Any hamster estate agents out there?
December 9, 2010 6:04 AM   Subscribe

Which hamster home should I get?

I'm about to get a hamster for my girlfriend. I've been looking at the different types available, and I've narrowed it down to two: the Habitrail Ovo Loft and the Savic Cambridge. The former looks sleek and plasticky, the latter looks traditional and plasticky.

I've been reading reviews of both, and they seem to score equally. I'm torn between them because I want something that'll fit in with my girlfriend's flat's decor, and something that the hamster will like to live in. What are people's experiences of hamster housing? Is it better to get the Ovo and a few add-ons, or simply stick with the more traditional cage?
posted by hnnrs to Pets & Animals (4 answers total)
 
The second cage will probably be easier to clean.
posted by crankylex at 6:20 AM on December 9, 2010


Best answer: Yay, hamsters!

I've had cages similar to each of these. Crankylex is right about the cleaning - especially the little moulded plastic add-ons for the Habitrail; they get a build-up of fur and stuff and are fiddly to clean. I also found that the plastic top wasn't very sturdy and eventually cracked from all the opening/closing (it wasn't a Habitrail brand cage - they might use better-quality plastic). I replaced it with the second kind of cage you linked to and it was much easier to keep clean - just remove the wire top, dump the base over a rubbish bag and then scrub it in a bit of soapy water.

You can get little add-ons like ramps and cubbyhouses etc for both kinds of cage and they are important (hamsters and guinea pigs like places to hide). I eventually got sick of cleaning them though and started using cardboard tubes and boxes instead, which you can just throw out when they get dirty (provided he doesn't eat them first). I think Habitrail also sells chewable cardboard accessories.

Personally I prefer the traditional kind of cage for ease of use, but the Habitrail is pretty funky-looking if you're willing to pull it apart to clean it. I don't think my pets had a preference either way so long as they had someplace to hide and something to chew on.

(Unfortunately, I will never be able to buy any Habitrail product because the word is now forever associated in my mind with American Psycho. YMMV.)
posted by jaynewould at 6:44 AM on December 9, 2010


He/she may not like the loft in the habitrail - my little guy never went in his until I covered it with a scarf, as they don't like to be seen sleeping.

Also, your gf will get to see him more easily in the second cage, which is good while he gets comfortable with being touched.

One last thing -- both those cages have solid plastic wheels, and you may want to think about a safe perforated one. Hamsters pee as they run, which can lead to lots of cleaning unpleasantness.

And get him a ball.
posted by freshwater at 6:48 AM on December 9, 2010


I would never buy a wire cage again. I would also never own a hamster again.

I had a wire cage, it got out. I found it.

We had a rat problem at my house and every six months or so one would get into the house. Well my hamster got out for a second time. He decided to take a stroll into my parents room and climb onto his bed while while he was asleep. The damn thing actually climbed across my fathers sleeping hand.

It woke him up and he caught the thing in his hand. Then holding it there with the lights off, he realized this could be a hamster or a rat. He held the thing in his hand until he turned on the light and it was put back into its cage. I always asked my dad "Who the hell holds a live rat in there hand?" and he responded "Well I couldn't let it get away?"

The third time it got out my mother saw it run into her closet behind a bunch of junk. I pulled out all the stuff and reached back trying to catch him. Turns out it was a rat this time. He jumped three feet and I did the same.


I looked for him for days and never found him. I will never replace him, there is no need to buy small animals that do not love you back. But if you do, go with a cage that they will not escape from, because they will try.
posted by Felex at 10:11 AM on December 9, 2010 [2 favorites]


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