Hamsters generally live in their cages, and they don’t have a lot of living space. As a result, their homes must be warm enough that they can live comfortably but not too warm that they become exhausted (or worse) from the heat. So, how can you warm a hamster cage?
To warm a hamster cage, use hamster cage liners at the base. The liners act as an extra layer of comfort and insulation for the cage, so they will give some extra warmth. You should also keep the cage in a warm area, provide plenty of bedding and toys, and feed your hamster enough food.
Want to learn more about warming a hamster cage? This post will discuss everything you need to know, so keep reading!
1. Use Hamster Cage Liners
As I already briefly mentioned in the introduction, hamster cage liners are excellent for keeping a cage warm without much time, money, or effort. They’re essentially mats for hamsters, but they can cover the entire bottom of the cage.
Not only do these liners keep hamsters warm, but they also absorb things like urine and water spillages. Cage liners can be disposable or reusable (with many being machine-washable), so there are options available for everyone.
You can buy them at pet stores or online.
2. Keep the Hamster Cage in a Warm Room
This one may seem obvious, but I must reiterate the importance of keeping a hamster cage in a warm room. As you may be aware, not all rooms in your home will be the same temperature.
If your hamster currently lives in one of the colder rooms, it’s time to move it to a different place. However, make sure the room doesn’t get too warm because temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) can be dangerous.
In addition to keeping the cage in one of the warmer rooms in the home, be sure to keep it away from open doors and windows (particularly if it’s cold outside). You don’t want any cold air or draughts coming through.
To recap, below is a list of things to keep your hamster cage away from:
- Open doors and windows if it’s cold out
- Air vents and fans
- Windows and doors with poor insulation
- Anything else that emits cold temperatures
3. Place the Hamster Cage Directly Next to a Heat Source
If your home’s temperature is on the cold side, consider placing the hamster cage next to a heat source. The main example would be some a heater. However, it’s not a good idea to leave it too close to a fire for safety reasons, but it can be further away.
Ensure the heater isn’t too close to the cage, especially if it’s warm, and keep it at a distance where it’s not too hot or cold.
4. Make Sure There’s Enough Bedding in the Hamster Cage
Hamster bedding is vital if you want your little furry pet to be comfortable in its habitat. When there isn’t enough of it in the cage, a hamster can quickly become cold and uncomfortable. Adding more bedding is easy because all you need to do is use some cardboard or old newspaper.
Once a hamster has enough bedding, it can bury itself, increasing its overall body temperature. So, examine your hamster’s cage to see how much bedding is there. If you think it could do with a little more, add more.
5. Give Your Hamster Some Toys
Hamsters enjoy playing with different toys because it stimulates their minds. Without toys, they become bored, stressed, and generally unhappy. As well as having plenty of toys to play with, hamsters should also have space to climb and explore. These activities will keep a hamster occupied, but they also keep it warm in its cage.
Below are some examples of toys and activities that can keep a hamster happy and warm:
- Running wheels
- Stones (hamsters like to carry stones around their cages)
- Climbing toys and objects
- Special hamster toys
6. Give Your Hammie Plenty of Food (But Not Too Much)
Like humans and all other mammals, hamsters are warm-blooded and need adequate food to regulate their body temperature and keep themselves warm. Underfeeding a hamster can cause it to become ill and cold because it doesn’t have enough fuel to keep itself warm.
So, if a cage is too cold for a hamster, one of the first things you should do is make sure it’s getting enough food.
Thankfully, it’s incredibly easy to feed a hamster enough food because they generally only eat between one and two tablespoons (15-30 ml) of food each day.
Warming a Hamster Cage: A Recap
To recap, below is a table demonstrating the different ways to keep a hamster cage warm:
| Reason the hamster cage/hamster is cold | How to fix |
| Body can’t retain heat | Give more food. |
| The room is too cold | Move to a different room or make the current room warmer. Can also use a heater or other heat source. |
| Not enough physical activity | Give more toys to play with. |
Conclusion
Warming a hamster cage is important if your little furry friend is feeling colder than usual. After reading this article and considering the methods mentioned, you should better understand how to keep it warm without putting too much effort into it.