Environmental Enrichment for Hamsters

by Lisa Selvaggio

Published: October 24th, 2024

Like other pets, hamsters benefit from environmental enrichment that makes it possible for them to behave much like they would in the wild. Sure, you want an enclosure that will be large enough for them to move about comfortably, with areas for eating and sleeping, but you can do a lot more to keep your little hamster happy and stress-free.

Here are a few easy ways to enrich your hamster’s environment and help them thrive.

ANATOLY Foto/Shutterstock

Provide Hideouts, Chew Toys, and More

Your hamster will spend the majority of their time in their cage, so setting it up in a way that’s interesting for them is important. Providing an enclosure in which they can exhibit the same types of behaviors that they’d exhibit in the wild is an easy way to provide environmental enrichment.

Adding a variety of branches, tubes, chew toys, platforms, and hideouts throughout your hamster’s cage will allow them to climb, explore, and, of course, hide when they want to feel cozy and protected. Always choose high-quality items that are made from materials that are safe for hamsters.

One example of the many hideouts that are available is the Kaytee Woodland Get-A-Way. It comes in more than one size, is made of wood, and has a flat platform on top for your hamster to rest on as well.

Let Your Hamster Dig into Deeper Bedding

If you’re only providing your hamster with a couple inches of bedding, consider setting up an enclosure that will allow for much deeper bedding (e.g., 10+ inches deep).

These animals like the burrow, so the right bedding that won’t collapse, combined with enough depth, will let them make their way “underground,” digging tunnels for doing things like storing food and napping.

This is a great form of enrichment because it allows your hamster to exhibit a behavior that comes naturally but wouldn’t be possible with a thin layer of bedding.

Let Your Hamster Forage for Food

When setting up a hamster enclosure, you’ll include a dish with food for them. But letting them forage for food is yet another good way to enrich their environment and keep things a little more interesting for them. This gives your rodent the chance to look for food on their own and feel the satisfaction of finding it just like they would if they were living in the wild.

One way to let your hamster forage is by sprinkling their food in different parts of their enclosure so they can search for it. Another option is to give your hamster a variety of sprays, such as wheat sprays, that they can munch on as a snack.

Create an Area for Sand Baths

Sand baths are another good addition to a hamster’s routine because they can use the sand for playing, digging, and cleaning themselves. All you need is a small dish filled with hamster-safe sand that’s soft and doesn’t create dust—an example is Tiny Friends Farm Bathing Sand, which is appropriate for hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, and degus.

Don’t keep the sand bath in the enclosure at all times, though. Instead, add it on a regular basis so your hamster can use it for a few minutes, and remove it when they’re done.

Keep Your Hamster Active with an Exercise Ball

Letting your hamster out of their cage and into an exercise ball is a fun way to interact with them while giving them an opportunity to let their energy out. There are basic exercise balls that you can easily find in pet stores, and they’re affordably priced so you don’t need to spend a lot either.

A unique take on the hamster exercise ball is the Halo from Happy Habitats. It combines a clear exercise ball with a special carrier that makes it easy to carry your pet while they’re inside the ball, whether you’re traveling with your hamster or just moving them from one room to another. Simply secure the carrier around the ball to carry it by the handle, and set it down using the magnetic kick-out stands to let your hamster run while stationary. The product is designed to prevent paw trapping, there’s plenty of ventilation for your furry little companion, and there’s a two-step locking mechanism to keep them safe.

Remember to always supervise your hamster while they are in their exercise ball.

So Many Ways to Keep Your Hamster Happy!

When it comes to taking care of a hamster, go beyond the basics to really make them feel at home in their enclosure. Just remember to always stick with products that are safe for these pocket pets, avoiding toxic or dangerous materials that could harm them.

Before you know it, you’ll have an enclosure that’s comfortable, safe, and fun for your adorable rodent. And you can interact with your hamster by handling them gently and letting them run in an exercise ball whenever they’re spending some time outside of their cage.

Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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The Importance of Environmental Enrichment for Cats

Felines of all ages benefit from some environmental enrichment in their lives. Just a few added touches to your living spaces keep your cat happy and well behaved. Cats of all ages benefit greatly from environmental enrichment. It helps satisfy their hunter instincts, their social needs, and their territorial preferences. It also helps to keep your cat occupied so boredom doesn’t lead to aggression, anxiety, depression, or destructive behavior. If cats are living in a boring or stressful environment, problems like chewing on items around the house, fighting with other pets, over-grooming, isolating themselves, overeating, and compulsive or self-mutilating behaviors can occur. Let’s talk about what environmental enrichment is, and how you can use it to help keep your cats happy and healthy. Reasons Why It’s Important to Enrich Your Cat’s Environment One great reason to enrich your cat’s environment is to provide her with the ability to stay active. Cats are born to be great hunters, so they really enjoy being predators. Your indoor kitty can experience the same feelings she would have during a real hunt if you simply enrich your home environment for her. Again, this prevents stress, boredom, depression, and anxiety. Making time to play with your cat and allowing her to tackle “prey” in the form of a variety of toys is important and necessary. Related: Why Do Felines Love Cat Trees? Also, when living outside on their own, cats can get a lot of physical activity in every day, so you want to provide that for your indoor kitty as well. This will be a great form of exercise, and it will serve to prevent stress. Plus, being able to release excess energy in a way that’s fun is a good way to avoid negative behaviors that are associated with boredom and anxiety. Easy Ways to Provide Environmental Enrichment Environmental enrichment may sound complicated, but it’s actually really easy. Again, playing with your cat is a great way to let her release her inner hunter instinct and make her feel like an accomplished predator. But in addition to making time to interact with your kitty, check out the many toys that you can leave out for her to find and play with throughout the day when you aren’t home. Just be sure that they are safe and won’t be hazardous to your pet. Related: Top 5 Puzzle Games for Cats Puzzle feeders are yet another tool that you can use to enrich your kitty’s environment and allow her to “hunt” for her food. These are designed in a way that will also mentally stimulate your cat, so she won’t get bored and she will be challenged in a new way that will keep things interesting. Finally, because cats love being up high, provide your pet with a means to get above everyone else in the home. A tall cat tree could be the ideal solution, especially if it has several perches at varying heights, some scratching posts, hideouts, and toys included. You can also purchase window perches so your cat can get some height while relaxing and checking out what’s going on outside. Or you can install some cat shelves, catwalks, and cat ladders that are perfect for giving your cat a high place to relax. Work with Your Cat’s Personality Getting to know your cat is the best way to provide her with the environmental enrichment that she prefers. For example, if your cat really enjoys being up high most of the time, you can incorporate more vertical space than you would for a kitty who likes to stay lower to the ground. Or you may find that your cat loves water, so you can provide enrichment by purchasing a cat water fountain. The key to environmental enrichment for cats is simply allowing your pet to be herself. Understanding that your cat is a natural hunter, enjoys high places, and needs to have a way to release her energy in a healthy and productive way will help you determine the best ways to enhance your home so your kitty can be comfortable and happy.

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Dandruff is often associated with human scalp issues, but we aren’t the only ones who may struggle with this annoying condition. While it may not be as noticeable as it is in humans, our feline friends can also experience these white flakes.This condition is not only a nuisance, but it can also be a sign of underlying skin problems.In this blog post, I’ll explore the possible causes, symptoms, and treatment options for dandruff in cats. Learn what you can do to help keep your cat’s coat healthy and itch-free.What is Dandruff You’re likely familiar with the white flakes and itchiness of dandruff in people, but what exactly is dandruff anyway? This common condition, in both cats and humans, occurs when something irritates the skin, causing it to flake. The presence of flaking isn’t a serious health condition on its own; however, it could indicate a more severe underlying condition. 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Causes of Dandruff in Cats Skin flaking can be traced back to a wide range of medical problems, environmental conditions, allergies, and other situations. This can make it challenging to pinpoint what your cat is currently experiencing and treat it accordingly. There are the most common causes and what to look out for to help you start to narrow down the problem: Difficulty Self-Grooming Cats are known for being incredibly clean and well-groomed animals. They are masters of self-grooming, often caring for themselves so well that they require little or no outside help to maintain their grooming needs. However, sometimes in a cat’s life, keeping up with self-grooming can become difficult or nearly impossible. If your cat is obese, experiencing senior aches and pains, or has recently suffered an injury or ailment that impacts their ability to bend, contort, or reach areas of their body, their grooming may suffer. When their grooming isn’t kept up, the skin becomes irritated, which can result in skin flaking. Skin Allergies or Irritation Another possible cause of skin-related problems is the presence of skin allergies, infections, or other irritations. This is a broad category, but it is also the most common of the possible reasons on this list. Your cat’s skin irritation could be caused by nearly anything, but some potential causes include being in a dry environment, environmental allergies, food allergies, or sores/rashes. Signs your cat may be suffering from skin irritation include: Licking, scratching, or biting the skin Fur loss OvergroomingDull or brittle coat appearance SwellingScabs or bumps While skin irritation may not seem serious, it can be incredibly painful and uncomfortable. Even if the irritation isn’t causing flaking or dandruff, it’s best to address it and give your cat some much-needed relief. Trapped Undercoat Just like dogs, cats shed. 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Of course, if your cat suffers from one of these medical conditions, you need to identify the problem and start treatment as quickly as possible. In addition to dandruff, other warning signs to watch out for include: Weight loss Loss of appetite Vomiting or diarrhea Abdominal painBad breath Fever Excessive thirstWeakness or lack of energy Coughing or difficulty breathingThe only way to rule out medical conditions like those listed above is to make an appointment with your veterinarian. Come to the appointment with a complete list of the symptoms you have observed and why you are concerned. This will help paint a better picture for your vet of what is happening, helping them reach a diagnosis. Your vet will either rule out these problems or identify the medical issue and recommend the best treatment options.

