Buying A Hamster
Things to Consider When Buying a Hamster
Many who consider buying a hamster think that it might be a very easy pet to care for that will not require much care or attention. While it’s true that in some ways a hamster requires less attention than a dog or a cat, there is still a good amount of work required to keep a hamster healthy and happy. Below are some things to keep in mind when buying a hamster.
Cost
While you will be able to buy most hamsters for less than $20, there are other costs to consider when thinking about buying a hamster. One of the most significant is the cage. Buying a tiny cage in which to keep your hamster is not the best choice. The hamster should have plenty of room to move around, explore and play.
Some owners even buy more than once cage and then link them together with tubes in which the hamster can climb. Providing such a stimulating environment will prevent the hamster from becoming bored.
Other costs include food, bedding, chew items and treats. While hamsters do not require regular vet care, such as shots, some hamster owners do bring their pet to the vet should it become ill. This, of course, is another cost to consider.
Time
When you own a hamster, you must completely clean the cage at least once every two weeks. This means removing all of the old bedding, washing all the items and the cage thoroughly and replacing with new bedding.
You should also try to spend a little time interacting with your pet each day.
Two Hamsters?
Some people think it would be neat to get their hamster a friend. This is not a good idea. You should not introduce a new hamster into your hamster’s cage. If you want two hamsters, you should get littermates of the same sex and keep them together from the beginning.
If you do this, watch for signs of fighting and separate them if the show any signs that they are becoming aggressive towards each other.
Buy or Adopt?
Many people do not even consider adoption when it comes to a hamster. But before buying a hamster, give you local SPCA a call. You may surprised to learn that many such shelters do indeed have hamsters and other small animals.
When you adopt a hamster instead of buying one, you will be giving a home to a hamster that might otherwise have to be put to sleep.
While, as mentioned above, a hamster may not take as much time and effort as a dog, it is still a pet that requires some of your attention. If you think that you can just get the hamster, put it in a cage and forget it, that is not the case.
You will need to feed, water and interact with the hamster as well as take the time to clean the cage on a regular basis.
Before buying a hamster, you need to make sure that you are ready for such a commitment of your time, effort and finances.