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A golden hamster is often a child’s first pet. They are small, quiet, gentle and relatively easy to care for. The name ‘Golden hamster’ refers to the wild-typecoat colour (agouti) while ‘Syrian’ is used for other colour varieties. ‘Teddy-bear hamsters’ are members of the same species, but have long-haired coats. Their Latin name, Mesocricetus auratus translates to “mediumsized golden hamster”. A hamster can provide plenty of entertainment and smiles whether purchased for you or your children. Keeping a hamster as a pet can teach children responsibility and respect for other living creatures, and can remind us all that a simple life can be a happy one.

There are many types of hamsters available, and all make delightful pets. They are pleasant, charming and quite undemanding; although longhaired varieties require moreattention to grooming than short haired ones. Golden, Syrian and Teddy-bear hamsters grow to approximately 15-20 cm in length, while dwarf hamsters grow to 5-10 cm in length, depending on the breed. Other breeds that are commonly seen include the Siberian and the Chinese (striped) hamster.

Hamsters have cheek pouches that are quite large. They reach from the corners of the mouth all the way to the shoulder blades and are used to carry large amounts of food or bedding material back to the hamster’s den. Domestic hamsters retain this instinct and will often attempt to empty their food bowl and hide it at another spot in the cage. When full, the cheek pouches appear drastically enlarged and you can feel the texture of the food pellets or bedding material through the skin of the cheeks. Like all rodents, hamsters have “open-rooted” incisor teeth that continue to grow throughout their lives.



The hamster should be provided roughage to gnaw on to prevent their incisors from overgrowing. Normal wear and tear from opening seeds and nuts or chewing their pelleted feed usually keeps their teeth trim, however mineral blocks, wood or crunchy dog biscuits may begiven occasionally for the hamster to chew.
Adult hamsters live solitary lives and will fight ferociously with others. They should never be housed with other hamsters as their territorial aggression can result in severe injuries to one another.
Hamsters have 4 front toes and 5 rear toes. They have two scent glands on their backs, which are much more apparent on males than on females. Hamsters can be sexed by comparing the distance from the genital opening to the anus. The distance on males is 1-2 cm while on females they are very close together. Adult males also have a more elongated posterior than females do.
Hamsters often pick a favourite corner of their cage to relieve themselves. Hamster urine is milky white and it is normal to find a white stain on the cage bottom that is very difficult to remove. Washing the area lightly with soap and water is sufficient to eliminate odour. It is not necessary to scrub off the white stain.
The normal lifespan for a hamster is 18-24 months. Proper care and attention will ensure that your hamster will live a happy and healthy life.