Hamster cages sold at pet stores are usually quite expensive. Luckily, you can make your own hamster cage at home with a plastic basket, a few simple items, and just a few tools. Before placing your hamster in a homemade cage, make sure you have good ventilation and prepare the right materials and equipment so that your hamster can live happily. If you can build a cage that is similar to the hamster's natural habitat and provides adequate water, feed, and bedding, your pet will be sure to stay healthy while living there.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Measuring and Cutting the Basket Cover
Step 1. Buy a clear plastic basket with a capacity of 150 liters
Purchase a plastic basket with a lid at an online store or at a shopping center. According to the RSPCA, you must prepare a cage measuring at least 76 x 38 x 38 cm for one hamster. This cage has enough space so that the hamster can move and play freely.
- You can put several dwarf hamsters in one cage, but make sure you increase the capacity as needed.
- You must place the Chinese hamster and Syrian hamster in separate cages.
Step 2. Draw some lines to form a rectangle on the plastic basket cover
Leave a 5 cm gap between the line and the rim of the basket. This gap will be used as a place for installing wire nets so that the cage gets adequate ventilation.
Step 3. Cut the center of the basket cover
After making the lines, punch the lines with a knife or razor for easy cutting. After that, use the scissors to cut the lines and remove the rectangular pieces of plastic.
Step 4. Make several holes 8 cm apart from each other on the outside of the basket cover
Make small circle marks on the edges of the covers at a distance of 8 cm from each other using a marker. After that, attach the cover to the lip of the basket and use an electric drill with a 0.6 cm drill bit to make holes in the markers that have been made with the marker.
These holes serve to attach the wire netting to the enclosure cover
Method 2 of 3: Installing the Wire Cage
Step 1. Cut the wire to the size of the basket cover
Purchase wire cages online or at your local hardware store. This wire should be made of metal so that the hamster cannot bite it off. Measure the length and width of the basket cover with a tape measure or ruler. After that, cut the wire mesh to the exact same size as the basket cover.
- The netting will provide good ventilation in the cage without giving the hamster a chance to escape.
- Use a wire cutter or scissors that are strong enough to cut the wire mesh.
Step 2. Attach the wire mesh to the basket cover with zip ties
Wrap the cable tie around the wire, then thread it into the drilled hole in the basket cover. Tighten the cable ties and pull the ends so that they are firmly attached to the cage. Repeat this process until all the holes in the basket cover are securely attached to the wire mesh with cable ties.
Step 3. Cut the protruding end of the cable tie
Cut the ends of the cable ties so they don't stick out. Your hamster's cage is now well ventilated. Before placing your hamster in it, make sure you have set up the cage conditions properly.
Method 3 of 3: Setting Hamster Cage Conditions
Step 1. Wipe the inside of the cage with a diluted bleach solution
Put cold water in a bowl and add a few drops of bleach. Put on gloves and dip a washcloth in the solution, then wipe the inside of the cage, wire netting, and cover clean. After that, dry the inside of the cage with a rag or kitchen paper.
Wiping the cage with a bleach solution will prevent your hamster from getting sick from exposure to chemicals that stick to it during the basket manufacturing process
Step 2. Place a 15 cm thick mat at the bottom of the cage
This mat will absorb the hamster's urine and make the animal comfortable living in the cage. Purchase crate paper, cellulose fiber, or wood shavings at your local pet store or online store and place them in the bottom of the cage. Flatten the base until it forms a layer 5 to 10 cm thick.
- Don't compact the base material so the hamster can dig it out. Make sure the height is between 15 to 18 cm.
- Do not use pine or cedar shavings, as these can be punctured and injured by the hamster.
- Use dye-free bedding to prevent your hamster from getting sick.
Step 3. Provide a hamster wheel so the animal can exercise
The hamster wheel allows the hamster to run and exercise even if the cage is quite small. Young hamsters need to exercise more often than older hamsters. So, make sure you prepare this tool so that your hamster can grow healthy and strong.
Provide a 17 cm hamster wheel for dwarf hamsters and a 20 cm hamster wheel for Chinese, Syrian and other large hamsters
Step 4. Provide a water bottle as a water source for pet hamsters
Purchase a hamster-only water bottle online or at a pet store. Attach adhesive tape or Velcro on the back of the bottle. After that, glue the other side of the velcro into the cage in an area that the hamster cannot reach. Hamsters love clean water. So, empty the bottle and change the water in it every day.
Do not provide a bowl filled with water because the hamster can drown
Step 5. Place the bowl of food at the bottom of the cage
Purchase a small pet-friendly bowl at the pet store and place it on the bottom of the hamster's cage. Give hamster feed as much as 10 grams every day. You can also give occasional supplements in the form of fruits or vegetables.
- Hamsters will store food in their cheeks and hide the food in the cage.
- Replace fresh food such as fruit every day so it doesn't get moldy.
Step 6. Give your hamster toys and accessories to keep it busy
You can buy them small houses, wood to chew on, wooden balls, and other accessories. This will keep your hamster busy as well as give him a new place to hide food and shelter. Hamsters that can hide in their cages tend to be happier than hamsters that don't have toys or accessories.
Step 7. Clean the cage every day and change the bedding once a week
Hamsters usually defecate in the same place in the cage. Clean the area daily to make weekly cleaning easier. Change the bedding and wipe the inside of the cage with a diluted bleach solution once a week to keep it clean.
