Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
What accessories does a hamster need?
A hamster's cage needs more than a wheel and a bottle. This list brings together what PDSA, Woodgreen and the Bunny Jackpot Foundation rescue ask for.
- A cage with at least 100 × 50 cm (40 × 20 in) of floor
- Bedding at least 25 cm (10 in) deep, paper-based or aspen
- A solid upright wheel of the right size, on a platform
- A multi-chamber main hide and at least two more hides
- A sand bath with hamster-safe sand
- A water bottle and a shallow water bowl; the Bunny Jackpot Foundation suggests a glass tea light holder
- A heavy food bowl, plus food scattered in the bedding
- Safe chews for teeth
- Tunnels, cardboard boxes and cork or wood to climb over
- A dig box with a different texture, such as coco fibre (coir)
Woodgreen says boredom shows up as chewing the cage bars or trying to escape. The National Hamster Council puts it simply: a bored hamster is an unhappy hamster.
Hamster wheel size for Syrian and dwarf hamsters
A Syrian needs a wheel at least 28 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in) across, and a dwarf at least 20 to 21 cm (8 in). PDSA and Woodgreen give 30 cm and 20 cm; the Bunny Jackpot Foundation gives 28 cm and 21 cm. The running track must be solid, not mesh or rungs, and the wheel upright, not a flying saucer. If your hamster's back arches while it runs, the wheel is too small.
A large hamster wheel is the single most important toy you will buy, and the one most often too small in cages sold with a wheel. Our hamster wheel size guide has sizes for every species and how to check yours.
Best enrichment toys for hamsters
Enrichment means giving your hamster jobs to do. Here are the main types and what each one is for.
| Toy | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Dig box | A tray of coco fibre (coir) or other safe substrate to dig in, as Woodgreen suggests | Big enough to dig in properly; kept just damp or dry, never wet |
| Sand bath | Lets your hamster roll to clean its coat | Hamster-safe sand only; never dust or scented sand |
| Forage and sprays | Seed heads, dried herbs and scattered food to search for | Part of the daily food, not extra on top |
| Chews | Wear down teeth that never stop growing, as the RSPCA notes | Untreated, unpainted; no mineral chews |
| Tunnels and tubes | Places to run through and hide in | Wide enough for an adult Syrian; good airflow |
| Cork, grapevine and branches | Climbing, chewing and texture | Low to the ground; the Hamster Society Singapore lists cork and grapevine as safe |
| Stones, slate or tiles | Cool spots and wear on nails, says the Bunny Jackpot Foundation | Smooth edges; set firmly so they cannot tip |
Scatter food instead of filling the bowl. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation suggests sprinkling seed mix or forage into the bedding, which turns every meal into a search instead of a minute at the bowl.
DIY hamster enrichment toys
The best toys are often free. Woodgreen suggests shoe and cereal boxes, and the National Hamster Council names cardboard tubes and boxes among Syrians' favourites. Here is a quick foraging box to make tonight.
- Find a plain box. A tissue box or small cardboard box with no glossy finish or tape.
- Cut the doors. Make two holes of 7 cm (2¾ in) for a Syrian or 5 cm (2 in) for a dwarf, the entrance sizes the Bunny Jackpot Foundation gives for hides.
- Fill it loosely. Stuff it with unscented paper bedding or soft hay, which PDSA lists as safe.
- Hide food inside. Push part of tonight's dry food into the filling, so your hamster has to dig for it.
- Swap it when it is chewed. Replace the box when it is soiled or falling apart.
- Toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes, stuffed with paper and a few seeds
- Egg boxes with food tucked into the cups
- A shallow glass dish turned into a dig box with coco fibre
- A sand dish with a few seeds sprinkled on top
- Washed, baked untreated softwood or apple branches, as PDSA describes
Our page on hamster enrichment and boredom busters has many more ideas.
Hamster playpens: escape-proof, foldable and with a roof
A playpen gives extra space to explore, but only with you watching. The RSPCA says to let a hamster out of its cage only once it is tame, supervise closely, keep other pets away, and never leave it out unattended or overnight. Woodgreen says the same about free-roam time.
- A roof, or sides too high and smooth to climb
- No gaps at the base and no gaps between panels wider than the cage bar spacing: 1 cm (0.4 in) for Syrians, 7 mm (¼ in) for dwarfs
- A smooth floor with no holes, or a washable mat underneath
- Hides, tunnels and a few scattered seeds inside
- No wires, plants or gaps under furniture nearby
- Short evening sessions, when your hamster is awake
Wire pens are light and foldable but can have gaps a dwarf slips through; solid plastic pens are harder to climb and escape. These checks are our own, based on the bar spacing Woodgreen gives for cages. A playpen is not a substitute for a big enough cage.
Hamster balls and ball cages: why we skip them
We would not buy a hamster ball. Woodgreen and Supreme Petfoods advise against exercise balls, and the Hamster Society Singapore lists them as items to avoid. Woodgreen says a hamster in a ball can become disoriented and has no access to water. PetMD takes a softer line and allows 10 to 15 minutes a few times a week, supervised. We follow the UK view, because a supervised playpen gives the same exercise without the risks.
If you already have a ball, Woodgreen suggests a use for it: take off the lid, fill it with soft tissue bedding and put it in the cage as a hide.
