Every week, Talking Points gives you a worksheet to practise your reading comprehension with exercises about the story we’ve written.
Hamsters are common pets today, but that hasn’t always been the case.
These rodents only became popular after biologist Israel Aharoni found a nest of golden hamsters in Syria in 1930. His goal was to study these creatures. After they bred successfully in captivity, they spread around the world. The golden hamsters we see today are descendants of the animals Aharoni found.
Golden hamsters were originally from hot, dry places and had to run long distances to find food. They store their food in their cheek pouch so they can run quickly with it.
Over the last 90 years, hamsters have changed a lot as they have adapted to their new habitats: cages. But some instincts remain, such as carrying food in their cheeks and running. Understanding these behaviours helps us create good homes for pet hamsters.
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Creating a happy home
Avoid wheels with spaces or metal to keep your hamster safe. Their legs can get caught in the wheels, causing bone fractures.
Hong Kong’s weather is very humid compared to dry deserts. This makes it easy for bacteria and yeast on their bodies to multiply. It’s important to pay attention to their bedding.
People try to recreate hamsters’ sandy burrows with wood shavings. But these contain oils and dust that can cause breathing problems. Some shavings are sharp and can cut the critter when they burrow.
Instead, use absorbent paper strips and change their bedding at least once a week. You can also use a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in the air.
To ensure the furry creatures do not hit the cage’s hard base, have at least 10cm of bedding for them to burrow into. Make sure to add a small, enclosed space where they can hide and sleep, like a box.
Most hamster species are strongly territorial, so do not house them together in the same cage. They might fight and hurt each other.
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Helping your hamster thrive
Hamsters are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day. They are also deep sleepers, so never wake them up suddenly. They get startled easily and might bite you. Approach them calmly and make quiet noises so they know you are nearby before you pick them up.
Cartoons often show hamsters eating seeds. But it is like junk food for them, so don’t give them too many. The fat in the seeds can make hamsters sick.
Their main diet should include pellets from brands recommended by vets and made from Timothy hay, barley, wheat, and grains.
You can also offer fresh food such as a piece of broccoli about the size of your fingertip, one or two edamame beans and a thin slice of carrot. Remember, a hamster’s stomach is only about 3.5cm long and 2cm wide. Feeding them too much fresh food can lead to stomach problems.
If your hamster chews on their cage a lot, that means they are bored. Keep them busy by giving them tunnels to explore or a box filled with bedding and treats that you change often.
Hamsters live for about two years, so cherish every moment with them. When you give them a comfortable home, a balanced diet and enough activity, they will thrive.
Answers provided by Dr Angel Ngo, a general practice and emergency veterinarian at VetiVa Centre For Animal Wellness.
To test your understanding of this story, download our printable worksheet or answer the questions in the quiz below.
