DIY homemade cage attempt

[LunaTheHamster1]

As others have already told you that ferplast cage is too small - it equates to 307 sq inches which is not big enough for a hamster. Can you find room for a bin cage in your home? The absolute minimum recommended for hamsters is 450 sq inches, however you really need to be going as large as you possibly can. It makes for a happier/healthier hamster. I would suggest you try and rethink what space you have in your home.

[LunaTheHamster1]

sorry, i should have said. you don't need to subtract the cage items from the continuous floor space. It's the area that you start with before you fill it up.

[mangoandmimi]

The continuous floor space is more common sense than anything. It's the difference between a large open room and a series of corridors and small rooms, clearly the first is a nicer environment than the second and allows you to add proper enrichment. It allows for activities such as running - not achievable over a length of 30cm, and digging horizontal burrows among other things.

I don't suggest trying to justify that either of the cages you currently have are suitable even for a lazy hamster as that isn't the case. A cage approx 80x50cm is about the smallest you would want to go in my opinion. Would that fit? It's much smaller than the large eco habitat as that is quite a bulky and large cage I agree.

[alpacassei]

He doesnt even have substrate in the other sections! Please put him back in the Ferplast cage! Not only is this build not safe or cat proof but its just far far too small. If you don’t feel you can provide adequate care to both hamsters then please consider rehoming him.

Just bc your cat hasnt shown interest in your hamsters so far, doesnt mean that wont change. Hunting rodents is their instincts and as much as I love and trust my cat, I’d never put her in a situation where theres the slightest chance of her hurting one of my hamsters.

Besides, he could easily pile up substrate and climb out of the cage resulting in injury or even death. Theres nothing remotely appropriate about this cage at all.

[alpacassei]

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

As others have already told you that ferplast cage is too small - it equates to 307 sq inches which is not big enough for a hamster. Can you find room for a bin cage in your home? The absolute minimum recommended for hamsters is 450 sq inches, however you really need to be going as large as you possibly can. It makes for a happier/healthier hamster. I would suggest you try and rethink what space you have in your home.

While I agree the Ferplast cage is too small, in this situation I think its a much better and safer option than the DIY cage until it can be upgraded to a more suitable habitat.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by alpacassei

While I agree the Ferplast cage is too small, in this situation I think its a much better and safer option than the DIY cage until it can be upgraded to a more suitable habitat.

Totally agree, I was just trying to get the point across that in the long run the hamster needs a better cage than either of those two.

[Ria P]

Personally, i think the old cage is still better than the compartments in the display cabinet. He needs a house without a base sitting on substrate though not on top of a shelf. He can't make a proper nest on a shelf or solid base.

I'm surprised that the cat hasn't had your hamsters for breakfast yet. They can't help their natural hunting instinct so its only a matter of time unless you provide a safe environment for your hamsters.

I'm sure that you have the ability and imagination to figure out something suitable to house both your hamsters and keep them safe.

[Schwartzie]

The big cage with the wooden houses etc....the reason that hamster doesn’t move around your cage is because there are no hideouts for it to dart under. You also need to have at least 6inches of bedding deep for at least half the cage. Does that make sense? I would advise going through this thread and looking at cage set ups and spending time going through the topics on housing so you can see and read up on bedding and cleaning out cages etc.

Unbroken floor space means your cage or tank must measure certain length and width.

What is the measurement of the big cage and what is the measurement of the other cage?

You will also probably find that your hamster is too scared to come out and run around because of the cat. The picture you posted had the cat in front of the cage...the poor hamster! It’s probably petrified. Get the cat away from the cages.

My advice is to invest time and research on the forum and then start asking questions. I would put your hamster back in that other cage and not keep it in the shelves.

[Schwartzie]

Originally Posted by Artur26

Hi, I had my dwarf hamster on a Ferplast Hamsterville Hamster Wooden Cage, 60 x 34 x 49 cm.

So I made this cage for him, each square measures 30x30cm of floor.

Is this amount of floorspace appropriate? I often free him in the floor of my room for about one hour.

I own another dwarf that is on a Large Living World Green Eco Habitat.

Hamster cage - Album on Imgur

I find it very interesting that you use the correct terminology in asking if this floor space is appropriate then add you have no idea about floor space but you had the common sense to check it’s size so you weren’t totally in the dark. It’s controversial what you have done...you have created upset where it’s unnecessary.

I also find it strange that the cat has been placed in front of the cages in each picture.

My gut is telling me that this was posted to cause upset and anger. It’s too deliberate and my common sense is telling me that your motives for posting this thread wasn’t ignorance but something else.

[LunaTheHamster1]

I just checked some of your previous posts were you had a male and a female hamster, you were advised then about cage size. so I am still really baffled why you are playing ignorant now. You know what you should be doing for your hamsters. I hope you do it for their sake.