Keeping Hamsters As Pets | RSPCA - RSPCA

There are 24 species of hamsterand they belong to the family Cricetidae. The Syrian, Russian Dwarf Campbell and Roborovski breeds are the most popular for pets.
Hamsters enjoy exploringand use their whiskers to help them sense objects in their environment.
A hamster's teeth never stop growingand they have a 'self-sharpening' system where the incisors grind against each other while gnawing, which wears the teeth down.
Hamsters are nocturnal, with large eyes and a retina dominated by rods - the part of the eye that can function in lower light.
Not all hamsters are sociable- in the wild, Syrian hamster adults generally live on their own in their burrows. Other species, such as the Russian dwarf, naturally live in groups.

Why not have a read of ourfull Hamster fact file?

Understanding your hamster's needs

Find out everything you need to know about keeping hamsters as pets in our series of handy guides to hamsters, including their:

You can find even more about looking after your pet hamster in our guide tohow to take care of your hamster.

Making sure your hamster has a suitable place to live is the first step to keeping your pet healthy and happy.

To give your hamster a happy, healthy life, here's what to do to give them the care and attention they need.

Here are our tips for making sure your hamster has the diet they need to stay happy and healthy.