Cage advice

[Thams14]

They do like a reasonably large house so they can build a big nest and keep warm and cosy in winter. Ideally if it's open underneath they like to bury hoards under the nest - so it does help them have normal behaviours - and helps keep the hoard dry and the house ventilated - some plastic ones can get condensation inside and need cleaning out more then.

They also seem to like smaller and round type hides as additional hidey places to sit and have a wash for example.

I'm not sure what the pineapple house is, but if she's chewing it, it suggests she might need a different kind of house, as well as something else to chew on .

I just thought - not sure if you knew about fluffy bedding pet shops sell - that's quite dangerous stuff if chewed or pouched. If you were sold any, best to bin it asap. Safe nesting material is just torn up strips of plain white toilet paper (it dissolves better if it's chewed or swallowed).

The pineapple is a little house the sleeps in. Yeah, I think I need something more sold, as we've been though more than one pineapple! She does love it though

The Ferplast guinea pig (hamster size is too small) houses are inexpensive and made from wood. They have a removable roof which is a bonus because i can check inside for damp patches without having to lift the whole house. All my hamsters seem to like them. They need a house that's big enough to make a big nest and some hamsters keep a toileting corner as well.

You could make a shoe box house and see how she gets on with that. Similar size to the Ferplast. Use the lid as the roof and cut out a door and the base. Houses need to be bottomless so the hamster can keep their hoard under their nest which is something most of them do.

I don't know the pineapple house. If a house is too small they can get annoyed and chew it

That's good to know, thanks!

Is it this one? If it is and she's chewing it, it's not safe unfortunately. If they chew any fabric or fleece they can ingest it and get a blockage. With nice soft cosy things like that, their instinct is to shred it to make nice nesting material. They don't know the difference between natural things like grass, and fleece. Females particularly like to shred things (giving them cardboard sometimes helps with that!) to make nesting material. Generally.

Amazon.co.uk

If it's like this one, they are great for out of cage time, when you can supervise, but even then, watch for chewing or loose threads a foot could get tangled in.

Yeah, I always watch her when she's out of her cage. I'd be too nervous not too

It's this one:

 

[Thams14]

The Ferplast guinea pig (hamster size is too small) houses are inexpensive and made from wood. They have a removable roof which is a bonus because i can check inside for damp patches without having to lift the whole house. All my hamsters seem to like them. They need a house that's big enough to make a big nest and some hamsters keep a toileting corner as well.

You could make a shoe box house and see how she gets on with that. Similar size to the Ferplast. Use the lid as the roof and cut out a door and the base. Houses need to be bottomless so the hamster can keep their hoard under their nest which is something most of them do.

I don't know the pineapple house. If a house is too small they can get annoyed and chew it

Thanks! She certainly does chew it, but she has two houses in her cage and chooses to sleep in the pineapple

 

[Maz]

I also get these wood chews. Our Syrians seem to go potty for some of them - the carrot in particular - I think they smell fruity. Adds a bit of colour to the cage as well

Zazu sounds like a typical female chewy hamster! And they will probably chew anything. Cardboard egg boxes can sometimes be a popular thing for them to destroy! With any fabric, even the slipper, it's usually an idea to stop them chewing the fabric in case they pouch any. I usually just say "no" and take it away and give them something else - they're allowed back if they don't chew it!

Hamsters do seem to like shoes and footwear though! Maybe it's the smell lol. Or maybe it's that they are hidey places.

 

[Thams14]

I also get these wood chews. Our Syrians seem to go potty for some of them - the carrot in particular - I think they smell fruity. Adds a bit of colour to the cage as well

Zazu sounds like a typical female chewy hamster! And they will probably chew anything. Cardboard egg boxes can sometimes be a popular thing for them to destroy! With any fabric, even the slipper, it's usually an idea to stop them chewing the fabric in case they pouch any. I usually just say "no" and take it away and give them something else - they're allowed back if they don't chew it!

Hamsters do seem to like shoes and footwear though! Maybe it's the smell lol. Or maybe it's that they are hidey places.

Zazu actually has a carrot wood chew, and she absolutely loves it. After cleaning her cage on a few occasions, I have forgotten to put it back into her wee house, but sure enough when I go to do it, she has beaten me to it! She definitely loves to hide in shoes. When she gets inside my boots, I have to help her out because they are too tall for her to climb out of! Good point about pouching the fabric, thanks.