Things to Consider When Buying a Hamster

When buying a hamster, there are quite a few details to consider. You'll need to think about the age and sex of the hamster, the best place to purchase your new pet, and where you'll set up the cage and accessories in your home. When buying a hamster, you'll also need to purchase the hamster's cage, bedding, food, and accessories at the same time, so that you'll have a home for your new friend. Keeping the following items in mind as you purchase a hamster will help keep both you and your new pet safe and happy.

Choose a Reputable Retailer

First, when buying a hamster, you'll need to choose a reputable retailer. You may decide to purchase your hamster directly from a breeder, or to purchase from a pet store. Either way, be sure that the establishment is clean, dry, and well-kept. Check to see that the animals appear healthy and well cared for. If animals appear sickly, diseased, or ill, do not purchase from the retailer.

Purchase a Young Hamster

Ask about the age of the hamster that you're purchasing. When buying a hamster, you'll want to choose a young hamster, since they only live for three to five years. At this time, you should also determine if your hamster is male or female. This information will be important in the future, if you decide you'd like to breed your hamster or if you'd like to purchase another hamster.

Remember that Hamsters are Nocturnal

As you set up your hamster's new home, keep in mind that hamsters are nocturnal animals. They like to sleep for the majority of the day, then run and play after the sun goes down, while you're trying to sleep. You may want to set the cage up away from your sleeping area, so that your new pet's activity doesn't disturb you.

If you'll be putting the hamster's cage in a bedroom, choose a hamster wheel and other toys that are as quiet as possible, so that night time noises aren't so intrusive. Your hamster can't help making noise at night; he's just being himself.

Keep Your New Hamster Safe from Other Pets

If you have other, larger pets, such as a dog or a cat, you'll need to keep them in mind when buying a hamster. Dogs and cats are predators, and they may see the hamster as prey. To keep your new friend safe, keep the cage far out of reach of larger animals in your home. If possible, keep a closed door between your hamster and your other animals, as cats and dogs have been known to overturn hamster cages to get at their occupants. This can be disastrous for all concerned, and it's better to prevent this type of problem than to deal with the aftermath.

Important Factors When Buying a Rabbit Cage

Many families will decide at some point to bring a pet into their home. Depending on your kids there are many options for fun pets including dogs, cats, fish and hamsters. One of the more popular pet animals after cats and dogs are rabbits. Cute, cuddly and easy to care for, rabbits make excellent pets for small kids in large families and if you plan on bringing rabbits into your home make sure you carefully research the type of rabbit cages available and what makes sense for your rabbits.

First you have to decide if you will be keeping your rabbit(s) inside in a cage or outside in a hutch. Indoor rabbit cages have the advantage of keeping your furry friend away from larger predator animals and foul weather including heavy rains and cold air. When you know where the cage will be kept then you can start thinking about how large a cage you will need depending on the number of rabbits you will have and what size each will be. You don't want a rabbit cage to be too small since the rabbit will grow and soon run out of room and won't be very comfortable in his home.

Experts recommend using a cage that is approximately four times the size of the rabbit being caged. This will leave ample room for the bunny to hop around without feeling constricted. You will also want to check on the type of mesh wire being used for the cage and the spacing in between so your rabbits don't accidentally slip out when you are asleep. Many rabbit owners have trouble finding a cage that is ideal for their homes and will end up rigging their own in line with pens for puppies and kittens. Combining the rabbit cage with grid shelving and other safe materials allows for owners to custom build a holding pen that will keep the rabbits safe from harm and easy to watch over.

Wire cages will require some form of flooring to give the rabbits a more comfortable surface for sleeping on and moving over. Rabbits have delicate feet and a wire cage floor can cause injury to their feet bottoms so be sure to cover wire floors with soft mats or even burlap to offer some cushioned support.

Lastly, when choosing a rabbit cage for your bunny pets make sure it comes equipped with a solid door unit that will allow you to safely keep the rabbits inside at night or when you are away. You can find doors that open outwards, slide up and down, open from the top of the cage and even some that the rabbit can manipulate to let himself in or out. Depending on your needs and the safety of the rabbits choose a door system that is easy to use and can be counted on to lock when you need it shut.