Although hamsters tend to relieve themselves in the same spots in their cage, this is not always the case. Anyone who has ever owned a hamster knows they have very little control over their bladder and bowels and will go as soon as the urge strikes 🙂
The frequency with which you need to clean your hamster’s cage varies. The more hamsters you have living together, the more often you will need to clean it.
Smaller cages start to smell sooner. On average, you should clean your hamster’s cage every two days and do a deep clean at least once a month, but ideally once a week.
It is not only unsanitary but also incredibly unpleasant for your hamster to have to live in its urine and poop all the time. Imagine being in that situation, and how much you would hate it!
Hamsters have a more developed sense of smell than humans, which means they smell things more intensely than we do. This means that long before the smell of the cage becomes unbearable for you, it will be incredibly unpleasant for them.
The different cage styles and the materials they are made of also retain odors differently. Larger cages require less frequent deep cleaning than smaller ones, as odors and fluids are spread over a larger area.
The tips given in this article are meant to be used as a guide rather than a set of strict rules. Take a cue from your hamster and, over time, you will establish the cleaning schedule that works best for you. To learn more about different breeds of hamsters, check out our article on the 5 popular hamster breeds.
Spot Cleaning
It is advisable to do small spot checks of your hamster’s cage every two to three days. It will be easier to do once you understand your hamster’s habits and know where it likes to go to the bathroom. In general, it will continue to use the same spots as a bathroom, often preferring to utilize a sand bath.
If you are unsure where your hamster goes, an easy way to quickly locate soiled bedding from urine is to use a black light flashlight. This will illuminate the wet and contaminated areas, allowing you to quickly and easily remove them from the cage.
You should also remove any uneaten food from the cage daily. This is especially true when you give your hamsters fresh fruits or vegetables, as they can spoil quickly. It is also advisable to wash food bowls and water bottles daily, just as you would do with your own dishes.
Deep Cleaning
You should do a complete and deep cleaning of your cage at least once a month. Taking out all the bedding from your hamster and replacing it with new bedding may seem like a good idea, but it couldn’t be further from the truth!
Hamsters can quickly feel overwhelmed and stressed if the smell of their environment changes. They have very poor vision and rely mainly on their sense of smell to perceive their surroundings.
We recommend replacing about a quarter of the cage bedding each week. This allows you to stick to a cleaning schedule without stressing your hamsters. It is advisable to take your hamster out of its cage and place it in a travel cage or playpen while you do the cleaning.
As needed, you should clean the elements of the hamster cage. If your hamster pees a lot while running on its wheel, you might want to clean it daily.
Some hamsters are very clean and the plastic elements of the cage need to be cleaned less often. You can use water for daily cleaning, but it is recommended to use a specially formulated cage cleaning solution at least once a week in high-traffic areas.
What Bedding to Use?
Many people think that wood shavings or sawdust are the best bedding choices. This is not the case at all. Wood shavings and sawdust contain a lot of dust, irritating your hamster’s airways and leading to health issues.
Recycled paper bedding is a popular choice among hamster owners. This bedding is quite economical and environmentally friendly. Some people prefer to use hemp-based bedding for their hamsters. This is a very absorbent material that lasts a long time.
Another option is a more commercial bedding that can be purchased in bulk. Take Megazorb bedding, for example, which is designed for horses and is also suitable for hamsters. It is an incredibly cost-effective choice! These bags are industrial-sized, allowing them to last (very) long.
How Do Hamsters Clean Themselves?
You do not need to wash or clean your hamsters. They are naturally very clean and groom themselves a lot. You should provide them with a sand bath to help them clean themselves further.
This is a small container or bowl filled with hamster-safe sand, in which they roll around. In addition to contributing to their cleanliness, your hamster will enjoy rolling and playing in the sand. If you are wondering why your hamster is scratching all the time, it might be related to its need to clean itself.
Make sure the sand is designed for hamsters, as you may also find dust baths that look very similar. Dust is very fine and can cause respiratory problems or irritation in your pet.
Chinchilla sand is generally suitable for hamsters and contains less dust. The sand particles absorb excess oil and dirt particles in your hamster’s fur, helping to keep it clean.
You should not submerge your hamster in water. In the wild, hamsters do not naturally interact with water and are not used to it. This could cause a lot of agitation and stress to your hamster, which might result in it biting you.
Water also removes a lot of the natural oils from their fur, which can make them sick. If you let your hamster get soaked, it might also get very cold, which could make it ill.