Your Hamster Cage

You should purchase the largest hamster cage that you can afford.   The larger the better.  Ideally the sides of the cage should be wire mesh to ensure good ventilation.  Hamsters do tend to be quite territorial so when trying to answer your question “how to ensure my hamster lives longer” you should think hard before housing more than one hamster per cage as you run the risks of fights breaking out.  You should cover the base of your hamster cage with some wood shavings and provide some straw bedding.  Don’t place the cage in direct sunlight or in draughty location as these can both cause health issues.  Then provide your hamster with plenty of toys to play with and keep the cage clean.

Feeding Your Hamster

Always keep fresh water available in a bottle.  Give you hamster fresh food every day in a feeding bowl in a corner of the cage.  It may be worthwhile placing the bowl in an area that is easily accessible and therefore easy to clean.  You might also give your hamster fresh vegetables and occasionally some fruit and also supplement its diet with occasional vitamin supplement tablets.

Keep Your Hamster Healthy

You should provide a wooden gnaw to ensure that they are able to keep their tooth growth under control.  Generally speaking if you keep your hamster cage clean and your hamster well fed you can have a reasonable expectation that your hamster will live a clean and healthy life for several years.
And that’s it really.  Hamsters are really very easy animals to look after and can give you hours of fun if you do look after them.  So if you want to know “how to ensure my hamster lives longer” you should give you hamster a large cage, feed it a good diet, provide an active play area and keep its living environment clean you should have no problems.

The minimum size for a hamster cage should really be at least 18 inches square and a similar height.  Unless your hamster is a dwarf hamster you really shouldn’t be considering a hamster cage that is any smaller than this minimum size.

Big hamster cages are easier to clean than smaller ones as you will have greater access to the interior of the cage when cleaning.  In addition, wire hamster cages are probably over all a better choice of material for the walls and roof of the cage, although you should try to make sure the base of the hamster cage is plastic or at least solid in formation as if it was a wire mesh then there are likely to be comfort issues for your hamster and hygiene issues for you as the hamster will likely defecate in on the floor of the cage which would soak through into the surface below.  Plastic hamster cages, even the ones which would qualify as being big hamster cages tend to have a significant number of tubes and tunnels built into the design, which is great for the hamster but will always present you with problems when you are attempting to keep the cage clean.

Although it is recommended that your big hamster cage has wire mesh sides and roof, the size of the mesh should really not exceed more than one half of an inch.  Any more and there is a real possibility that your hamster will be able to escape and come to some harm.  It is very difficult to lose a hamster in even the smallest of houses so be aware at all times of the potential to lose your hamster.

The other aspect associated with big hamster cages is the ability to put a hamster wheel inside.  A hamster wheel is an important play and exercise item and should not be overlooked.  Hamsters are nocturnal and will use the hamster wheel far more at night, but they do love to run and hunt for food and as large an exercise wheel as possible is definitely preferable.

Whilst you can definitely get away with a regular hamster cage, big hamster cages with an interesting and varied play area within are by far the preferable option as your hamster will have a better overall quality of life and be a better and more entertaining pet as a result.