How to Care for Hamsters
Hamsters make great first pets, especially for kids, because they're cute and small and relatively easy to care for. Learn how to be a responsible hamster owner with our tips and advice.
![Tan and white hamster held in owner's hands closeup](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/BCnnWnCk47RLhAXfcwjAGz1Hnng=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-handle-and-tame-pet-hamsters-1238956-hero-a069fe65c95c4753998e6bb5112a6b88.jpg)
How to Train Your Hamster to Be Tame
![Light brown and white hamster sitting on wooden surface closeup](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/KqUI1jrqWbH_8AB1zUY7R1IekpM=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/hamsters-overview-1238973-hero-aa6ddf6f33c64da1b12103c8ba556bc3.jpg)
Keeping Hamsters as Pets: Care Information
![Brown and white hamster on a white background.](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/0QRMyqU45oqoZDMx0OUJspsPooY=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-157305918-4b2a0bad199040fd8a91dc31510abbcd.jpg)
Abscesses in Hamsters
![Robo (Roborovski) hamster](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/ZmIuTcBX1-9pCGSHDWSlEuYaYrc=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-140212719-56a2bd493df78cf7727964af.jpg)
How to Care for a Pet Robo (Roborovski) Hamster
![Essential hamster supplies](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/B_eSSU-8yGFX0e9X1Jgy2GmJh20=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/supplies-needed-for-a-pet-hamster-1238928_FINAL-5bec2524c9e77c005185a4f8.png)
How to Care for Your Pet Hamster
![winter white dwarf hamster in grass](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/mKh96YlHKMTcQ9PKToFc9EVEyFw=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2726439244_500271768c_o-56a2bcf23df78cf77279618c.jpg)
How to Care for a Pet Winter White Dwarf Hamster
![Chinese hamster in hands](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/9JzU88NUTJA6qlQdNw6vnwxDg74=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-151547675-58cecf015f9b581d72491af1.jpg)
How to Care for a Pet Chinese Hamster
![Campbells Dwarf Hamster running in bogie wheel](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/T1hPk1T4FOHYYDg8nSYgFJhvANE=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-556452039-5816c8b43df78cc2e811718d.jpg)
How to Care for a Pet Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
![Syrian hamster in commercial cage](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/yF0HB0D5UeAqen-7kIqKnk5qHac=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-522115582-5834c4525f9b58d5b1386792.jpg)
Choosing the Best Cage for Your Syrian Hamster
![Pet hamster](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/_YeGRg_m0di2LMqpOMSLABsP48s=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-695407204-c2eca3e8b12149e5bb8e1f010e6b4162.jpg)
5 Most Popular Pet Hamsters
![Hamster with wheel](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/GpJ9dshHoQel4rKk2PE3PzWCZok=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/a0047-000145-56a2bce25f9b58b7d0cdf7cf.jpg)
How to Stop Your Hamster From Biting
![hamster in nesting material](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/VWQM8sdLIqQvAAunQ8daoRG1DrE=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/hamster-3878853_1920-bdaa70e92b484d858cfd882c0044f2eb.jpg)
Why Do Hamsters Sometimes Eat Their Babies?
![Hamster chewing on metal cage bar.](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/Wts6eoxh5N0USp2fmIU6duampG8=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-147918612-3c947ba718574a938de29de77fe39d75.jpg)
What to Do if Your Hamster is Biting Its Cage
![hamster as a pet](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/S5nDxm3dJGYH9lQm_WvMej2OxQA=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ricky-kharawala-adK3Vu70DEQ-unsplash-0fd4bcb628bd49c88d8a023130132a7f.jpg)
Is a Hamster the Right Pet for You?
![Hamster mother with babies](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/Jv-S6aHAvsSvLtBDvLnIx_ZP69k=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-497335963-56c0f9023df78c0b138eb05b.jpg)
What Should You Do If Your Hamster Has Babies?