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Can a Parrot Get Dehydrated?

The summer months are in full swing, and the temperatures are soaring high. Due to this, pet owners across the world are concerned about their furry and feathery friends and the possible adverse effects extreme weather could have on them. A group especially vulnerable to heat is parrots, who are usually small and don’t tolerate high temperatures. Like all other pets, they too need to have plenty of fresh, cool water available at all times, as it is essential for maintaining their overall health and also aids digestion and regulates body temperature. But how much water does your avian pet really need in the summer? Can parrots get dehydrated and can you prevent it? Here is what you need to know.Can a Parrot Get Dehydrated?Like all living creatures, parrots also require water, and without enough of it, they can certainly become dehydrated. Dehydration occurs when a parrot loses more water than it consumes, which leads to an imbalance in their body’s water levels. There are many reasons why this can happen. Most often it is insufficient water intake, excessive heat, sickness, or improper diet. To calculate how much water a parrot needs, you need to consider their size and weight – a majestic Moluccan Cockatoo will certainly need more water than a cute little Budgie. A good rule of thumb is to ensure they get at least 5% of their body weight in water each day.Dehydration in parrots can have serious health consequences, including kidney function, digestion, and overall vitality. That is why it is important to always provide them with a fresh source of water and monitor for signs of dehydration.Signs of Dehydration in ParrotsAll parrot owners need to know how to spot the symptoms of dehydration. This can be crucial for their health and allow you quick intervention. Some of the common signs are:#1 Sunken Eyes:When dehydrated, a parrot’s eyes can appear sunken or dull. This is one of the more noticeable signs and it needs to be addressed immediately.#2 Dry Skin and Beak:A dehydrated parrot can have dry or flaky skin and a dry beak. The skin can also lose its elasticity, and the beak may appear brittle.#3 Lethargy:When dehydrated, parrots can become lethargic or less active than usual. They might not show any interest in playing or interacting with their environment in the usual way.#4 Reduced appetite:A lack of water intake can lead to loss of appetite, as dehydration can cause digestive issues and general discomfort. #5 Rapid breathing:In an attempt to regulate their body temperature, dehydrated parrots may pant or breathe at a rapid pace.#6 Sticky mucous membranes:The inside of the parrot’s mouth may appear sticky or dry due to a lack of moisture.#7 Weight loss:Over time, dehydration can lead to noticeable weight loss, as the parrot’s body struggles to maintain its normal functions.Preventing and Treating Dehydration in ParrotsOf course, it is equally important to understand what can cause dehydration in parrots in the first place. This can also help you to prevent it from occurring. The number one cause is inadequate water supply. If a parrot’s water source is not easily accessible or is often empty, they may not consume enough water. Make sure that their waterer is always clean, easy to use, and made from parrot-safe materials.

How to Keep Your Cat Hydrated

Keeping your cat hydrated is an important part of maintaining their overall health, but your kitty might not be drinking enough water, and that could lead to dehydration. The good news is that you can encourage your feline to drink more, and there are ways to sneak more moisture into their daily diet. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

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