Your first hamster: the complete starter guide

Hamsters are natural loners. In the wild each hamster lives in its own burrow and defends its spot. So a hamster doesn't feel lonely when it lives alone. On the contrary: a home of its own actually gives it peace of mind.

Hamsters are also nocturnal. During the day they sleep deeply in their nest, and only in the evening and at night do they really wake up. Then they run, dig and gnaw, and sometimes you can hear that quite clearly. So put the home in a quiet spot, not in full sun, not in a draught and preferably not in a bedroom (certainly not in a child's bedroom). That way everyone sleeps well, you and your hamster.

In the wild a hamster covers considerable distances every night. The rule of thumb is therefore simple: the bigger, the better. Small, colourful hamster cages with lots of levels look fun, but offer far too little running space and too little room for a thick digging layer.

Pay particular attention to the floor area, because that's where hamster life takes place. A home with a tall, closed base tray is ideal: you can put a thick layer of bedding in it without everything flying out. Also check that the bars are close enough together, so your hamster can't slip through.

So give your hamster a thick layer of bedding, so it can make real tunnels and burrows. The thicker the layer, the more digging fun. At the very least, make sure part of the home has an extra deep digging corner.

Choose a low-dust bedding, such as paper, hemp, flax, cotton or wood fibre. Mix in some hay: it helps the tunnels hold their shape and gives your hamster soft nesting material right away. A top layer with, for example, leaves and bark makes sniffing around extra exciting.

They eat seeds, grains, herbs and vegetables, and in the wild the occasional insect too. So choose a special hamster food that suits your type of hamster. Besides that, now and then give a small piece of fresh vegetable, such as cucumber or bell pepper. Introduce new things gradually and remove anything your hamster doesn't eat the next day.

Don't be alarmed: your hamster will often stuff its food into its cheek pouches and haul it off to a secret larder. That's perfectly normal behaviour! Also make sure there is always fresh water, in a drinking bottle or a small, heavy bowl.

A hideaway house gives it a safe, dark spot for its nest. Feel free to put more than one in: hamsters like being able to choose, for example a sleeping house and a larder.

Preferably choose a house without a floor, or with an opening at the bottom, made of untreated wood, bark or grass. Then your hamster can keep digging underneath and it stays nice and dry. Place the house firmly in the digging layer, so it can't topple over when your hamster digs underneath.

A running wheel therefore belongs in every hamster home. Pay close attention to two things. The wheel must be big enough, so your hamster can run with a straight back and doesn't have to run with a hollow back. And the running surface must be solid, so without rungs or holes where paws can get caught. Not sure about the size? Then rather choose one size bigger.

Hamsters also love a sand bath. They like to roll and wriggle in it, and that's how they groom their fur. A shallow tub with special bathing sand (not dusty powder) is enough. Many hamsters also use the sand tub as a toilet, and that's perfectly fine.

So give your hamster plenty to do! Gnawing material is essential: a hamster's teeth keep growing its whole life, and gnawing is part of its natural behaviour. Gnawing wood, willow branches and gnawing toys are ideal.

Also provide tunnels, little bridges and hiding places to explore. Now and then hide some food in a gnawing toy or under some hay. Then your hamster happily goes searching, just like in the wild.

A run gives your hamsters extra space to move around, indoors or in the garden. Only use it under supervision, and outdoors always with netting or a cover against cats and birds of prey.

An outdoor house is meant for an outdoor run, not for an indoor cage. Soft tunnels and igloos made of plush or fabric are cosy under supervision, but don't belong in the cage: they can hold moisture and odour and are easily chewed to bits. Take them away again after playtime.

And later now and then to the vet, or temporarily into a safe box while you give the home a good clean. Choose a sturdy plastic carrier with good ventilation and a fastening your hamster can't open itself. A fabric bag is less practical, because a hamster gnaws straight through it.

Put some bedding and a pinch of hay in the box, and a piece of cucumber for moisture on the way. After arriving, also plan an introductory visit to a vet who has experience with small rodents. They can check your hamster over and answer all your questions.

Mainly leave it in peace for the first few days, so it can explore everything at its leisure. After that, start getting to know each other calmly, always in the evening when it wakes up by itself. Talk softly, so it learns your voice.

Lay your hand flat in the home with a tasty treat on it, such as a sunflower seed or a piece of herbal snack. Let your hamster come to you by itself. After a while it dares to walk over your hand. Always pick up your hamster low over the ground, with two hands cupped like a little bowl. Hamsters are poor at judging how high something is.