Wordless Wednesday #11

Here are some photos of Willow being adorable as usual ;)

'Hello?..'

'I see you!..'

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Review - Large Supreme Hamster Play Fort

As some of you may know, for Christmas I got given a present for Willow, which is this lovely play fort, with lots of different rooms with tunnels leading into each of them, for Willow to explore in.

Today I am going to write my opinions of it, with both the positive and negative sides of it, before finally reaching my conclusion. I hope you like this review!

Name: Supreme Hamster Fort Large Play Maze Small Pets Hamster Dwarf (Rabbit?) Gerbil Mice

Brand: Supreme

Price: From £6 to £11, depending on where you buy it

Shop I bought it from: It was a present so I don't know where my parents bought it from.

First Impression:

I thought this looked really fun and perfect for Willow, though I was slightly worried that she would escape! It compacted easily which is great for storing, and was easy to put together.

I liked how simple yet fun it looked, and it was big enough to keep a Syrian hamster entertained and let her wonder around and explore.

Pros:

• It kept Willow entertained and she enjoyed exploring the different rooms
• It was easy to keep an eye on Willow while she ran around in it, and she didn't get bored easily
• It is made completely of cardboard, so if your hamster tries to eat it it won't harm your hamster (and knowing Willow, it's always important - seeing as she always tries to escape)
• You can use it for many different small pets: hamsters, mice, gerbils, rats etc.

Cons:

• It states that you can use it for a rabbit. Really? That is just ridiculous! A rabbit would definately never fit inside that. It is ridiculous. 
• After a few times of using it, Willow finally managed to work out how to escape... out of the sides of the fort. And once she learns something, she won't forget it and stop doing it... Never mind!
• She chewed some of the corner off, though it didn't go completely through to the other side so it doesn't really matter (pic above)
• £10 is quite expensive for some cardboard, though I have to admit it is quite cool..

I think this is a great toy, which is perfect for hamsters. I think this would be better/ more suited to smaller animals than Syrian hamsters, like dwarf hamsters or mice, as they wouldn't be able to climb up over the sides of the fort.
Still, I love the whole thing. It is such a cute idea, and you can put treats and toys in different rooms to keep your hamster or small pet entertained.

Overall, I give this hamster play fort 4 stars out of 5. :D

Myths and Misunderstandings

So today I thought I would just point out some basic myths and put them straight - as sometimes it is hard to know what is true and what isn't. Here are 3 myths I have chosen, but I can always do more if they are helpful!

Myth: Syrian hamsters can learn to live together/ 'my Syrian hamsters live together and I haven't had any problems so far so it is fine.'

Truth: Even in the wild Syrians never live together, so why would they in captivity? Syrian hamsters only come together to mate, then the male leaves almost instantly. They are together for sometimes only 10 minutes (though this depends on conditions etc.)The female hamster raises it's young on its own, without the male. The young then go and find their own place and territory, and the 'cycle' repeats.

They are solitary by nature, so they are solitary in captivity too. By putting your Syrian hamsters in the same cage it is asking for trouble, because they are bound to fight and hurt each other at some point. I know someone who put her two hamsters in the same cage, and one ate the other... So you should be really careful.

Remember - this only applies to Syrian hamsters.

Fights between two Syrian hamsters can lead to injuries, expensive vet bills, stressed hamsters or even death. Don't tempt fate and put them together - it just isn't worth it.
It is also easier for hamsters to catch illnesses from each other if they share a cage, so even if your hamsters do miraculously get on, it still isn't worth it.

Don't put your Syrian hamsters together. they won't be lonely, they will be fine.

Myth: Sunflower seeds are unhealthy and should only be fed as treats or not at all.

Truth: Many people think that sunflower seeds are unhealthy and too fattening for hamsters. Many people avoid them and only give them once in a while for treats. The truth is sunflower seeds are actually very healthy. They contain essential nutrients that help a keep a hamster's body healthy. Sunflower seeds help health in your hamster's heart and are cholesterol-lowering, so sunflower seeds are really great for your hamster’s well being. This myth probably started because someone fed their hamster too many sunflower seeds at the same time. It is the same as most foods - they are good in moderation, but too many can be unhealthy too. Most hamster mixes you can buy will come with the right amount of sunflower seeds in anyway, so you don't need to worry. Giving your hamster about three to six sunflower seeds a day or so will give your hamster the balance that they need in their diet.

