DIY hamster cage – Build your own enclosure for small rodents
- Difficultymedium
- Cost200-250 £
- Duration5 h
Introduction
Hamsters are small, fluffy and cute animals that make for fantastic pets. However, like any pet, their unique needs must be looked after to ensure they live a happy and healthy life. The right enclosure is essential to ensuring this.
Unfortunately, many commercially available models can be constricted, which can cause your pet discomfort and anxiety. Excessive gnawing on wood, plastic, or even glass can be a sign that the enclosure is too small. One of the best ways to avoid this is to build your own homemade hamster cage. We will show you exactly how to achieve this in our step-by-step guide.
In the chapter "Planning & Background Knowledge" we also have many useful tips on species-appropriate DIY hamster enclosures and how to get creative with your design choices.
If you are an animal lover in general, you might be interested in our other DIY ideas for dogs, cats, birds and more. Available guides include how to build your own rabbit hutch and making a chicken coop.
Let's get started – How to build a hamster cage: Step by step
Are you familiar with our 18-volt-system? It includes numerous devices for a wide variety of applications. All compatible devices can be powered from a single, detachable 18-volt battery. Simply disconnect the battery, plug it into another device from the system and continue with the next step.
Safety first! Be sure to take the necessary health and safety precautions to protect yourself from injury. Read our overview of DIY safety precautions for important tips and guidance.
Now it is time to build your own hamster cage and see what a difference it makes to your pet’s play, sleep and relaxation time.
Obtain and prepare materials
First, cut all materials to the correct dimensions (see material list) if you have not already done so at the hardware store. The best way to do this is to use a hand-held circular saw or a jigsaw. If you are unsure about the correct way to use these tools, check out our saw video tutorials.
Next, you should smooth the cut edges with a grinder tool, such as a random-orbit sander, so that you do not risk getting splinters while assembling your DIY hamster home. Check out our video tutorial on using grinders for some useful tips.
Connecting the floor to the back wall and side panels
For the first step, drill the base plate and the plate for the back wall with a cordless drill/driver. Five holes in the lower edge of the back wall and five holes in the corresponding places on the base plate should be sufficient. Then, fix the base plate of the DIY hamster cage to the back wall. To do this, place the back wall on top of the rear of the base plate and align the holes. Since the screws must be screwed through the underside of the base plate into the rear wall, you’re going to need an extra pair of hands for this step. One person needs to hold the plates in place while the other screws.
Repeat these steps for the side plates and then affix both to the rear plate.
Mounting the front
First, screw the wooden slat horizontally to the front edge of your DIY wooden hamster cage from below and through the side walls. Then, attach the square timber vertically and in the centre, behind the wooden slat.
Next, glue the U-profile rails to either side of this central pillar with silicone, as well as to the side walls so that they align on both sides. These will be used to hold the acrylic sheets and must be aligned precisely.
Attach the lid for the DIY hamster cage
In this next step, we will be constructing the lid out of a wooden frame and wire. Hamsters like to climb so, even with smooth wooden walls, it is possible that you will find your hamster scaling the wire roof. To prevent injury to your pet, ensure that the wire is attached from the outside using staples or tacks. Fixing the wire to the inside of your hamster cage would be an unfortunate DIY mistake.
Attaching the wire from the top might not look aesthetically pleasing, and it can pose a risk of injury if sharp edges are exposed. To solve this, you can build a second frame to secure above the edges of the wire.
Once you have constructed the lid, screw two hinges to the lower side and to the corresponding places on the back wall. This way you have easy access for cleaning and taking care of your pet.
Glueing the floor and finishing the front
Place the acrylic glass on the base plate. The acrylic glass serves as protection for the wooden floor and is much easier to clean than wood.
Finally, slide the acrylic front panels into the U-rails. And that is how to make a hamster cage in five simple steps!
Looking to invite another furry friend into your family? See our pet guide to help you decide which one to get next!
Do you also already own a cat? Then you might be interested in building a home for your cat as well, or maybe a DIY scratching post.
Of course, we can’t forget about man’s best friend. Want to try your hand at building your own dog kennel and creating a stylish dog bowl? Or how about making your own pet toys that both cats and dogs can enjoy?
Planning & background knowledge: DIY hamster cage
Cute hamsters enrich the lives of animal lovers big and small. However, prior to buying a new pet and before you start to make a hamster cage, you should make sure you are well-informed regarding how to care for a hamster.
How do you make an enclosure that is truly appropriate for the species and what creative DIY hamster cage ideas can you sensibly incorporate? Read on to find out.
Facts about hamsters
Hamsters are a subfamily of mice and there are around 20 different species in total. They are widespread in Europe and Asia. Most live in deserts and steppes but the European hamster is most at home in cornfields.
The size of the animal varies depending on the species: dwarf hamsters can be as small as 10cm long, while European hamsters can grow up to 35cm in length.
Hamsters are solitary creatures and only come together during the mating season. In contrast to other animal species, your hamster is perfectly fine on its own - provided you make a hamster cage that is large enough and species-appropriate.
Hamsters are nocturnal and therefore might not make the ideal pet for children. At night, they create underground passages and chambers, so your DIY hamster cage should definitely offer enough space and opportunities for digging.
How much exercise does a hamster need?
