How Often Does A Hamster Cage Need To Be Cleaned?
Like every other animal, Hamsters like a clean environment where they can thrive. To help give a hamster a clean cage, you need to know how often does a hamster cage need to be cleaned.
So, how often does a hamster cage need to be cleaned? The hamster cage needs to be cleaned once a week. Ideally, you should inspect the cage daily, spot clean, and eliminate any dirty litter and uneaten food. Remove the littered bedding every week and replace them with clean bedding.
This article will discuss the timelines for cleaning a hamster cage and the procedure.
How Often Does a Hamster Cage Need to Be Cleaned?
The aim is to ensure the cage remains clean at all times. Therefore, you need to keep inspecting the cage. Spot clean any dirt in the cage even if the one-week threshold is not over.
Some hamsters may have soiled the litter while burrowing it into the floor. The hamsters hide their food, such as nuts, in hoards; these activities may necessitate cleaning more often.
How Many Times Should a Hamster’s Cage Be Cleaned?
![How Many Times Should a Hamster's Cage Be Cleaned](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/How-Many-Times-Should-a-Hamsters-Cage-Be-Cleaned.jpg)
The answer depends on several factors in the cage. However, it would help if you cleaned the cage once every week to prevent dirt accumulation.
Factors Determining the Cleaning Schedule
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Several factors come into play when deciding the cleaning schedule. Below are some highlights of the determining factors to be considered.
The Size Of The Hamster Cage
Small and medium-sized cages will require to be cleaned once every week. This is because the cage gets filled with dirty litter and food waste faster due to their limited size.
Large cages can stay for even two weeks before cleaning as there is enough space to hold the dirt compared to small cages.
The Number Of Hamsters In A Cage
One cage can hold up to ten hamsters. The more the number of hamsters, the more dirt accumulated in the cage. Populated cages may require daily cleaning or at least three times a week.
The Mode Of Feeding In The Cage
Feeding in bowls and troughs helps keep the floor of the cage clean. Feeding via splashing the food on the litter makes the cage stuffy since some food is trapped in the litter, causing dumpy conditions.
Consider getting rid of the soiled litter during every meal time.
The Time Spent In The Cage By The Hamsters
Some hamsters are sheltered only at night and during the rainy seasons. Thus, their cages may stay clean longer than the one week given.
However, inspect the cage to ascertain whether the cage needs cleaning or not.
How To Clean Hamster’s Cage
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Cleaning the cage is a delicate process that requires care to avoid causing stress to the hamsters. Do a deep cleaning at least once a month. Let’s see how the cleaning process is done.
Clean the cage early in the morning for it to have adequate time to dry by nightfall.
Remove The Hamster From The Cage
You can free the hamster in the compound as you clean the cage. Ensure the compound is well fenced.
You can use a hamster ball or a plastic bin to hold the hamster temporarily.
Remove The Accessories And The Toys
Remove the toys and accessories and sort them out according to their degree of dirtiness. Check for those that need to be replaced and replace them. Be careful not to destroy the hideouts and the hoards created by the hamster.
Inspect The Bedding
Inspect the bedding and remove the soiled ones. Be keen not to destroy the food starches on the floor. Replace the bedding with clean, dry material to keep the floor warm and dry.
Clean The Toys, Accessories, And The Cage
Using a vinegar-water solution, wash the toys and accessories. For the paper toys, wipe them or replace them after one month.
Using a cloth, clean the cage from the inside and the outside. Ensure all the parts are well cleaned. You can now put the cage and contents under the sun to dry.
Rearrange Back The Accessories
Once all the parts have dried, rearrange the toys and the accessories to give them a different layout. This helps give the hamster a new experience and eliminate boredom.
Introduce new accessories such as the swinging wheel for the hamsters to enjoy exploring as it is their nature. Put food and substrate into the bowls and troughs. The cage is now ready to shelter the hamster.
Bedding To Use In The Hamster’s Cage
![Bedding To Use In The Hamsters Cage](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Bedding-To-Use-In-The-Hamsters-Cage.jpg)
The bedding used in the cage should provide the necessary warmth, keep the animal dry, and provide space for burrowing.
Most pet owners prefer to use paper cuttings as bedding. However, the paper material is not the best in odor absorbent. They need to be replaced more often.
Wood shavings have been used for decades and have a high odor and urine absorbent degree. Bedding from wood shavings can last long before replacing. Make the bedding as thick as possible to provide enough depth for burrowing.
Hamsters like to starch food in the ground for use during scarcity or danger. Provide a standard three to four inches deep bedding.
How Often Should You Change The Bedding In A Hamster Cage?
![How Often Should You Change The Bedding In A Hamster Cage](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/How-Often-Should-You-Change-The-Bedding-In-A-Hamster-Cage.jpg)
Depending on the type of bedding used, the bedding can last for up to 3months. However, the three months should be coupled with a series of spot cleaning on a weekly basis.
That should be followed by partial changes to the soiled bedding while replacing it with new bedding. Ideally, the bedding can last longer than expected if you practice proper hygiene measures.
After using the bedding for about three months, remove it completely and use it as manure in the shamba. Replace it with clean, fresh litter. If the bedding gets dumpy and dirty before the timeframe elapses, consider replacing it to avoid laboring germs and dirt.
FAQs
To help understand how often hamster cage need to be cleaned, let us look at the questions most pet owners ask.
1. Can you use chemicals to clean the hamster’s cage?
Any harmful chemicals such as Windex should never be used to clean or disinfect the cage. These chemicals effectively kill germs and any other contagious virus; however, the chemicals pose a great threat to hamsters.
Use vinegar and water with detergents to clean the cage. Rinse with flowing water and let the cage dry before use.
2. Should You Wake A Hamster Up When Cleaning (And How)?
Yes. It would be best if you woke the hamster but in a calm way to avoid stressing it. Hamsters are very sensitive animals, and random disturbances may cause stress, affecting their behavior.
Treat the hamster with a cool soothing touch as you hum to slowly wake it up. While handling a hamster, do it with care to avoid attacks from the hamster.
Final Words
Keeping the hamster’s cage clean and organized is the ultimate goal. How often to clean hamster tank depends on the cleanliness level at specific times. Keep the cage clean at all times.
Use non-chemical disinfectants to clean the cage and its accessories to avoid harming the hamster. To keep the cage tidy, feed the hamster in bowls and troughs to reduce food spillage.