In their wild or natural habitats, hamsters prefer to bury themselves deep into the ground while they get ready to sleep or hibernate. It is for this reason, they’re classed as rodents and the sort of burrows they build invariably depends on the environment they live in. For instance, Syrian hamster’s natural habitat is usually the areas that are intensely hot and arid.
So it follows that in order to keep themselves cool while resting, they make really deep furrows beneath the top soil layer. On the other hand, the habitations of Russian Campbell Hamsters happen to be extremely cold and the landscape tends to be grassy and dry. Therefore, this species of hamster builds underground homes whose channels are lined with twigs, leaves, dry grass, and so on.
If you’re thinking of bringing a pet to your, you should provide her with a home or shelter that closely resembles hamsters in their natural habitat. If your pet gets to stay in surroundings that closely replicates its actual milieu, then she’ll not only remain healthy but will be cheerful as well. This brings us to the aspect of hamsters’ bedding.
It doesn’t need to be emphasized that ‘a bedding’ which gives your pet the feel of her original surroundings would be an indispensable item for her as far as relaxing comfortably is concerned. In other words, the hamsters bedding should be such that the same allows her to dig in cozily in the same way she’d do in her natural home. At the same time, the hamster’s bedding materials should be such that doesn’t injure her or affect her health in any way as well keeps her safe.
It has been observed that beddings constructed from wooden shavings are most appropriate or suitable for all species of hamsters. Nevertheless, there are some specific types of wood shavings that are unsuitable for hamsters from the viewpoint of their health and safety, including shavings of cedar and pine. A hamster’s cedar bedding can be toxic as chewing its wood, releases many harmful chemicals.
The shavings or splinters happen to be very sharp that might cause bodily injuries. Since hamsters like to chew or munch on a non-stop basis, keep in mind that cedar shavings are hard to digest. Furthermore, cedar splinters reacts with the ammonia in urine resulting in the release of phenols that may adversely affect the hamster’s health.
Pine however, is less toxic than cedar but the shavings go through a restorative process leaving detrimental chemicals behind. A Hamsters cotton bedding that is fluffy or feathery should also be avoided. The fluffiness or softness of the bedding is due to the artificial fibers that the hamster will find difficult to digest.
On the other hand, the hamster’s legs that are fragile and feeble might get entangled in the coiled or twisted fibers. Also, do not buy beddings made out of cat litter, corn cob or newspaper. Cat litter is another substance that’ll be indigestible for your pet and corn cob has the tendency to decay or get decomposed. The inks of the fine print of the newspaper sheets can be unsafe for the rodent.
So, now you have a clear idea about the sort of materials that might be unsafe or hazardous for your hamster, as far as choosing suitable bedding for the rodent is concerned.
Woody oil content of aspen shavings are remarkably low and therefore, bedding made out of this material will be apt for the hamster as the same has a negligible effect on her respiratory system. For instance, a Dwarf Hamsters aspen bedding is particularly quite popular for this breed of hamsters. Moreover, beddings constructed out of aspen shavings are not expensive either.
Beddings fabricated from aspen pellets are also ideal for hamsters as the material reins in bad odors and is a good absorbent. At the same time, the material is recyclable, arrests the growth of mold, and does not cause any harm if ingested.
Cellulose fiber is again, an excellent absorbent and is highly durable at the same time. Bedding made from cellulose fiber easily outlasts one manufactured from aspen shavings.
Paper
Beddings made out of paper offers you a cheap and safe option but it is only a makeshift solution as you’ll need to opt for a bed that has been produced from a durable material. Also, paper bedding will not be able to soak or mask foul odors. Always use paper that is biodegradable and non-toxic and say no to newsprint paper.
Before placing the bedding in the hamster’s cage, ensure that the same is free from ticks, lice or mites. Keep the bedding in a freezer for not less than 48 hours which will exterminate all hidden pests.
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