Hello!
So a while back I made a topic asking for links to a study on hamsters for a school project, so I thought I'd share the project, (it's supposed to be an op-ed) so if anyone wants to comment on the minimums I wrote, or just edit in general, you're welcome to. Here's the project! 
Opinion: Hamsters need larger cages than most people give them
By: Tiny Ball Of Fuzz
When most people think about getting a pet, their mind goes to a dog or a cat. But some people want a cheaper pet that takes up way less space and needs less care. One of the first things they think of is a small mammal, like a hamster because these animals have gained a reputation of being cheap and easy to care for. However, in most countries, including Canada, hamsters are considered exotics, making proper vet care for them much harder to find than for cats and dogs. It also makes a trip to the vets quite expensive, and most of these animals–especially those bought at big chain pet stores, as most are–will need vet care at least once in their lifetime. As for them taking up less space, that is true, because a cat or dog would take up your entire house, but small animals don’t take up the amount of space a pet store suggests, either. Almost all small pet cages commercially available are far too small for the species of animal they are advertised for, including hamsters. This happens everywhere in the world, all the time, but generally not out of malice towards the animal. People simply don’t know that these animals need more space.
It definitely doesn’t help that hamsters are often bought on impulse, without the person having done research. This leaves them to look to pet stores and their employees for information on their new pet, and these people, who also often just don’t know any better, recommend tiny cages meant more for visual appeal than for the animal’s needs. If we take a Syrian hamster, (more commonly known as a teddy bear or golden hamster), for example, and put it in one of the most popularly bought cages in a pet store, it’s basic needs can barely be met, and sometimes, they can’t be met at all. For example, let’s take a look at the classic hamster toy; the wheel. Most hamster wheels with hamsters pictured on the box are far too small for Syrian hamsters, and often too small for the tiny dwarf hamster species as well. If a wheel is too small, the hamster’s back will bend, often causing spinal problems later in life, linking back to the high exotic vet bills. Also, a properly sized wheel often can’t fit in popular pet store cages, making the cage improperly sized.
However, it isn’t just a wheel that gives a hamster enrichment. Another main way they keep themselves from being bored is burrowing, a natural behaviour that I believe should be replicated in captivity. This needs 8 inches of bedding (keep in mind that not all substrates are appropriate for burrowing!) for a dwarf hamster, or 10+ inches for a Syrian hamster, which the litter trays in pet store cages can’t provide without modification, making them even more unsuitable. When they are allowed to burrow and dig in a thick layer of substrate, though, it keeps them busy for longer, helping to stop boredom behaviours like monkey barring or bar chewing. The former is often considered cute in hamsters, but, unlike mice or rats, hamsters do not have good balance, and therefore monkey barring is dangerous for them, as they can fall a considerable height. Bar chewing is often considered annoying because of the sound it produces, but it is also dangerous for all small pets, because it can cause damage to the nose or the teeth of the animal. Again, these things would cause a vet visit, costing you quite a bit of money due to hamsters being categorised as exotics.
Many studies, such as “Behaviour of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) kept in four different cage sizes” show that bar chewing is in fact caused by boredom, and the only way to stop boredom is to give the hamster more things to do, and you can’t fit more things in a tiny pet store cage, so you’ll need to upgrade. But here we hit a dead end. How are you supposed to upgrade your hamster’s cage if there are no larger cages in the pet store?
Just about every hamster owner who has a large cage has built it by themselves, or had someone custom-make it for them. One of the most common ways to do this is using a clear storage bin, cutting a hole in the top, then zip-tying mesh into the hole for ventilation. Another way is to take a piece of furniture and convert it into an enclosure, but the possibilities are endless! But what if you don’t feel comfortable or don’t have the tools to make something yourself? In that case, large aquariums can also work as enclosures, and you only need to make a very simple lid for your new cage. Additionally, there are ways to modify other small animal cages to make them appropriate for a hamster. However, to make or buy a cage, you have to know how big of one the hamster needs. A Syrian hamster generally should have a cage that is at least 800 square inches of continuous floor space, but preferably 1,000 or more square inches. A dwarf hamster, however, should have 600 square inches of continuous floor space as a minimum, but if possible, 800 or more would be better.
This is the change I hope to see in the future. I want all animals to be treated well, not just hamsters, because it isn’t just them that aren’t housed appropriately–all other small animals are often treated poorly, from rats and mice to rabbits, guinea pigs, and even ferrets, I’d like to see them all living in good conditions, which might be by placing them all in bin cages, or modified enclosures, or even tanks, but either way, I want them to all have a proper amount of space, which is actually quite easy.
Note: Also be warned that all of my writing uses Canadian spelling, (a.k.a British English), so that might be a bit weird for some of you.
Thanks!
