CLEANING AND GROOMING

    A hamster's cage has to be kept clean all the time. Hamsters are naturally clean animals, and they want to live in a clean environment. The problem is, a hamster can't clean his own cage. Therefore, you have to do it. If you keep your hamster in an aquarium, you will have to thoroughly wash everything once a week. (Although I do recommend getting a wire cage for your hamster, as wire cages provide for more ventilation, which your hamster will really appreciate in the summer. Also, hamsters are furry little acrobats, and they enjoy climbing on the bars.) As for wire cages, the hamster's nesting house needs to be cleaned out once a week. The litter at the bottom of the cage needs to be changed once a month, and that plastic and wire bottom should be thoroughly cleaned as well. However, you will need to clean out the hamster's pee-pee corner twice a week, if not more often. During the summer, you may want to clean out the pee-pee corner every other day, because the warm air causes it to smell faster. The cage itself, toys, water bottle, and food dish should be washed and cleaned once a month. By the way, if your hamster has one of those roll-about balls, wash it out after every time the hamster uses it.

    Unlike other pets such as dogs or cats, most hamsters need no grooming. They never need to be washed (and they shouldn't be washed, because the hamster could get too cold and die.). Hamsters groom themselves like a cat. Grooming is essential to a wild hamster's survival, and it's a good thing pet hamsters retain this instinct!

    The only type of hamster that needs any special fur care is the long-haired, Teddy Bear hamster. These hamsters need their fur brushed at least twice a week. The long-haired hamster's soft undercoat keeps growing throughout the hamster's life. Pieces of litter, dead hair, or bits of dust always get stuck in the hammy's fur. Litter is especially a problem, because as more and more fur gets stuck around a piece of litter, mats begin to form. Therefore, it's important that you brush the long-haired hamster's fur at least twice a week! If your hamster ever gets mats or knots in his hair, and he probably will sometime, very carefully cut out the mat or knot with a pair of scissors. Don't pull it out, because it'll hurt! You can brush your hamster's coat with toothbrush. Or, you could also buy a brush especially made for small animals at the pet store.

    Your hamster will surely appreciate your efforts to keep his cage, area, and belongings (and in the case of a long-haired hamster, his fur) clean and neat!