoy a clean and healthy home!