(I use selective hamster food, and those are little hearts with things basically mashed up inside them. These should include sunflower seeds too, so don't worry. I occasionally give Willow some sunflower seeds too, but the selective hamster food also covers that nutritional value, so don't panic if you feed your hamster those!)

Picture via here.

Myth: Hamsters smell really bad

Truth: All animals will smell if they are not kept in a clean environment. Hamsters are not typically smelly hamsters, and often groom themselves and keep themselves clean at all times. They are tidy animals, and usually have special parts of the cage they use as their 'bathroom'. This is the area you should give extra-special attention to when cleaning it.
If the hamster is really smell, it is time to clean the cage. You should clean your hamster out around once a week, but you could always do this more if your hamster is really smelly.

If the cage is not well ventilated this may cause your hamster to smell as well. If this is the case then you may need to change or modify your cage to make it more comfortable for your hamster and less smelly for you.

Also, female hamster may give off a smell when they are in heat. Not all females smell strongly when on heat, but some do. If you are worried about this then you can always get a male hamster. But not everyone can detect the smell of a female hamster's heat anyway, so it isn't much of a problem. I never noticed anything smelly about Lolly or Willow, and they are/were both girls!

I hope this was helpful! Please comment if you want me to do more, cause trust me, there are plenty of crazy myths around!

Hamster Exercise Balls - Safe or not?

Over the years of me owning hamsters, I have heard many debates about whether these exercise balls are cruel. Personally I think that if you use the balls properly, and make sure you don't leave your hamster in there too long and you frequently check up on them, that these exercise balls are safe. I have had a many hamsters over the years and all of them enjoyed exploring and running around in their ball. However, there are still many people who think that these toys are cruel. So I have decided to share my views on hamster exercise balls, using some common arguments of people who think they are cruel.
No offense to the people who said these comments is meant, I just wanted to show my opinion through examples.

Wordless Wednesday #9

Hope you all head a great Christmas, and are enjoying boxing day!

Here are a few pictures of Willow in her bed - her hair has gone all spiky so she now looks like a punk hamster! ;) Bedhead or what?!

Have a great New Year and enjoy the rest of the holiday!

Hamster Christmas Present Ideas (I)

Christmas is fast-approaching, and I'm sure most of you have got your presents sorted, (or almost sorted anyway!), but have you remembered your pet/s?

I know for many people money's tight at the moment, but isn't it worth it to spend a few pounds on something small for your pet to spread the festive feeling?

I decided to put a few low-budget Christmas presents below, so that all pets can have a great Christmas without you having to pay an arm and a leg.

All the presents in this post are under £4, so enjoy!

1. Pudding hamster bed
    from £3.43

It's simple and fun. A sweet little bed which looks like a Christmas pudding, that your hamster can sit or sleep in!
Who cares how much your hammy uses it long-term, you can plonk it in their cage once a year (be sure to clean it!) and it makes a great little gift for the next few years to come! Hamsters may like to wash, sleep or play in it - and it is also great for some Christmasy photos!

2. Naturals - Christmas Cookies (for small animals)

    from £2.99

If your pets are anything like mine (i.e. Willow), I know that they love to eat food (or at least store their food, in Willow's case).

I was looking around my local pet shop, and found these great 'Christmas Cookies' for hamsters and small animals! One of the treats is even in the shape of a Christmas tree! What could be better?

It is also by 'Naturals', and can you guess what? They use 100% natural ingredients AND it's good for the environment!

So you get a happy and healthy hammy! :D

3. Small Animal Climb and Shred Christmas Tree

    from £3.49

I have been keeping hamsters for years, and if I know one thing about them, it's that they love to climb and eat things. And this fun little boredom breaker combines climbing and eating! Perfect!

It is a fun Christmas tree that your hamsters can climb, but it is also made out of something similar to corrugated cardboard so that your hamster can happily (and safely) nibble away at it after it has finished its climb! What a great yet simple idea!

I found the 'Naturals Christmas Cookies' and the 'Climb and Shred Christmas Tree'

from Animed pet shop (UK), in the small animals christmas gifts section.

I also found the Christmas Pudding Bed off Petmeds.co.uk.

Christmas pudding hamster bed pic. via here.

Small animal climb and shred christmas tree pic. via here.

Naturals Christmas cookies for small animals pic. via here.

How do you like the first installment of the 'Hamster Christmas Present Ideas'? If you like it, I will be doing another post shortly in time for Christmas!

