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Congrats on welcoming home your new pet

  1. Home
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  3. New Hamster Guide

THE PETCO NEW HAMSTER GUIDE

We’ll help you navigate pet parenthood with helpful tips, expert guidance and recommendations for every milestone.

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Save 15% on supplies and nutrition for your hamster—including habitats, bedding, nutrition and more—with Vital Care Premier.

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1. SETTING UP THE PERFECT HOME

Fill your space with supplies and essentials before your hamster arrives to help them feel comfortable and safe from the start.

Habitats

Provide the largest habitat possible with a securely attached top so your hamster can hide, bury, exercise and play without escaping.

Shop Habitats

Bedding

Fill their habitat with 1–2 inches of high-quality, commercially available, paper-based bedding or crumbled paper.

Shop Bedding

Food bowls

Food bowls help keep your hamster’s food free of contamination.

Shop Food Bowls

Exercise wheels

Help encourage daily activity with a wheel that has a smooth surface so they don’t get injured.

Shop Wheels

Water bottles & bowls

Provide and refill clean, fresh water daily.

Shop Bottles

  • Habitats

    Provide the largest habitat possible with a securely attached top so your hamster can hide, bury, exercise and play without escaping.

    Shop Habitats

  • Bedding

    Fill their habitat with 1–2 inches of high-quality, commercially available, paper-based bedding or crumbled paper.

    Shop Bedding

  • Food bowls

    Food bowls help keep your hamster’s food free of contamination.

    Shop Food Bowls

  • Exercise wheels

    Help encourage daily activity with a wheel that has a smooth surface so they don’t get injured.

    Shop Wheels

  • Water bottles & bowls

    Provide and refill clean, fresh water daily.

    Shop Bottles

  • Habitats
  • Bedding
  • Food Bowls
  • Exercise Wheels
  • Water Bottles & Bowls
 

1

You & Me 2-Story Hamster Habitat

2

You & Me Small Animal High Rise Tank Topper

3

WARE Carry-N-Cage Small Animal Habitat

1

Kaytee Clean & Cozy Small Animal Bedding

2

Carefresh Natural Small Pet Bedding

3

Carefresh White Small Pet Bedding

1

You & Me Plastic Hamster Dish

2

You & Me Eggshell Dish

3

You & Me Pink Polka Dot Dish, Small

1

Kaytee Critter Cruiser

2

Kaytee Silent Spinner Exercise Wheel, Mini

3

You & Me Hamster Wheel, 5"

1

Kaytee Chew Proof 6 oz. Water Bottle

2

You & Me Printed Water Bottle, Mini

3

You & Me Water Bottle, Mini

2. Finding the right food

Set a strong foundation for your new pet’s physical health with quality nutrition.

Food

Feed them a species-appropriate, high-fiber, low-sugar diet.

Shop Food

Treats

Be sure treats make up no more than 10 percent of their diet and include quality ingredients plus vital nutrients so they stay at a healthy weight.

Shop Treats

  • Food

    Feed them a species-appropriate, high-fiber, low-sugar diet.

    Shop Food

  • Treats

    Be sure treats make up no more than 10 percent of their diet and include quality ingredients plus vital nutrients so they stay at a healthy weight.

    Shop Treats

  • Food
  • Treats
 

1

Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Food Mix for Hamsters & Gerbils

2

Oxbow Garden Select Fortified Food for Hamsters and Gerbils

3

White Mill Seed Mixture Mealworms & Seeds Dry Hamster Food

1

Vitakraft Drops with Strawberry Hamster Treats

2

Vitakraft Crunch Sticks Hamster Treat

3

Supreme Science Selective Naturals Harvest Loops for Hamster

3. KEEPING YOUR hamster HAPPY

Bond and play with them every day to help support their home and social health.

Toys

Help stimulate their mind with hamster-safe toys that don’t have small pieces of rubber they could ingest.

Shop Toys

Hideaways

Provide a safe place for them to retreat when they want privacy, plus explore hay and wood options they can chew when they’re bored.

Shop Hideaways

  • Toys

    Help stimulate their mind with hamster-safe toys that don’t have small pieces of rubber they could ingest.

    Shop Toys

  • Hideaways

    Provide a safe place for them to retreat when they want privacy, plus explore hay and wood options they can chew when they’re bored.

    Shop Hideaways

  • Toys
  • Hideaways
 

1

Oxbow Enriched Life Celebration Cupcake for Small Animals

2

You & Me Willow Ball Chews

3

You & Me Bend-A-Bridge Small Animal Chew Toy

1

You & Me Small Animal Chewable Woodland Hideaway

2

WARE Farmer's Market Grassy Tee-Pee

3

You & Me Large Wood 2-Story Hamster House

4. Understanding your hamster

Hamsters have a lot of energy and can be great companions when you properly socialize them. Below are some key behaviors to know so you can help them adjust.

Cheek pouches

Their cheeks may be a different size when they are carrying food and other items in their mouth.

Running

Hamsters are naturally fast runners and can even run backward.

Moods

Hamsters have a variety of moods, and research shows that having toys and cozy bedding can make for a more well-adjusted hamster.

5. BUILDING A ROUTINE

A consistent routine for cleaning, bathing and dental care can help support their wellbeing while they settle in.

Cleaning

Bedding should be spot cleaned daily, and the entire habitat should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.

Shop Cleaning

Chew Sticks

Because their teeth are constantly growing, it’s important hamsters have chew sticks to help naturally wear them down so they stay at a healthy length.

Shop Chews

Grooming

Brushing your hamster gives you bonding time together and promotes a clean, shiny coat free of tangles.

Shop Grooming

  • Cleaning

    Bedding should be spot cleaned daily, and the entire habitat should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.

    Shop Cleaning

  • Chew Sticks

    Because their teeth are constantly growing, it’s important hamsters have chew sticks to help naturally wear them down so they stay at a healthy length.

    Shop Chews

  • Grooming

    Brushing your hamster gives you bonding time together and promotes a clean, shiny coat free of tangles.

    Shop Grooming

  • Cleaning
  • Chews
  • Grooming
 

1

Small Animal Habitat Cleaner

2

So Phresh Small Animal Habitat Clean-Up Wipes

3

Nature's Miracle Small Animal Cage Scrubbing Wipes

1

You & Me Block Chews for Small Animal

2

Kaytee Apple Orchard Sticks Small Animal Chews

3

You & Me Wood Chew Sticks for Small Animals

1

WARE Groom-N-Kit Small Animal Grooming Kit

2

EveryYay Lookin' Spiffy Small Animal Nail Clippers

3

EveryYay Lookin' Spiffy Small Animal Bristle Grooming Brush

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