Do you have time to take care of it? While they can be pretty
low maintenance creatures, it's best to know that you'll have the
energy to clean it two or three times a week (once if you're lucky). You need to be able to
check if it has water,
food, and is in good health quite often.
What kind of hamster do you want? There are
Syrians, the most
common and usually the most
healthy.
Teddy Bear Hamsters fall into this category as well, and can be quite cute. They get mean if you don't
handle them, most breeds do. There are the smaller
dwarf hamsters, that are generally meaner but create less
waste to clean up. There are a lot of different kinds out there, make sure you know a bit about the breed before you bring it
home.
Are you prepared for the
noise and
possible mess? They can be both, and usually are, depending on the
cage and
toys. Hamsters
chew on the bars of their cage, or the plastic, respectively, and it can be
very annoying for a light sleeper. The wheels often make
noise, and the digging and scratching and running around can
drive you crazy at times. They will
dig in their cage and kick bedding out the sides creating mess, if there is too much, or just because they
feel like it.
Do you even have a good place to keep this thing? It can't be
too hot or
too cold,
too drafty or
not ventilated enough. Most places have somewhere like this, but not all do. A
closet is not a good place to keep your hamster.
If you have
mice in your house, you have to watch that they can't get into your
hamsters food, or their cage. The mice may
spread diseases to your little hamsty, and that isn't so nice. If you don't have mice but your house is
easily accessible to them, be prepared to deal with the little
rodents entering your domocile. They'll be attracted by the hamsters
food and
scent.
Overall, having a hamster is a
positive experience, as long as you're suited to be
a hamster owner. :)