Homemade Toys For Hamsters
Hamsters are one of the smallest pets that we can have at home and they can live most of their lives in a cage. But that should not be an impediment for them to have fun and play with them as we would with another larger animal. The first step is to create a few homemade hamster toys.
Homemade toys for hamsters: first and foremost, safely
As always, before giving an object to our pets, be they small like hamsters or large like horses, we must make sure that they will not harm them.
Research what foods are toxic and try not to make the objects plastic. Also, avoid using glues, varnishes or paints. If it gnaws on them – and if it is a rodent, it is very likely that it does – it could poison itself.
A hammock
A hammock is a great addition to any rodent’s cage. Provides a place to climb, where to sleep suspended in the air; but it can also function as a platform to climb onto.
To make a hammock, you will only need a rectangle of fabric: better if it is one that cannot be frayed, such as cotton from T-shirts or fleece fabric. With a couple of stitches, you can sew four ribbons at the four corners. If you tie them with a bow or include a carabiner to hang them from the bars, it is your choice.
Cereal bar to gnaw on
One of the basic needs of a hamster is to gnaw. If you do not provide him with things to gnaw, he will do so in annoying places: he will eat the rest of his toys, his house and he can even bite the bars of his cage. Therefore, a cereal bar to gnaw on is a safe bet.
To make a bar for your hamster, you will need the following ingredients:
- Flour
- Water
- Seeds, Nuts, and Grains – There are so many that you can use different ones each time. You can use nuts, flax, corn, sunflower seeds, wheat bran, oats, sesame …
The latter must be raw: they do not come seasoned with honey, salty or toasted. Sugar is bad for animals and if they bring other ingredients they can make them feel bad. Mix the flour and water until you have a dough similar to that of bread. Then add the rest of the ingredients to the dough and mix everything well.
To finish, divide the dough into bars and put them in the oven at 200ºC until golden brown. The time will depend on the thickness of each stick, but keep in mind that a rodent as small as a hamster needs to be able to bite it. Before offering a bar to your pet, let it cool completely. Seeds and grains accumulate a lot of heat and you could burn yourself.
A new house
Sure your hamster already has a house to sleep in, but you can make a better one for him. You can also build more than one house for him and so he can choose where he wants to sleep.
Hamsters like small places to hide, but you can still build a mansion for them. You can make him several floors, joined by ramps, and he will love it. Try making him a house with many windows so that he can entertain himself by going in and out each time through a different one.
The limits of this little house are in your imagination. You can make it out of cardboard, wood, paper pulp … perhaps due to its popularity in the world of crafts, ice cream sticks are the most convenient to use. Use the least amount of glue possible and even if it looks ugly, try not to paint it in case the paint is toxic.
Tunnels
Perhaps this can be one of the homemade toys for hamsters that costs you the least to build but that you have to replace more times: a cardboard tunnel. It is as simple to do as putting a cardboard tube in its cage: it can be the toilet paper, the kitchen paper or you can build it with another cardboard.
This stuff is sure you want to gnaw on it. If you destroy it, it is simple and cheap to replace it. If the cage has enough space, your hamster can enjoy different tunnels in which to nest or hide things.
Platforms and ramps
The platforms level up a cage, and turn a container in which an animal lives into a real amusement park. Adding platforms is increasing the surface area a hamster can move on. And since they also like to climb, they are going to enjoy them.
The easiest way to add a platform to a cage is to support it with legs. Choose a plank of wood and add four legs to it. If you have small wooden boxes you can simply place them in the cage.
Don’t forget to create ramps to get on and off these platforms. You can create them with more wood, with popsicle sticks, or with sturdy cardboard. In a moment your hamster’s cage will have much more surface to add more homemade toys, a new house, or just to explore.
Homemade hamster toys are a simple, inexpensive, and fun way to add variety to your little rodent’s life, as they too need to have fun and have new things in their life. Create him a couple of toys or hiding places and you will make him happy.
