If you are looking to buy your first pet, a hamster is a great low maintenance option to ease you into the responsibility of caring for an animal. Some people believe that hamsters are completely hands-off, but like all pets, it needs to be cared for and watched over. Some of the essentials that you’ll need to care for a hamster are:

• Cage –Cheap hamster cages that sell for around $30 will do when you first purchase the hamster, but you should plan to buy a large hamster cage in the future. Hamsters need room to exercise. Metal cages are better than plastic, and tube homes are difficult to keep clean.
• Spinning wheel – If you have a small cage, a wheel is a good temporary alternative to give your pet a chance to exercise.
• Bedding – Do not use wood shavings for bedding. Instead, buy aspen bedding, which look like wood shavings. You can also use Care Fresh or Cell Sorb bedding, which are a bit more expensive, but very absorbent.
• Treats – Hamsters are not picky about treats, so you can use shredded toilet paper rolls for them to chew on.

When caring for a hamster, it is important to develop a routine to maintain the animal’s hygiene and health. Cages should be cleaned every 4-7 days with water and mild soap, and bedding should be spot changed whenever it is soiled. Finally a hamster’s food and water should be changed daily. Also, if your hamster doesn’t have a large cage, you should let it run around in open space for at least an hour in the evenings.

These are all the essential details you will need to care for a hamster. It is not important to buy colorful toys unless you want to play with your hamster and liven up the time you have together.