Deciding the best hamster cage for your little one can be daunting, with all the confusing messages around minimum hamster cage size, plus practicality around placing the hamster cage at home. There’s indeed no golden rule and no one size fits all for choosing the right hamster cage size that suits your situation.
The simple answer to your question of how big does a hamster cage need to be is – the bigger you can get to fit your home, the better.
To be honest, your hamster won’t be healthier or happier simply because it’s living in a cage a few inches bigger. And you won’t be treating your lovely pets well if you feel like you are sacrificing your space for them, would you?
For those looking for an official answer so you can go straight to getting a cage of the recommended size by hamster experts, I have the consolidated information you need right below. For others who want more tips and tricks on smart solutions that do not take up too much of your space, keep reading.
What size cage does a hamster need? Says by hamster experts.
(Apply for golden hamsters, dwarf hamsters or syrian hamsters)
Recommended: ground floor of 10K cm square / 1550 inch square
(i.e. 100 x 100cm / 39.4 x 39.4 inch)
Minimum: ground floor of 5K cm square / 775 inch square
(i.e. 100 x 50cm / 39.4 x 19.7 inch)
Absolute bare minimum: ground floor of 4k cm square / 620 inch (i.e. 50 x 80cm / 31.5 x 19.7 inch)
Note: If you are looking for dwarf hamster cage size, also follow these suggestions, as dwarf hamsters are smaller, but they’re also more active.
Now you may want to know what are the cages available out there that meet these requirements. Check out our article Best Big Hamster Cage 2021.
What are other solutions if I don’t have such a big room at home?
Experts are recommending huge hamster cages based on the behaviour of wild hamsters that have to run long miles per day. But for domesticated hamsters, we do have an alternative solution for you. One popular choice is separate cages and tubes that offer a dynamic environment while not occupying the same ground floor space.
These CritterTrail-style cages contain the same length of running room to encourage hamster movement and exploration and are highly popular among hamster owners. The concept of these cages are also utilized in some zoos.
Kaytee CritterTrial Quick Clean Habitat is a good starting point for all hamster owners who want something that looks cute and flexible. Not only can it serve as a carrying cage, you can also easily attach it with other tubes and cages to expand the exercise space, based on how much room you can spare. Another thing I like about this Kaytee CritterTrial cage is that it includes the Bedding Tray disposable cartridge that makes cleaning super easy. You can easily replace the bedding tray by this.
A note to make is - this CritterTrial Habitat alone is way under the bare minimum size recommended, which means that your little pet might not be able to burn its energy. That’s why we suggest that you enrich the environment by adding these tubes.
There is a lot you can do with Kaytee CritterTrial Habitat and just test out different options with your hamsters and they will tell you what they like most!
If you are not a fan of this mix and match style and want a cage that simply gives enough room while not occupying too much of your space, these multi-tier habitats are good options too.
Personally I’m a fan of PawHut for its simplicity. The cage comes with rolling wheels so I can move it anywhere I want. There are two openings for easy access to your pet and it has sufficient space to keep the hamster stimulated, safe and happy.
The space from Aivituvin 3-Tier Hamster Cage is perfect for any Syrian, dwarf or small animals. It comes with full accessories (chewing toy, hideout, seesaws, food bowl & ramps) which is a total peace of mind for beginners. Another good multi-storey mansion for the lovely little ones.
To make raising a hamster pet fun, you may also want to check out Cool Hamster Toys & Accessories For Your Hamster to see our other cool ideas.
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