The Best Homemade Hamster Toys

Hamsters are the smallest pets that can be kept in the house. Usually, they spend almost their entire existence in a cage. But that doesn’t stop them having fun. There are as many ways to play with them as with other larger animals. To do this, you can build homemade hamster toys.

Safe and easy to build hamster toys

As always, before offering an item to your pets, whether they are as small as hamsters or as large as horses, you must first make sure they are extremely safe.

First of all, it is good to know which products and materials are possibly toxic and to be avoided. One piece of advice we want to give you is never to use plastic. Furthermore, it is also not good to use glues, paints or other chemical preparations. In fact, if your rodent bites or gnaws them, it could die of poisoning.

A hammock

A hammock is a nice accessory that you can place in your hamster’s cage. It provides a place to climb, to sleep suspended in the air. But it can also function as a platform to play on.

To build a small hammock, you will only need a rectangle of fabric. Better if it is resistant and does not fray. For example, the cotton of a shirt or fleece . With a couple of stitches, you can sew four laces at different angles. You can also use simple clothespins to tie the hammock inside the cage.

Cereal bars to gnaw on

One of the basic needs of a hamster is to gnaw. If you don’t give him things to scratch with his teeth, he will end up relieving stress in a worse way. For example, gnawing on the bars of the cage or its toys. Therefore, a snack bar of cereal is a great pastime for hamsters, healthy and safe.

To make one, you will need the following ingredients:

• Flour.
• Water.
• Seeds. There are so many that you can use different ones, every time. For example cereals, nuts, flax seeds, corn, sunflower seeds, wheat bran, oats, sesame …

All of these ingredients must be raw. Therefore, you will need to discard any additional ingredients, such as honey, and check that these grains are neither salty nor roasted. Sugar is very bad for animals and every possible cause of discomfort must be avoided.

1. Add the flour to the water, until you get a dough similar to bread.
2. Then, add the rest of the ingredients to the pasta and mix everything.
3. Finally, use the mass to create bars and bake at 200 degrees until you get a visible golden brown.

The time will depend on the thickness of each bar, but keep in mind that its size will have to take into account the size of your hamster, otherwise it will not be able to bite it. Before offering him the bar, let it cool completely. Seeds and grains accumulate a lot of heat and could be hot.

A new house

Surely your pet already has a small house to sleep in. But, of course, you can easily improve it. In addition, you can build more houses, which will make the hamster cage more interesting to discover.

As you know, hamsters love hiding places and if you have time, you can build a real house. Maybe with several floors, joined by ramps, where the rodent can run and play. Try to create rooms with lots of windows and holes. This will allow him to enter and exit, each time in a different way.

There are no boundaries to the imagination and this activity will allow you to be extremely creative. Regarding the materials, we recommend using cardboard, wood, papier-mâché … These are generally very popular products among those who dominate the art of  DIY . You can also use recycled materials, such as toilet paper rolls or ice cream stakes. Better not to overdo it with glue and, we repeat, better to avoid paints.

Tunnel

These are, most likely, the simplest and cheapest homemade hamster toys . You just need to install a cardboard tube inside your rodent friend’s cage. You can use the roll of  paper towels or toilet paper: there is nothing more convenient and faster.

This material is safe and can be nibbled without problems. Plus, you can replace broken or bitten tunnels practically indefinitely. If the space of your hamster is large enough, you can create many tunnels and galleries that your friend will love very much.

Platforms and ramps

The platforms add space to the cage and turn it into an authentic amusement park . Adding more floors or levels will increase the area through which the hamster can move. And, since they are animals that love to climb, they will be much more comfortable in the new environment.

The easiest way to add multiple levels to a cage is to choose platforms with supports. For example, a small wooden board to which you can screw four legs. If you have small wooden boxes, simply place them next to each other.

Don’t forget to create ramps to allow the hamster to get on and off the new platforms. Use sturdy cardboard, wood, ice cream sticks and other non-toxic materials . In an instant, your hamster’s cage will have a lot more surface area and you can add even more self-made toys, like a new home or something to explore.

Homemade hamster toys are a simple, inexpensive, and fun way to make your little rodent’s life less monotonous. They too have a right to have fun and play with new things. A hammock, a house, a maze or tunnels are the ideal solution to improve the life of the hamster at home.