Willow's weird sleeping habits...

My hamster is officially crazy. I know I already did a post about Willow's sleeping habits (Willow's Post - Sleeping...), but I simply couldn't resist doing a complete post on her sleeping habits  seeing as she often ends up sleeping in a hilarious way!

One time I saw Willow sleeping with her little nose poking out of her house - it was absolutely adorable (and of course, I quickly grabbed a camera and took a quick picture of her!)

I know that isn't that strange, but still, I thought it was too cute to leave off here.

Then I saw Willow sleeping with the lid completely off and bedding everywhere, which I assume happened because Willow stuffed her house so full of sawdust and bedding that the lid just popped off!

Another time I saw Willow sleeping in a pile of sawdust at the corner of her cage, because somehow she had managed to KNOCK HER HOUSE RIGHT OFF THE LEDGE! How Willow does these things I really do not know...

The last weird sleeping habit I have to report is that Willow was with her house over on one side, so it was tilted backwards.. She must have been having a bit of a kerfuffle in her house to knock it over like that!

And that's it to report about Willow's sleeping habits today.. I know - she does do some strange things! She just seems to be getting stranger and stranger by the minute! Oh well, I love her anyway!

Willow's Post - Sleeping...

I don't really have a lot to say today, except that it is nearly Christmas!

I have been happily munching away at food, running in my wheel, and sleeping my days away. And would you believe that it is now only 11 days till Christmas?

Hannah is popping to the pet shop this weekend to go and find me a present. I can't wait to see what it is! I hope it is something edible...

On another topic, I have been getting into some weird sleeping habits now.

I like to stuff my little house so full with sawdust and bedding so that the roof of my bed pops right off. Then I just carry on and go to sleep with the roof completely off - which Hannah says completely defeats the point of having a roof to the house...

I don't really get that cold, but I think Hannah worries that I will get cold if the roof comes off, so she is going to put slightly less bedding in so that when I add more sawdust my house doesn't explode...

Do your pets or hamsters have any weird sleeping or general habits?

Put them in the comments below!

- Willow x

Hamster Wheels

This is a brief but important post about hamster wheels. It does not take long to read through, but I think what this post says is important to any hamster or small pet owner, like mice, gerbils etc.

Intro

Most cages come with a 6 Inch wheel in them, but this is not big enough for an adult Syrian hamster. Syrian Hamsters require an 8 inch wheel (minimum)  to be able to run in comfort without arching their backs, and causing back problems or other problems for your hamster. A wheel should be available at all times to any small animal similar to hamsters.

Important

DO NOT  buy your hamster a metal running wheel. This can be really dangerous for hamsters, as they can get their feet caught between the bars and seriously injure themselves. They can also cause painful sores on hamster’s feet, called bumbles. Stick to smooth plastic wheels where their feet can’t get caught or damaged.

If you have a metal hamster wheel or a wheel smaller than 8", do not panic. Just replace the wheel as soon as possible so that your hamster does not get back or feet problems.

Hamster Cage Tour!

I have decided to do a cage tour, as Ann Paws said that she would like to see a full shot of Willow's cage in a comment under 'Wordless Wednesday #1', and I thought I probably should show my readers more about the essential items in a hamster cage.

Willow's cage is a multi-leveled glass tank-type thing. I think it was originally meant for mice, but it is suitable for hamsters too. Below are the photos of the whole cage, including all the different levels and descriptions of what is on each level. Enjoy!

Birdseye view of Willows cage (with the lid off)

Top level, with a hamster see-saw and food bowl. It is easy to put food in her bowl from here.

Second level of the cage. It has an 8" hamster wheel and a wooden chew toy.

 Third level of the cage. It has a house with bedding inside for Willow to sleep in,
and a wooden chew toy (I also put other toys in regularly).

Left side of the bottom level of the cage. I frequently change what is here,
but at this time there is a thick cardboard tube which used to be covered in hay for
hamsters to eat, but Willow ate all of it...

Right side of the bottom level of the cage. It has a vent so air can circulate around the cage.
I have a cardboard kitchen roll tube for her to climb in, and a Willow ball for her to chew.

This is the middle of the bottom level. It has a wooden hamster playhouse for
Willow to climb on, and it also has a little ladder leading up to the next floor.

Hope you liked having a look around Willow's cage, and feel free to comment as to whether you like it or not and what your hamster's cage is like!