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Burrowing and nesting is what hamsters enjoy doing the most, it's what they do in the wild because it's part of their survival instinct. If you want to be the owner of a happy hamster, then you will need to have a location where your hamster can dig & burrow 'till their little hearts are content. There are some options to setting up such an environment, If you already own a cage you could simply lay about 15cm of torn paper or tissue paper, at the base of the enclosure giving their resting area an extra hand full or two. If you do not own a cage or you would like to make a separate play area for your hamster, you could stuff a big waste bin with shredded tissue paper so your hamster can dig & tunnel all they want. If you're going to do it this way, with a waste bin, keep in mind to leave sufficient space at the top of the waste bin so your hamster doesn't escape.

A much simpler way to let your hamster dig & nest, without the mess, is to get a hamster cage with inbuilt tunnels & burrowing areas. This makes things a lot less messy, with out all the torn paper and clearing the enclosure would be a lot easier. All you would have to concentrate on then would be to simply give your hamster enough nesting materials so it can build a comfy nesting environment.

Hamsters are naturally timid little animals and can be easily frightened and stressed out, that is why they burrow and spend time nesting away. so it is essential that your hamsters enclosure is set up so they have a section of the enclosure where they can hide away for some time alone. Having a location in the cage like this for your hamster will give them a great environment so your hamster can be relaxed, less stressed and in turn a joyful and healthier hamster.

Beware of using nesting materials with small fibres, i.e. cotton. These can cause digestive problems if your hamster ingests them. One of the best choices for nesting material is toilet paper, slightly shredded. When replacing the nest during your weekly cage clean, make sure you leave some of the nesting material behind, so your hamster doesn't become stressed by the change in its immediate environment.

Believe it or not hamsters can be toilet trained, this is not as difficult as it might sound. After you have had your hamster for a couple of weeks, pay interest in what part of the enclosure they're using as their toilet. You will notice a bigger concentration of waste in one particular section of the enclosure and this is where you will have to cover the cage with extra paper fillings, or you can use a small tray packed with kitty litter pellets. Be sure to use litter pellets not kitty litter that turns clumpy after use, as your hamster will gobble on this material and get awfully ill. In a brief while your hamster will start using the litter tray and you will find that your periodic cage clearing duties will be a lot less untidy.

One more thing to keep in mind is that your hamsters teeth keep growing all its live, so don't forget to find your hamster all the chewing toys they will necessitate. Giving them soft chewy toys will help them keep their teeth regular and will also decrease the likelihood of your hamster's teeth overgrowing, and prohibiting them from maintaining a usual diet. In the case of your hamster breaking a tooth, the best thing to do is find a good pare of cutters, and reduce the length of the longer tooth to match the smaller one. This will assist your hamster to chew and really lessen their discomfort. do not be concern, this doesn't harm your pet in any way, it's the same as when you cut your finger nails, but you will need to get a very good grip on your hamster because they will move around a great deal, getting them from the scruff of the neck is the easiest way to do this.

Author's Resource:

Nelson Gaona shares some great tips & info when considering Hamster Cages, be sure to visit besthamstercages.com for more tips on hamster cages.

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