Toys and accessories to avoid
- Mesh, wire and rung wheels. The Hamster Society Singapore warns they trap legs and tear out nails.
- Flying saucer wheels. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation says they are not safe.
- Mineral chews. The Hamster Society Singapore lists them as unsafe.
- Cotton wool and fluffy nesting. The RSPCA warns it can wrap round legs and cut off circulation.
- Dust, scented sand and baby powder. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation and the Hamster Society Singapore say no; use hamster-safe sand.
- Tall ladders and high shelves. PDSA warns hamsters see poorly and can fall.
Best hamster toys and accessories: our picks
We don't make pieces for hamsters yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at.
Pets at Home Wooden Small Animal Wheel
A wooden wheel with a solid running surface, in 25 cm (10 in) for dwarfs and 30 cm (12 in) for Syrians. The Large is a good, simple Syrian wheel. Wood soaks up urine, so wipe the track during your daily spot clean.
Trixie Wooden Exercise Wheel
An untreated wooden wheel with a cork track and a back wall, in 21 cm, 28 cm and 33 cm. Take the 21 cm for a dwarf and the 28 or 33 cm for a Syrian. The Hamster Society Singapore describes Trixie wheels as light and quiet.
Savic Giant Rolly Wheel
A plastic wheel with a closed running surface and back, about 27.5 cm (11 in) across according to the Hamster Society Singapore. That suits most Syrians, though it is just under the 30 cm PDSA asks for, so we would choose it for a smaller Syrian or a dwarf that likes a big wheel.
Oxbow Enriched Life 2-in-1 Quiet Runner
A US wheel in 8, 10 and 12 in (20, 25 and 30 cm). Pick the 12 in for a Syrian and the 8 or 10 in for a dwarf. Check the running track on the listing, as it is described as feet-friendly rather than fully solid.
Oxbow Enriched Life Garden Dig Box
A hide-and-dig toy listed for hamsters and gerbils, made for hiding food and treats. Fill it with paper bedding or hay and part of tonight's food, and your hamster has a foraging job.
Oxbow Enriched Life Apple Stick Bundle
Untreated apple sticks listed for hamsters. Apple wood is on PDSA's list of safe chews. You can take the bundle apart and scatter single sticks around the cage.
Oxbow Enriched Life Honeycomb Hide and Play
A forage toy for hiding food, listed for hamsters and gerbils. Good for a hamster that empties its bowl in seconds: tuck seeds into the cells and let it work for them.
Hamster cages with a large wheel built in
Few cages come with a wheel big enough for an adult Syrian. Plan to buy the wheel separately and check the cage has the height to fit a 30 cm (12 in) wheel on a platform. Our guide to the best hamster cages covers sizes, our guide to the best hamster hides covers houses, and our page on hamster sand baths covers which sand to use. For everything else, see our complete hamster care guide.
Hamster toy questions
Are hamster playpens safe?
They can be, with you watching the whole time. The RSPCA says only let a tame hamster out of its cage, supervise closely and never leave it out unattended or overnight. Use a pen with a roof or high, smooth sides, on a floor with no gaps, away from other pets, and keep sessions in the evening.
Are hamster balls cruel?
Most UK sources advise against them. Woodgreen and Supreme Petfoods do not recommend exercise balls, and the Hamster Society Singapore lists them as items to avoid. Woodgreen says hamsters in balls can become disoriented and cannot reach water. PetMD allows short, supervised sessions of 10 to 15 minutes. We would use a playpen instead.
What chews are safe for hamsters?
PDSA lists apple wood, cardboard, coconut shell, hay cubes, pumice stone, seagrass, unbleached loofah and untreated softwood branches, washed and baked on a low heat for an hour. The Hamster Society Singapore adds grapevine and cork. Skip mineral chews, which it lists as unsafe, and anything painted or varnished.
How often should I change my hamster's toys?
Swap a few things every week or two. Woodgreen suggests giving plenty of toys and activities and swapping them round to keep your hamster active. Move cardboard boxes, add a new tube, hide food in a different spot or change the dig box filling, but leave the main nest alone so your hamster keeps its safe base.
What is a hamster cage on wheels?
Usually a cage set on a stand with castors, so you can roll it from room to room. It has nothing to do with the running wheel inside. If you choose one, make sure the brakes lock, the cage cannot tip, and moving it does not shake your hamster's home while it sleeps.
Do hamsters need a sand bath?
Yes. Woodgreen and the Bunny Jackpot Foundation both list a sand bath as part of the setup, and the Hamster Society Singapore says hamsters clean themselves in sand instead of water. Use a dish at least A5 size (15 × 21 cm) with hamster-safe sand, never dust, scented sand or baby powder.
Sources
- PDSA: The ideal home for your hamster
- Woodgreen: How to make your hamster feel at home
- Woodgreen: Caring for hamsters
- RSPCA: Hamster behaviour
- RSPCA: Hamsters
- RSPCA: Hamster environment
- Bunny Jackpot Foundation: Hamster enclosures
- Hamster Society Singapore: The ultimate hamster starter kit
- Hamster Society Singapore: All about wheels for hamsters
- National Hamster Council: Syrian hamster
- Supreme Petfoods: What do you need for a hamster?
- PetMD: Hamster care sheet
