Hamster care for kids · 3 min read
Keeping your hamster clean
A clean home is a happy home. But too much cleaning makes a hamster upset. Here is the balance.
Every day: a little
- Take out old veg before it goes off.
- Scoop out the wet toilet corner. Hamsters usually pick one corner.
- Fresh water. Check the bowl and bottle.
- Look at him: is he eating, running, looking bright?
Sometimes: a bit more
Change part of the bedding every few weeks. Not all of it!
A hamster's home smells like him. If it all goes, he gets stressed and thinks he is somewhere new.
So keep some old bedding and mix it in with the new.
The sand bath
A hamster cleans himself by rolling in sand. It is like a bubble bath, but dry.
Sift the sand every week to take out the lumps. Change it when it looks dirty.
Never wash a hamster in water
Water washes away the oils that keep a hamster warm. A wet hamster can get very cold and ill.
If something sticky is on his fur, ask a grown-up. A soft damp cloth on one spot is the most you should ever do.
Potato's quick quiz
True or false? Tap to see the answer.
You should change all the bedding every day.
Nope. Too much cleaning stresses a hamster. Spot clean daily and change some bedding sometimes.
Hamsters clean themselves in a sand bath.
True! Rolling in sand cleans their fur.
If a hamster is dirty, give him a bath in the sink.
Nope. Never wash a hamster in water. Use a sand bath.
Questions kids ask
How often should I clean the cage?
A tiny clean every day. A bigger clean of part of the bedding every few weeks.
My hamster's home smells. What now?
Clean the toilet corner every day and use deep bedding. A big home with deep bedding smells much less.
Can I use a wet wipe on my hamster?
No. Wipes have soap in them. Use a sand bath, or ask a grown-up.