Cage switches

[camihelich]

Hi everyone! My daughter has worked to earn the money needed to get a hamster and all the supplies needed to take care of it. Problem is, she splits her time between 2 houses. I'd heard that moving hamsters between cages can cause stress but was wondering if we could alleviate that issue by buying identical set ups for the two houses? We'd also take some bedding out of the cage it's been in for that week and put in the cage at the other house when my daughter and the hamster go over there for a week. Does anyone have experience with this? Would identical set ups and taking some familiar items back and forth help not cause stress to the hamster? If needed we could take the food dish and water bottle or other items in the cages between houses also for familiarity.

[Yanathehammie]

Hiya! Familiar bedding and toys will help ease stress.

Although, it is hard to say this but a hamster may not be the best pet for your daughter right now. I know that your daughter has worked hard to earn money for a hamster, but it is a matter of providing the best life that you can for an animal. It will be constantly stressed from being moved into a different environment every single week - I don’t think it is fair for the hamster.

Could you keep it only at one house?

[LunaTheHamster1]

I agree with Yanathehammie, I think it would be to much stress on the hamster. Just as it is getting settled in one home, it gets moved to another and on it continues. Even if you set up two identical homes the hamster will be marking it's territory so I am pretty sure it will know the difference. Also just moving the hamster every week would be stressful and not fair to the hamster. Maybe a hamster isn't the best fit for your daughter right now. Even constantly moving a whole cage from one house to another every week I would say is too much for a hamster.
Could you daughter consider another pet that might fit in more with her current situation?