Hi, my name is Amber Hildebrandt and I run Little Paws Hamster Rescue, a small animal rescue in North Bay Ontario Canada. 

It has saddened me and breaks my heart how often a hamster is surrendered to me in a cage that is way too small for it, contains unsafe habitat accessories, or the food it's being fed isn't nutritionally balanced. And I plan to do something about it. 

Hamster Care Overview:  

As someone who runs a small animal rescue in Ontario Canada, I know and realize that it can be hard to find accurate and comprehensive care instructions for hamsters. So, I have borrowed some information from an amazing care guide that attempts to provide a majority of the necessary information for hamster care in one place. 

For additional information feel free to take a look at the Hamster Care Guide for more beneficial hamster care that wasn't touched upon in this petition. 

For those unfamiliar with small animal care, some of the requirements below may seem frivolous or unnecessary but are the current standard for care among ethical hamster breeders and exotic/pocket pet veterinarians who have ample experience and expertise in hamster care and a keen eye for behavioural problems. These minimum requirements are NOT suggestions that can be negotiated as they are the barest of bare minimum standards in what a hamster needs. 

If the information here conflicts with what you’ve been told at the pet store, or any other retailer by a store employee, please refer to the information in this guide instead as it is correct and up to date with ethical husbandry and care requirements. Store employees are not officially trained in how to care for many of the pets they sell or provide supplies for and are often told to push items or products that can be extremely harmful for hamsters, such as certain store-sponsored cages or accessories. 

These guidelines help keep pet hamsters happy and stress-free, which will result in a pet that is less likely to bite, more likely to enjoy being around you and interacting with you, and that will live a longer, healthier life.  

  

Ethical Requirements: 

  

Cage: 

A hamster of any species requires an absolute minimum of 450 sqin. However, it is recommended that you aim for 600 sqin if possible. Hamsters are very active little creatures and run kilometres every night. They also prefer to have distinct areas for food, sleep, activities, and a bathroom. Cagewise, bigger is always better, and ensuring your hamster has a big enough habitat means that your little friend will live an enriched life! 

Sadly, there are no hamster cages found in stores in Canada that meet the required floor space. Additionally, no matter how many small cages you attach with tubes, the space would not be sufficient, as floor space must be one uninterrupted base. You could however add a smaller cage with appropriately sized tubes to an appropriately sized enclosure to add enrichment. 

Recommended Enclosures: 

• 40 Gallon Breeder Tank (648 sqin) 

• 55 Gallon Tank (624 sqin) 

• 200 Qt./ 189L Sterilite Bin Cage (630~ sqin) 

• 75 Gallon Tank (864 sqin) 

• IKEA Linnmon DIY Enclosure (877 sqin) 

• IKEA Detolf DIY Enclosure (1024 sqin) 

  

Wheels: 

Wheels should have a solid base (no wire, mesh, or rung-type wheels). This ensures safe running. Larger is always better for wheels, especially as hamsters run tiny marathons every night. 

Dwarfs Require: 6.5” Minimum but 8”+ recommended 

Syrians Require: 8” Minimum but 10”+ recommended 

Recommended Wheels: 

• Comfort Wheels (8”, 12”) [Petsmart, Pet Valu, Amazon] 

• Silent Spinners (6.5”, 12”) [Petsmart, Pet Valu, Amazon] 

• Flying Saucer (6.5”, 12”) [Petsmart, Pet Valu, Ren’s Pet Depot, Amazon, Strong Brew Hamstery] (Only used with supervision) 

• Wodent Wheels (8”, 11”, 13”) [Ebay, Amazon] 

•  Silent Runners (9”, 11”, 13”) [Amazon] 

• Strong Brew Bucket Wheels (10.5”) [Strong Brew Hamstery] 

  

Bedding/Substrate: 

There are many different types of bedding for an owner to choose from based on their preferences. Some work best for holding tunnels, or for being dust free. Owners MUST avoid Pine and Cedar beddings as the phenols from the oil in the wood can cause respiratory damage in hamsters. Owners MUST also avoid fibrous bedding, such as cotton, polyester, foam, and kapok which all pose entanglement issues and could lead to intestinal blockages. 

Recommended Bedding/Substrate: 

• Uber Bedding (Paper, Inexpensive, Dust Free, Good for Tunnels) [Global Pet Foods, Mustachio Hamstery] 

• Boxo Bedding (Paper, Inexpensive, Good for Tunnels, Good for long hair) [Global Pet Foods, Bulk Barn, Walmart, Big Al’s] 

• Carefresh Bedding (Paper) [Petsmart, Pet Valu] 

• Kaytee Clean and Cozy (Paper, Good for Tunnels) [Petsmart, Pet Valu 

• Aspen Paper (Wood, Good for Odour Control) [Any pet shop] Aspen may be dusty and irritate allergies. 

