Before you start keeping a hamster in an apartment, you must have asked yourself whether they are good pets for an apartment.
Are hamsters good apartment pets?
Hamsters are good pets for an apartment because they are kept in a cage, they are very quiet, and do not cause an unpleasant smell because they clean themselves.
Hamsters are great pets to keep in an apartment because they are not expensive to maintain, food and bedding are not expensive and they are easy to tame, unlike other larger pets.
However, some apartment owners have strict rules and do not allow you to keep hamsters in the apartment.
In apartments where hamsters are allowed, feel free to keep them because they are one of the best pets to keep in an apartment.
Can you keep hamsters in an apartment?
Hamsters can be kept in an apartment if the owner of the apartment allows you to keep pets.
In the apartment contract, it should be stated that you can keep a hamster so that you don’t have problems with the owner of the apartment.
You can keep hamsters in your apartment, they just need to have space for a cage and room to run in your apartment.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you keep a hamster in your apartment:
- hygiene
- space
- silence
So let’s read in more detail about all these things, so you know how to keep your pet in the right way.
Maintaining the hygiene of hamsters in an apartment
Maintaining the hygiene of hamsters when you keep them in an apartment is very easy because hamsters are very clean pets.
They groom themselves and you don’t need to wash them, except in rare situations when they have too much dirt, but that can happen once or twice a year.
Instead of a classic bath, it is enough to provide the hamsters with a sand bath, which is excellent for cleaning and maintaining hygiene.
The hamster will soil itself in the sand bath and clean itself. The only thing you will have to do yourself is to clean their bedding because hamsters poop and pee very often.
Space for keeping hamsters in an apartment
When you keep hamsters in an apartment, you should provide them with a cage or a plastic or glass tank.
If you keep several hamsters, you will need to have a separate habitat for each of them because they like to live alone, they don’t want to share the space with other hamsters.
If you try to keep two hamsters in one cage they will start to fight with each other and may get hurt.
In addition to a cage, hamsters also need space to run and play outside of it, so you will have to let them out of the cage for at least half an hour every day.
Of course, you will have to provide security before you let them out of the cage, make sure they don’t escape because then you will hardly get them back.
It is best to put the hamster’s cage in a corner of the apartment so that it does not take up much space, and the food can be next to the cage itself.
Obviously, a hamster does not need a lot of space to keep in an apartment, unlike other pets such as dogs.
Hamsters will not make noise when you keep them in an apartment
Hamsters are very quiet animals that will not disturb you or your neighbors.
Keeping hamsters in an apartment is perfectly fine, even when they make some noises like crunching, they are not loud noises that will be disturbing neighbors.
You can sometimes hear them biting the bars of the cage, but it’s nothing terrible. Just buy them a better quality exercise wheel so they don’t wake you up at night running on it and you’ll be fine.
Also, put toys inside the cage so that the hamster can have fun and not disturb you when you and your neighbors are sleeping.
Are hamsters considered apartment pets?
Hamsters are considered pets if you keep them in an apartment, so it is best if they are listed in the apartment contract.
Landlords may have strict pet policies, but they should still allow you to keep hamsters.
Most often, apartment owners do not allow you to keep larger animals such as dogs and cats, while pets such as hamsters, guinea pigs, and parrots should not be a problem.
You may be asked to pay more rent because you will want to keep a hamster in the apartment, but this is still an individual agreement with the owner of the apartment.
Can you keep a hamster in an apartment where pets are not allowed?
The answer to this question is depends, because it all depends on the owner of the apartment, and how flexible he is in terms of keeping pets like hamsters.
Landlords may not allow you to keep a hamster because of their no-pet policy, for the following reasons:
- Legal prohibitions – states like Hawaii and California prohibit keeping hamsters in apartments because they threaten the environment.
- No exception – because some owners don’t want to make an exception for you to keep a hamster, because they think that then other neighbors will ask to keep pets.
However, you should know that if you register your hamster as an emotional support animal (ESA), with the appropriate documentation, then you will be able to legally keep a hamster in the apartment you rent.
But in order to use this right, you will need a letter from an employee at a mental health institution stating that you need the hamster for emotional support.
Read more: What Are Alternatives To A Hamster Ball? Let’s Discover
Do you have to register your hamster when you keep it in an apartment?
Yes, you have to report the hamster when you keep it in an apartment so that you don’t have problems with the owner of the apartment.
You can try to hide your pet and not report that you keep it in an apartment, but that is a very risky move and you will be stressed all the time.
However, at some point, the owner of the apartment will find out that you keep a hamster and can terminate the lease agreement, and can also file a criminal lawsuit against you.
How much does it cost to keep a hamster in an apartment?
Keeping a hamster in an apartment can cost you from 10 dollars a month and up, depending on how much the owner of the apartment will ask you for your pet.
Some landlords require deposits of $200-$300 regardless of whether your hamster causes or not some property damage in the apartment you are renting.
However, most of the time, apartment owners demand a monthly payment for keeping a hamster in an apartment, because the deposit is a little more difficult way to reach an agreement.
Read more: Why Does My Hamster Sleep Out Of His House? Let’s Discover
Should keeping a hamster in an apartment be in the lease agreement?
When you rent an apartment, you should always make sure that your pet or hamster is part of the written lease agreement.
This is important to make sure that the owner of the apartment will not give you problems with keeping hamsters.
When the hamster is part of the lease agreement, the owner of the apartment cannot change his mind and cannot forbid you to keep a hamster in the apartment, because he will face criminal charges on your part.
FAQs
Is a hamster a good first pet?
Hamsters are great pets that can easily be your first pet to keep in your home, of course, you need to know how to take care of them so that they are happy and satisfied.
Are hamsters happy to be left alone?
Hamsters usually like to live alone, it doesn’t bother them at all, and they can be happy without the company of other hamsters. Syrian hamsters do not like to live in pairs with other hamsters, while Russian dwarf hamsters like to live in groups.
What is the friendliest hamster?
Syrian hamsters are considered the friendliest of all the hamster breeds, they are easier to tame and are unlikely to bite you. Syrian hamsters simply do not like to share their territory with other hamsters.
Conclusion
Hamsters are one of the best pets to keep in an apartment. They are very quiet, and clean and do not require much space for their storage and care.
Hamsters will not do any material damage to the apartment you are renting and you should have no problems with the landlords.
However, some apartment owners have a no-pets policy and may not allow you to keep them in the apartment.
Of course, do not be discouraged if an owner does not allow you to keep a hamster, because you will find an apartment in another place where you will have no problem and be able to keep your pet.
Read more: How Do Hamsters Defend Themselves? Let’s Find Out