Cage cleaning tips?

[whatkatydid]

Looking for some advice, if anyone can help or had previous experience of the same problem?

I'm having trouble keeping my male Syrian hamster's cage clean. He's a lovely boy, and while he seems comfortable with me, he can be very nervous. I've tried my best to build his confidence, but the vet has told me that it may just be his personality. He really doesn't like new environments, other people and especially doesn't like his ball (he curls himself up in the bottom and looks totally miserable). This has meant that I'm having difficulties keeping his cage clean because I don't have anywhere I can put him safely while I do it. The cage is in two parts, so at the moment I'm cleaning out one section with him in the other and then swapping. However, this means that any sudden/loud noise I make while I'm doing it makes him jump out of skin and run to hide (which makes me feel really bad) and secondly that I can't take the whole thing apart and give it the deep clean I want. It's got to the point where the cage and my hamster are getting a bit smelly and I'm not sure what to do. I really don't want to distress him if I can avoid it. Has anybody had this issue before or any ideas what I can do?

[cypher]

Do you have or can you get a ham carrier? Something like this, there are various ones available depending on where you are.
This is what a lot of people use, just put a nice layer of substrate in the base & maybe a bit or shredded tissue then your ham should just settle down & sleep while you clean.

[CMB]

You could let him out into the bath with wheel, toys, house etc and clean the cage while he is busy exploring.

[Pebbles82]

I do the pet carrier idea Our hamster also gets stressed if he can hear banging and cage clanging when he is within hearing and smelling distance of the cage. So I pop him in the pet carrier with lots of substrate, a couple of little houses, hide some food and treats, and then put the carrier upstairs in the bedroom with a blanket over it so it's dark. Then sort the cage out. It's worth investing in one as then you can use it if you ever need a vet visit as well. I have the Ferplast Aladino guinea pig sized one - similar to the one Cypher linked. I really like it - it's a bit wider at the base.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ferplast-Al...rplast+Aladino

Having said that it's best not to clean the cage too often as they can find it really stressful having things moved and their scent removed. You can spot clean mostly. I have plenty of deep substrate, spot clean, use a potty litter tray and only do a full clean about once every 2 to 3 months - even then it's more of a partial clean. Have attached Erin's Hamsters cage cleaning video which really helped me with our nervy Syrian.

You also mentioned the cage being in two parts. If it's quite small, then rather than spend money on a pet carrier you could put the money towards a bigger cage like the Alaska or Barney from Zooplus maybe, and keep one of the smaller half cages as a play cage for when you do clean-outs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jVnEjrXbww

This is Charlie in the pet carrier. I have one of the little cardboard hay houses in there and he likes ripping it to bits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3xlMIBJ7iA

[WinterMonkey]

Hi, I would recommend getting a travel cage (they only cost about £10) for when you're cleaning his cage. Also with the smell aspect, try using Zoflora it comes in different fresh smelling smells but is also pet friendly.

Hope this helps

[Fluffagrams]

Some hamsters just don't seem to like exercise balls however there are plenty of solutions that can provide your hamster with a safe place to wait whilst you clean his cage. Others have already mentioned purchasing a carrier but in the meantime something like a storage box would work as long as the sides are high enough to stop him from being able to climb out. Another option could be a bath as CMB has suggested but again you'd have to make sure he can't climb up the chain on the plug.

I tend to give my hamsters some of their old substrate in their carrier so that it has some familiarity for them as well as something they can hide in and go to sleep and a favourite toy from their cages.

[cypher]

I really wouldn't use anything like Zoflora in or around the cage or on toys, wheels, bowls etc. It may or may not be pet safe, don't know tbh, but that's not the same as pet friendly! It's best to avoid any scented products as hams are very sensitive to smells & the cage should only have their scent.

[Pebbles82]

Ditto re the Zoflora Unless there has been illness or disease, just a warm damp cloth is fine for wiping a cage base. Or a petsafe disinfectant and then let it air for a bit for the scent to wear off.