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Hamsters today, are luckier than in the past, now we have new guidelines from pet charities and they can enjoy spacious cages and plenty of enrichment. However, they still benefit from time out of the cage. This gives them exercise, added interest in life, interaction with their human companion, and well, just a change of scene basically.
So even if a hamster has a luxurious huge habitat with enrichment creating a terrain with different textures and places to go, I think they still need out of cage time rather than to live in a cage their whole lives - regardless of how big that cage is. A large cage makes a huge difference at night for them, when we are asleep and they are at their most active. But in the evenings, they can come out and explore the house! Or at least a playpen.
I do think hamsters behave very differently out of the cage, to how they behave in the cage. The cage is their territory - they are territorial and like to be alone in their cage. But it's clear they love being out of it as well - maybe the living room or playpen is a playground for them to visit. But also, really, no cage is ever big enough for a hamster! So out of cage time really gives them that opportunity to explore and have exercise.
Some hamsters have shy personalities however, and hide away. I think this is just that they haven't yet gained the confidence to be around humans or explore the world out of their cage, and they should be encouraged to come out. Apart from the fact owners also like to interact with their hamsters! Rather than have an invisible hamster.
So while they shouldn't be "dragged" out! A shy hamster can be encouraged out. It might mean tweaking the set up slightly so they get more confident about being out in the evening. Or it might mean tempting them out in a tube with food in it.
Our first hamster NEVER wanted to come out of the cage. He did used to walk into a tube with food in it. But occasionally tried to back out again before I got my hand over the end, once he'd grabbed the cucumber!. Once he was out, however, he was a different hamster - he had lots of fun and became quite cuddly too. He used to like to sit between us on the sofa.
So my view is - their lovely large enriched cages are for when we are asleep. They enjoy them, but they also enjoy being part of our human lives as well, and having a close bond with a human owner can also be enriching for them.
There are some risks involved with out of cage time. Safety risks. A room needs to be carefully checked that it is hamsterproof and someone needs to be there all the time (to check they don't climb up something too high). But one of the most enjoyable things is seeing a hamster enjoying running up the stairs!
Feel free to add your own views however, as experiences can vary and hamsters can vary!
So even if a hamster has a luxurious huge habitat with enrichment creating a terrain with different textures and places to go, I think they still need out of cage time rather than to live in a cage their whole lives - regardless of how big that cage is. A large cage makes a huge difference at night for them, when we are asleep and they are at their most active. But in the evenings, they can come out and explore the house! Or at least a playpen.
I do think hamsters behave very differently out of the cage, to how they behave in the cage. The cage is their territory - they are territorial and like to be alone in their cage. But it's clear they love being out of it as well - maybe the living room or playpen is a playground for them to visit. But also, really, no cage is ever big enough for a hamster! So out of cage time really gives them that opportunity to explore and have exercise.
Some hamsters have shy personalities however, and hide away. I think this is just that they haven't yet gained the confidence to be around humans or explore the world out of their cage, and they should be encouraged to come out. Apart from the fact owners also like to interact with their hamsters! Rather than have an invisible hamster.
So while they shouldn't be "dragged" out! A shy hamster can be encouraged out. It might mean tweaking the set up slightly so they get more confident about being out in the evening. Or it might mean tempting them out in a tube with food in it.
Our first hamster NEVER wanted to come out of the cage. He did used to walk into a tube with food in it. But occasionally tried to back out again before I got my hand over the end, once he'd grabbed the cucumber!. Once he was out, however, he was a different hamster - he had lots of fun and became quite cuddly too. He used to like to sit between us on the sofa.
So my view is - their lovely large enriched cages are for when we are asleep. They enjoy them, but they also enjoy being part of our human lives as well, and having a close bond with a human owner can also be enriching for them.
There are some risks involved with out of cage time. Safety risks. A room needs to be carefully checked that it is hamsterproof and someone needs to be there all the time (to check they don't climb up something too high). But one of the most enjoyable things is seeing a hamster enjoying running up the stairs!
Feel free to add your own views however, as experiences can vary and hamsters can vary!