![Hamster in hands](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/R7eP76RN2oUcpIdaCFSg5U0kCAA=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/hamster-in-hands-151547675-5c17076cc9e77c00011ee1ea.jpg)
Choosing a Dwarf Hamster Cage
![Well manicured hands holding a hamster](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/NTjhDCEZCkThOy9QOVoOcl67niU=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-500116369-5818cc293df78cc2e8c07a29.jpg)
How To Choose a Healthy Hamster
![Pet hamster in cage](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/Umi819efh1hWMgNSYfzDfx4TNy0=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1206094142-4ea14976f93f4600a0b00010f93487d9.jpg)
The First 30 Days With Your Pet Hamster
![Sexing Hamsters - Diagram - Female or Male Hamster](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/fFzApcNbYYphNLE2ArYPNZ0bsdM=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/10027112-58aeff0c3df78c345b3ab7ce.jpg)
Learn to Tell If Your Hamster Is Male or Female
![Hamster looking out from cage](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/2Hq8BQJUNxkXPNUCtdGqDQDbI-I=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-522115582-37188d8634d247ec8f1a82b5f2bb52c0.jpg)
How to Clean Your Pet Hamster’s Cage
![Baby hamster](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/hydM1rH8EM1vtX2KzGNAunscfx0=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-469029193-58179c5d5f9b581c0b86ab9b.jpg)
Determine Whether or Not a Hamster Is the Right Pet For You
![Hamster curled into a ball on a white background](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/8jkaujYiqkcLIUbi_gRYDaUuwR4=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/107086362-56a2bcde3df78cf77279609f.jpg)
Hamster Health and Diseases
![Dwarf Hamster](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/uvIeX6DaFcwEd_-rDcc5ALy_1RI=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/you-have-called-me-dwarf-hamster-6-weeks-old-184337772-5848b1065f9b58dccc9fc10c.jpg)
Wet Tail in Hamsters
![White and brown hamster eating cheese and looking at the camera](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/4J1FOjClg3cKa_eMvJdfwtZ9Qp0=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/white-and-brown-hamster-eating-cheese-and-looking-at-the-camera-641028084-5c3d5ae4c9e77c00016c8159.jpg)
Finding a Lost Hamster
![Close-Up Of A Hamster Eating Groundnut](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/Uf14QUUvJ8792V_2QO9-XmWsYmQ=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/close-up-of-a-hamster-eating-groundnut-635096689-5c525f88c9e77c0001d7c1fa.jpg)
Hamster Cheek Pouches
![can hamsters eat cheese](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/aRFfXFEY9pai7anxJJvx7LqGAZo=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/white-and-brown-hamster-eating-cheese-and-looking-at-the-camera-641028084-54ad8bfb300642a787b88e4dd82701f2.jpg)
Can Hamsters Eat Cheese?
![Hamster portrait](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/9rwlVyY-hzoSkVhhCXDKcqX7rtg=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1188555973-9b7a236de02942409c5b8b6c7bdfce48.jpg)
7 Reasons Why Hamsters Make Great Pets
![Syrian hamster sleeping in a clay pot.](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/5hUEi8XinaMawIn7uDi3ufPjjNM=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-667718828-d9a54a8c4581489ab7b6ece647ff5e9a.jpg)
How Long Do Hamsters Sleep?
![A white face roborovski dwarf hamster (pet) held](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/oCZwTxTRZE4aeSRQ6Evyr0HeozA=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/a-white-face-roborovski-dwarf-hamster--pet--held-97625424-5c41160f46e0fb000150e69b.jpg)
Breeding Information for Roborovski Dwarf Hamsters
![Golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) playing with ball, side view](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/O2uo-l-k4-SRe4qfZL-rWiA4D3g=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/sb10063314f-001-56a2bd025f9b58b7d0cdf959.jpg)
Pet Hamster Toys
![Hamster eye close-up.](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/r7OmGKyWVKI4g-k12hx2qqBqVEk=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-522115698-c86dd7cf79764948a183478774744c81.jpg)
Eye Problems in Hamsters
![Dwarf hamster](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/g27D0fPhMLpYwBV7w0QK-9suB74=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-85413152-581786ad3df78cc2e8f41a26.jpg)
How to Breed Campbell and Winter White Dwarf Russian Hamsters
![Chinese hamster in hands](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/9JzU88NUTJA6qlQdNw6vnwxDg74=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-151547675-58cecf015f9b581d72491af1.jpg)
Circling in Hamsters
![hamster sitting on a cloth nibbling food](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/yn2Tq36oMAUju02UQGjLrxrGx-Y=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/show-us-your-hamsters--497336293-5c19b26fc9e77c0001c3eed1.jpg)
Problems With Hamsters' Teeth
![Hamster in wheel](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/Zcm8fTUTsE7X2PcKGK8TTSEh6hU=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/hamster-in-wheel-92530001-5c41254e46e0fb000167faa9.jpg)
The Different Types of Hamster Wheels
![Syrian Hamster with babies](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/3X-ZH5gkbDEu1SQjjQyHI5mhwKo=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-499157253-580e26cc5f9b58564c740a97.jpg)
Why Syrian Hamsters Live Together in Pet Stores but Not at Your Home
![Two Gerbils in aspen bedding](https://www.thesprucepets.com/thmb/aYPnChdODMOgIsL5r9al7j04qTo=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-520217548-5818ceb65f9b581c0b475cb0.jpg)
Aspen Wood Shavings as Pet Bedding