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Old 07-07-2020, 06:40 AM   #1
kattsy
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Question Is it okay to not clean the cage for 2 weeks?

Hi guys!

I'm leaving on a trip for two weeks and i will have to leave my hamster with a friend. She doesn't have any experience with hamster care, so im just gonna ask her to change the water everyday and feed her. I dont think she'd be willing to or know how to properly clean the cage within those two weeks. Do you think its fine to not clean it for two weeks and for me to clean it right after i get back?

Thanks!
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Old 07-07-2020, 06:52 AM   #2
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Is it okay to not clean the cage for 2 weeks?

That would be more than fine! Hamsters do not need frequent cage cleaning at all. At the very most a tiny bit of spot cleaning might need to be done, but a full clean in two weeks would be extremely stressful for a hamster.

Hamsters in properly sized cages with deep enough substrate can and should go without full cleaning in most situations - obviously with exceptions being made for genuine medical conditions where a thorough disinfection of the cage is required, mites, etc. Spot cleaning over time keeps things relatively tidy and hamsters can also be litter trained to some degree. They'll often use a sand bath as a toilet(stick with children's play sand rinsed, sifted, and baked for safety) which can be cleaned as part of spot cleaning. For any poop - leave those. Hamsters, like many other animals, do eat their own poop for nutritional reasons and many if not all will even go as far as to hoard it although healthy poops should be fairly dry and odorless.
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Old 07-07-2020, 06:55 AM   #3
kattsy
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Question Re: Is it okay to not clean the cage for 2 weeks?

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Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
That would be more than fine! Hamsters do not need frequent cage cleaning at all. At the very most a tiny bit of spot cleaning might need to be done, but a full clean in two weeks would be extremely stressful for a hamster.

Hamsters in properly sized cages with deep enough substrate can and should go without full cleaning in most situations - obviously with exceptions being made for genuine medical conditions where a thorough disinfection of the cage is required, mites, etc. Spot cleaning over time keeps things relatively tidy and hamsters can also be litter trained to some degree. They'll often use a sand bath as a toilet(stick with children's play sand rinsed, sifted, and baked for safety) which can be cleaned as part of spot cleaning. For any poop - leave those. Hamsters, like many other animals, do eat their own poop for nutritional reasons and many if not all will even go as far as to hoard it although healthy poops should be fairly dry and odorless.
Hello! Thanks so much for your reply! I never fully clean my hamsters cage, i mostly do spot cleaning every 3-4 days, since she only pees and poops in one spot in her cage, right under her house haha. Im just worried it could get too much under there in 2 weeks? Or do you think she'd be fine?
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Old 07-07-2020, 07:45 AM   #4
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Is it okay to not clean the cage for 2 weeks?

When I first got Twinkle, I left mine 4 weeks or more as he was such a timid hamster at first. His house was his safe place so I did not want to disturb him. I think it would be fine.
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Old 07-07-2020, 07:47 AM   #5
kattsy
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Smile Re: Is it okay to not clean the cage for 2 weeks?

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Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
When I first got Twinkle, I left mine 4 weeks or more as he was such a timid hamster at first. His house was his safe place so I did not want to disturb him. I think it would be fine.
Thanks for the reply!
Mine was the same, it took her around 2 months to fully warm up to us and let us even pick her up.
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Old 07-07-2020, 08:45 AM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Is it okay to not clean the cage for 2 weeks?

Absolutely fine. I only do a cage clean about every 3 to 4 months with spot cleaning and litter tray emptying in between - and wipe the wheel occasionally as and when needed.

I get the impression its the spot cleaning you're worried about- eg if he pees in his nest or something. If you can get him to use a litter tray before you go,that would help. Then your friend would just need to empty the litter tray once or twice.

If that's not possible then I would suggest you leave some instructions for your friend for "spot cleaning" the pee area - maybe once a week -if it needs it. Although I have found if you leave it they often chuck out the smelly stuff themselves and drag new substrate in - but hamsters are all different.
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