Guide to Buying a Cage

[HollyHamster]

Originally Posted by Anthorn

Can anyone please post a link to that information on the RSPCA website because I can't find it? Or else quote an RSPCA written publication because I can't find that either?

If you Google "RSPCA recommended hamster cage size", the first link that pops up is a PDF (http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Blob...bheader=applic...) made by the RSPCA and on the second page of the PDF document it clearly states that, and I quote:

It [the cage] should be at least 75 x 40 x 40cm (30 x 15 x 15 ins) – the larger
the better!

So, there you are. I didn't have to do very much digging, if at all to find this info.

[Anthorn]

My problem is that page won't load for me and hangs and I've tried it on both my Linux and Windows 7 computers. But I would love to know the date it was published.

As I posted in another thread that page is not linked from the main RSPCA website so we must regard it as old information which has been discontinued and revised.

RSPCA Hamsters main care page:
Hamsters - Pet rodents - Our pets

RSPCA Hamsters Environment page:
Environment - Hamsters - Pet rodents

RSPCA Home Cage page
http://www.rspca.org.uk/ImageLocator...25483&mode=prd

As can be clearly seen, a cage size is not given anywhere in the current information on the RSPCA website and neither is a link to the page alleged to quote a cage size.

[Gizmoandfriends]

Anthorn, mine loaded, its not using the internet, mine loads as a PDF file and it clearly states 75x40x40.. On the publication it doesnt say what date..

[Anthorn]

Ok I managed to read it. My method was to right-click on the link and "Save link as" whereupon I got a warning from McAfee and allowed it.

It's a .pdf file of a paper publication which could be no longer printed and circulated and is at variance with the current advice on the RSPCA website. Apart from the question of cage size the leaflet says that

It can be made of hardwood or softwood with a laminated plastic finish

and goes on to advise a wire mesh front with a wooden surround. But the current information already linked to in a previous post warns against using a wooden cage!

[Gizmoandfriends]

Probably because wooden cages can be chewed out of..

[Anthorn]

Originally Posted by Gizmoandfriends

Probably because wooden cages can be chewed out of..

I don't think that's the reason. But if we take the RSPCA's advice as what is required then all if not all of us are at risk of being accused of not looking after our hamsters properly.

The PDSA's care advice is better but their explanation of why they recommend a 70x30x30cm cage is that the hamster in the wild runs a lot. But I never saw a hamster running to and fro along the length of the cage.

Overall, my problem with recommended cage dimensions is that I don't know what it means. Is it the overall floor space? Does the floorspace requirement include platforms/shelves? Can it be split into more than one cage connected with tubes? Does the length of tubes count? etc. etc.

[Gazmo]

agreed, its kinda obvious..

[Gazmo]

wooden cages can be chewed out of, plus when your hamaster pees on it, its pretty much ruined

[Bekki2308]

Wooden cages are fine if appropriately sealed. Hamsters can and do chew out of plastic so that argument fails. The germans use wood over plastic full stop.

[Gizmoandfriends]

This is a really old topic.... And it is easier to chew through than most cages, also the wood if weed on would smell!!!!!