 

Food: 

Ideal food makeup indicated on the nutrition labels (also called the “guaranteed analysis”) should be as close to the following numbers as possible. For younger hamsters, aim for a higher amount of protein as it supports healthy growth. For hamsters older than one year of age, aim for a lower amount of protein.  

   18 - 23% protein 

    4 - 10% fat 

    8 - 15% fibre 

Lab Blocks/Pellets should be the base of a hamster's diet, supplemented with a quality seed mix a couple of times a week.  

Recommended Lab Blocks/Pellets: 

•  Envigo Teklad Blocks 8640, for younger hamsters 

• Envigo Teklad Blocks 2018, for older hamsters 

• Mazuri Rat & Mouse Blocks 

  

Recommended Seed Mix: 

• Higgin’s Sunburst Hamster Mix 

• Vitakraft Vita Smart Hamster Blend 

• Higgin's Vita Garden Hamster & Gerbil 

• Versele-Laga Crispy Muesli Hamsters & Co 

  

Safe Fresh Foods: 

Additionally, you’ll want to supplement the dry food & seed mix with fresh fruits and vegetables along with the occasional high-protein snack. Including, but not limited to: 

• Kale 

• Spinach 

• Broccoli 

• Avocado 

• Pumpkin 

• Peas 

• Watermelon 

• Strawberries 

• Bananas 

• Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs 

• Cooked chicken or turkey 

•  Mealworms, store-bought 

  

Safe Treats: 

Not all treats come in the form of fresh or dried food. Syrian hamsters also have what is called the “pre-gastric pouch” that can digest lactose, so hamsters can enjoy dairy treats at all stages of their lives. 

Some unconventional treats that hamsters love are: 

•     Grandma Lucy’s Organic Oven-Baked Dog Treats 

• Whimzee Dental Chews [ Alligators, Stix, Hedgehogs, XS & S Toothbrushes] 

• Gerber Puffs 

• Cheese & Yogurt 

• Love Child Organics Love Ducks 

  

Foods to Avoid: 

Like all animals, there are also some foods you must avoid for a hamster's general health, as some can be fatal: 

• Tomato Leaves 

• Blue cheese & Other Soft/Moldy Cheeses 

• Apple seeds 

• Uncooked/Raw Beans 

• Raw Potatoes 

• Eggplant/Aubergine 

• Rhubarb leaves 

•   Prepackaged Deli Meats  

• Chili or Other Spicy Peppers 

  

What Else? 

There are plenty of other things you should add to a hamster's habitat to make it suitable to live in and to add more enrichment! 

•    Water Bottle [Some may prefer a water bowl, these are acceptable however the dish should not be deep and must be cleaned every day.] 

•   Bathroom/Potty [Paper-based cat litter inside a glass cookie jar works just great.] 

• Sand Bath [Reptile Sand without calcium is acceptable. Sterilized play sand can also be used. Chinchilla dust is dangerous to respiratory systems.] 

• Nesting Box/Houses [Multiple houses recommended. Scrubby holders, Coffee Mugs, Wood Houses, Plastic Houses/Domes. Ensure they are the appropriate size for your species of hamster.] 

• Toys and Accessories [Millet & Oat Sprays, Wooden Bendy Bridges, PVC tubes, Cork Bark items] 

• Chews [Wood, Cardboard, Toilet Paper/Paper Towel Tubes, Loofah, Shelled Nuts, Whimzees] 

  

Quick Start Setup: 

This is a "quick start” setup for those that aren’t sure where to start or are easily overwhelmed by new information and an abundance of choices. The setup below meets the basic requirements for a happy, healthy hamster environment and requires the least amount of “do it yourself,” or DIY, work. All items below should be available at your local pet store. 

• 40 Gallon Breeder Tank 

• 8 - 12-inch Kaytee Silent Spinner (depending on species) 

• Mazuri Rat & Mouse Pellets/Lab Blocks 

• Higgin’s Sunburst Hamster Mix 

• Water Bottle with Tank Attachment or Stand and/or a Water Bowl 

• Wooden Bendy Bridges 

• Plastic/Wood House or Dome 

• Non-Scented Paper Bedding 

• Sand Bath (Glass jar, or Glass dish with calcium-free & dye free reptile sand or sterilized Children's Play Sand) 

  

Sources: 

This document relies on knowledge and information supplied by ethical breeders, hamster-focused organizations, small animal rescues, the hamster community, peer-reviewed articles, and my own experiences. Not everything we know about hamster care has come from studies or academic papers, a lot of it comes from ethical breeders, who care for many hamsters in all their stages of life and of various health and development.  

  

Acknowledgements: 

I would like to state again that most of the information, though publicly available was found through many different channels of information and a majority has been taken from Hamster Care Guide which was put together by Ginger [@gingersnapply on Instagram]. They have listed all their sources at the very bottom of the Hamster Care Guide.  

  

Thanks: 

Thank you for taking the time to read this fully, for learning, sharing, and for signing this petition to help abolish unethical hamster cages, habitat accessories, unethical hamster husbandry and unethical care.