Before preparing the cage you should think about where you are likely to place the cage. The cage needs to be placed away from direct sunlight, away from draughts as well as in a room of constant temperature. Stay away from putting the cage near a heater where the hamster could become hot and make sure you put the cage out of the way of other pets which might harm your hamster.

To arrange the cage:

* Place an excellent layer of wood shavings around the floor(s) of the cage.

* Fill the water bottle with water and fix it on the cage at a height that the hamster is able to reach comfortably. Check by running your finger on the end of the spout that it’s delivering water. If it’s not give the bottle a bit of squeeze, dry the end of the spout and run your finger over it once more. Pet Shops sell liquid vitamins which may be added to the water and these can be particularly beneficial if your hamster is ill.

* if you are using a food dish fill it with hamster food and place this in the cage, otherwise sprinkle some on the floor of the cage.

* Place any cage accessories in suitable positions within the cage.

* Place a handful of nesting material in the cage or inside the hamster’s “house”.

* Fix the Exercise Wheel to the side of the cage or if you have a free standing wheel place this in a suitable position in the cage.

Cage Floor:

A covering is required for the floor of the hamster cage to provide a soft, comfortable surface for the hamster and also to soak up the urine. The most common type of floor covering available is wood shavings – fine sawdust should be avoided as this can cause irritation to the eyes.

Cedar wood shavings (usually distinguished by a red tint) should not be used as the phenols they contain can cause severe irritations in hamsters. Although Pine is also a softwood Pine wood shavings cause less problems than Cedar and kiln dried Pine can be used without problems.

Exercise Wheel:

In the wild hamsters are highly active at dusk and evening and may even travel several miles as they forage for food. Therefore it is very important provide the largest cage possible for any pet hamster and the provision of an exercise wheel also helps to provide the hamster with a means to exercise whilst in its cage.

Water Bottle:

A hamster requires constant access to water. Water can be provided in a dish or in a water bottle. A water bottle is best as a hamster will often kick wood shavings into a dish or may knock it over. Water bottles with ball-bearings in the tube tend to better than those without.