Average Cost of a Hamster Cage

The hamster cage is probably the most important piece of gear you will need to buy when you begin raising and caring for pet hamsters. You’ll have to buy food, water bottles, bowls, bedding and exercise toys too, but the cage is the most critically important purchase you will have to make, when it comes to hamster cages, size definitely does matter. The largest hamster cage you can afford and fit into your home is the best hamster cage.

You can find a wide assortment of hamster housing available in many different sizes, shapes, and styles at most any pet store, but it is important to keep in mind that hamsters are active animals who need roomy to roam. Cages that are too small will cause fights if multiple hamsters are sharing a single confined enclosure. The more space your hamster has to explore, the healthier and alert it will be. You should purchase a cage that is large enough to provide separate eating, sleeping, toilet and play areas for each hamster in the cage. This requires two of everything if you have two hamsters, including two exercise wheels.

A general rule of thumb is that a cage 2 feet long and a foot high and a foot deep, is the proper amount of space for one Syrian hamster or a pair of dwarf hamsters. Wire cages are the most popular, they are easy to clean and many feature sliding bottom trays for easy clean-up. Wire cages also provide great ventilation and a good view of your pet. Keep in mind that the spacing between a cage’s wire bars must be small enough to keep your hamsters inside, if a hamster can poke his head through the bars, he can probably squeeze all the way out when you aren’t watching.

Wooden cages are not suitable for determined escape artists like hamsters. Hamsters can make quick work of any wood with their sharp teeth and powerful jaws, plus the wood will absorb unpleasant odors. Plastic cages can be suitable for hamsters, but care must be taken to ensure they have proper ventilation and don’t get too hot inside. Cages made of a combination of both plastic and wire can be a good alternative. Cages designed for mice are usually acceptable for hamsters, but rat cages are not due to their wider spaced bars.

The prices of hamster cages vary greatly depending on the retailer. The same cage will often have different prices at different stores, and the amounts are not insignificant with variations as much as $25 to $50 on a single cage being common. You don’t have to spend $50 on a decent hamster cage though. It is possible to get a small wire and plastic combo cage suitable for one hamster for less than $25 at most stores. The prices go up with the size and number of features of the cage, and the big two- and three-story hamster cages or “hamster resorts” sell for over $200 at many stores, some even reach $300. Between those low and high extremes you can find good, affordable hamster cages of all sizes and construction readily available at pet shops and online retailers.