Hamsters should be allowed out of their cages regularly to explore and get the exercise they need. Ideally this should happen once a day. If you are going to let your hamster loose in your home, pay particular attention to any potential sources of danger such as plugs or cables.
Alternatively, you could put your skills to the test by creating a hamster playpen to accompany your DIY house.
What food does a hamster need?
Hamster food should be as natural as possible. Commercially available feeds that are artificial or sweetened are not suitable. Seeds and grains are some of the most popular natural hamster feeds. Herbs, flowers, insects or dried vegetables are also suitable.
What is the ideal temperature for hamsters?
Unlike humans, hamsters cannot regulate their temperature by sweating. The ideal temperature for most hamster species is therefore between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. At temperatures below 16 degrees, a hamster's physical processes slow down, potentially leading to life-threatening hibernation.
Temperatures above 25 degrees are also unbearable for hamsters. If you intend to keep your DIY hamster cage upstairs or you live in an attic apartment, you should be particularly vigilant of temperatures getting too high.
So, how do you make a hamster cage more suitable for different temperatures? You could add a ceramic cage or similar shelter where your hamster can nest during colder months. Or sand can be refrigerated first before being placed in the enclosure to cool the temperature down.
Be aware, fans are a no go because the constant draught can cause a hamster to catch a cold.
How big should a hamster cage be?
Species-appropriate husbandry, in particular the right enclosure size, is essential for your hamster to live a happy life.
Hamsters are extremely active and need ample space to walk and exercise in general. Despite their small size, hamsters need an area of at least one square metre. The cage should also be at least 70 cm high to incorporate climbing opportunities.
What equipment should I have in my hamster cage?
Precisely because hamsters are solitary animals, they need a lot of variety in their environment. Since they love to dig, they need ample and suitable bedding. You can make your own mixture using small animal litter, mixed with hay and straw. A sand bath is also a must.
A running wheel and similar toys help to meet the rodents' curiosity and desire to move. They should be high-quality and made of natural materials. They should also not make a noise. As hamsters are nocturnal, they are likely to make the most noise at night, while you are trying to sleep.
Hamsters also need a suitable sleeping house as a place to retreat and stay warm while sleeping. It should have several sleeping chambers to mimic their natural burrows and be lined with bedding, straw and pulp.
What layout is suitable for a homemade hamster cage?
A species-appropriate hamster cage consists of several areas:
- An open area which offers space to move around. You can also integrate a sand bath here, where the little rodent can rest and cool off.
- In addition, there should be at least one, but preferably several hiding places for the animal.
- Hamsters are excellent climbers, which should be accommodated for. For example, you could build a climbing area with roots or pieces of bark.
- And finally a digging area. The bedding should be at least 20-30 cm high to allow the hamster to burrow.
As you can see, it can quickly get crowded in the hamster cage. Provided the rodent can spend several hours a day in a larger run, a floor area of one square metre should still be sufficient for the cage.
How often should I clean the hamster cage?
Hamsters typically have certain "toilet corners" that you should clean daily. The rest of the bedding usually remains quite clean. You should replace them gradually and only occasionally. The rodents can come under considerable stress if they find their "nest" has been completely replaced.
How to make your own hamster cage more creative and personalised?
You could treat your DIY hamster cage project as an upcycling opportunity. An old shelf, a disused wardrobe or even an unused aquarium could serve as the basis for the cage.
Just make sure that the item you choose to upcycle has enough floor space for the hamster. Shelves with a shallow depth, for example, are too narrow for a hamster cage. On the other hand, wider shelves or wardrobes are well suited because they allow you to create a true climbing paradise over multiple levels.
Or you could build your own DIY wardrobe for the express purpose of transforming it into a hamster pen. Then, you could add transitions between each level with ramps and tunnels and replace the door with a wire mesh covering.
If the idea of converting an aquarium into a DIY hamster tank appeals to you, you must make sure that there is enough air supply.
Caution: Many pieces of furniture are either coated or varnished. Wooden parts that could be exposed to hamster teeth should be thoroughly sanded down and treated with suitable, animal-friendly varnish. Untreated wood is unsuitable because it absorbs moisture.
What materials are suitable for building a hamster cage?
Find the best materials you can use to build your own hamster cage below, as well as what advantages and disadvantages each material offers:
Material | Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|---|
Wood |
Easy to build with Relatively inexpensive |
Prone to gnawing Not transparent Requires regular care |
Plexiglass |
Robust Transparent Easy to care for |
Poor air supply |
Glass (e.g. an aquarium) |
Perfect for high bedding Durable Transparent |
Poor air supply |
Grating/Wire | Good air supply |
No protection against draughts Often varnished and therefore toxic Outside environment gets dirty faster because bedding falls through the wire |
With the right mix of different building products – as seen in our instructions – your homemade hamster cage can be built to make use of the distinct advantages of each material.
Cost of a home-made hamster cage
How much your DIY hamster cage will cost in the end depends on several factors. These include material, equipment and size. For a similar enclosure to the one we built in our guide, you can expect a cost of around £200-250, depending on the materials. An approx. price breakdown is as follows:
- Plywood beech boards: approx. £120 (£60/sqm)
- Acrylic glass boards: approx. £80–100 (£55/sqm)
- Wire: £8–10
- Silicone: £8–12
- Wood screws: approx. £5
- Wood varnish: £15–25
You can always save money with cheaper quality wood but, of course, that will impact the quality and longevity of your hamster cage.