What Do Dwarf Hamsters Need in Their Cage?

Dwarf hamsters may be tiny, but they have big personalities! Like any pet, they need plenty of mental and physical enrichment to live a happy life. So, how do you ensure your lil’ furry buddy is happy in their new home?

Dwarf hamsters need lots of toys and structures in their enclosures to keep them stimulated. The best choices mimic their natural environment, allowing them to burrow, chew, climb, run, and forage for food. Deep bedding, chew toys, tunnels, running wheels, and wooden houses are great choices. 

This article will detail some of the best things to put in your hamster’s cage to keep them happy and healthy. This includes physical and mental enrichment items and treats. 

What Should I Put in My Dwarf Hamster’s Cage?

You should put 15 inches (38 cm) of natural bedding in your dwarf hamster’s cage so they can burrow as they would in nature. Hide treats and toys in the bedding so they can also forage for them. Provide them with plenty of things to climb and chew on, like wooden houses and other structures. 

Suppose you can’t provide an enclosure that mimics your dwarf hamster’s natural environment, or the cage you chose isn’t deep enough for 15 inches (38 cm) of bedding. In that case, you can also go for a more conventional cage setup. 

Your hamster will still be happy and healthy if you provide a running wheel, sand bath, tunnels to allow burrowing behaviors, and stimulating toys and treats. Taking your hamster out of the cage and handling them daily will also help to provide stimulation and enrichment. 

Physical Enrichment for Your Hamster’s Cage

Physical enrichment is a necessity for hamsters to live their best lives. Although they sleep a lot, these little critters are very energetic when they’re awake! 

In the wild, they’re constantly moving, burrowing, climbing, and foraging for food. That’s why they need plenty of room for physical exercise in their enclosure. 

In addition, while not essential, sand bathing is a natural behavior among hamsters. Providing access to a small container of bathing sand several times a week will also help to keep your dwarf hamster happy. 

Below is a list of physical enrichment options you can find at pet stores or make from household items you have lying around. 

Physical Enrichment Items You Can Buy

An endless variety of houses, platforms, ramps, and tunnels are available in pet stores and online. Many are designed specifically for hamsters, but ones for mice, rats, and chinchillas can work well for hamsters, too, depending on the size and type of enclosure. I’ve listed some basic options that every hamster will enjoy and benefit from. 

• Exercise wheels: These are excellent for your dwarf hamster to get their much-needed exercise daily. The Niteangel Super-Silent Exercise Wheel (available on Amazon.com) is a quiet wheel that allows your hamster to exercise at any time while giving you the peace and quiet you need.

• Plastic tunnels: Products like the Kaytee CritterTrail Fun-nels (available on Amazon.com) help stimulate your hamster’s mind and body. The compact design can fit in standard hamster cages.

• Wooden houses: If your hamster cage has plenty of space, you can place a Niteangel Birch Chamber Maze Hideout (available on Amazon.com) inside. It has tunnel-like rooms inside to keep your hamster active.

• Sand/Dust baths: Dwarf hamsters need occasional sand baths for their well-being. Products like the Bucatstate Hamster Sand Bath Container Kit (available on Amazon.com) are essential inside your hamster’s cage. It has a clear plastic design that makes it easier for you to observe your dwarf hamster clean up.

DIY Physical Enrichment Items

One of the best things about keeping dwarf hamsters as a pet is that they don’t require expensive items. Investing in a suitable cage or other enclosure is excellent. Still, you can make a completely DIY enclosure out of a plastic storage tote or an old cabinet. 

The same goes for enrichment items like houses and tunnels. Many can be made from stuff you have lying around the house. 

Some examples include:

• Paper towel tubes, toilet paper tubes, or PVC pipes for tunnels
• Paper towels, tissues, shredded paper, or fabric scraps for nesting
• Platforms, ramps, and houses made out of popsicle sticks or cardboard
• Small plant pots for houses or climbing
• Small plastic tubs for houses, platforms, and sand baths

Mental & Treat Enrichment for Your Hamster’s Cage

Mental enrichment is another necessity for a happy dwarf hamster. This entails providing toys and activities that require your lil’ furry pal to use their brain. 

Examples include hiding treats around the cage to stimulate foraging (providing physical enrichment) and offering toys with treats hidden inside. Figuring out how to get to the hidden treats will stimulate your hamster’s mind and give them a sense of accomplishment. 

Below is a list of store-bought and DIY mental enrichment items I recommend for dwarf hamsters. 

• Chew toys 
• Hidden treat/puzzle toys
• Foraging treats 

You can also try natural wheat sprays. These are plant stems with clusters of seeds (usually marketed as bird treats). You can hide in these in the cage to stimulate foraging behaviors. Healthy varieties for hamsters include (unflavored) millet, oat, pagina green, amaranth, sorghum, quinoa, and wheat sprays

Conclusion

The best things to put in your dwarf hamster’s cage mimic their natural environment. These include deep bedding suitable for burrowing and houses, ramps, platforms, and exercise wheels for physical enrichment. Mental enrichment items include toys and treats that simulate natural foraging behaviors, like treat puzzles and sprays for natural seeds and grains.