Rabbit and Hamster Care: The Essentials

Rabbits and hamsters are popular small pets, especially in families with children. Neither is as "easy" as people often assume, though, and their needs are very different. A rabbit is sociable, long-lived (8–12 years) and needs plenty of space, whereas a hamster is a solitary, nocturnal rodent with an average lifespan of 2–3 years.

Rabbit care

Housing and space

Rabbits cannot be happy in a small cage. They need room to hop and run for much of the day.

• The enclosure should let your rabbit stand fully upright on its hind legs and take at least three hops in a row.
• Allow at least 3–4 hours a day of free-roaming in a rabbit-proofed room or a fenced pen.
• Protect electrical cables; rabbits love to chew.
• Avoid wire-floored cages, which can cause sore hocks (pododermatitis).

Diet

The foundation of a rabbit's diet is unlimited hay. Hay keeps the digestive system moving and wears down the constantly growing teeth.

• About 80–85% hay: timothy or meadow hay should always be available. Alfalfa is high in calcium, so limit it for adults.
• 10–15% fresh greens: romaine lettuce (not iceberg), parsley, rocket, dill, carrot tops.
• 5% pellets: about a tablespoon per kilogram of body weight is enough for an adult.
• Treats: carrots and fruit are sugary, so keep them to small rewards.

Health warnings

Rabbits are experts at hiding illness. Not eating or passing droppings for more than 12 hours is an emergency and may signal gut stasis; contact your vet straight away. Neutering also greatly reduces the risk of uterine cancer in does; ask your vet about the right age.

Hamster care

Housing and set-up

Hamsters generally need to live alone; Syrian hamsters in particular fight seriously once they reach adulthood.

• Give as much floor space as possible; at least 80 × 50 cm is a sensible starting point.
• Provide 15–20 cm of bedding made from paper or aspen; hamsters love to burrow.
• The wheel must have a solid running surface and, for Syrians, a diameter of at least 28 cm; a small wheel arches the spine and causes pain.
• Avoid pine and cedar shavings, which contain aromatic oils.

Diet

• A good-quality hamster mix or pellet should be the staple.
• Small amounts of broccoli, cucumber or carrot can be offered a few times a week.
• Never feed: chocolate, onion, garlic, citrus fruit or raw beans.
• Hamsters hoard food in their nest, so check daily for fresh food that is going off.

Daily rhythm

Hamsters are nocturnal. Waking them during the day causes stress and can lead to biting. Keep the cage in a quiet room out of direct sunlight and save handling for the evening. Hay, bedding and suitably sized wheels can be delivered the same day anywhere in Gaziantep.

Shared hygiene rules

1. Spot-clean soiled bedding every day.
2. Replace all bedding weekly for rabbits and every 2–3 weeks for hamsters; return a handful of clean old bedding so the hamster's scent trail stays familiar.
3. Refresh the water bottle or bowl daily.
4. Provide chew toys and wooden blocks, as both species have teeth that grow throughout life.

In short

For rabbits, space, unlimited hay and companionship; for hamsters, deep bedding, the right wheel and a calm night-time routine are the foundations of a healthy, happy life. Before bringing one home, think carefully about which species suits your lifestyle.