Hamsters are among the most commonly kept small pets but suffer routinely from enclosures far too small for their needs, leading to chronic stress and shortened lifespans.
The gap between common hamster husbandry and evidence-based best practice is enormous and causes widespread, preventable suffering in millions of animals. Hamsters sold in pet stores as suitable for small cages are the same species that roam kilometers nightly in nature. Providing a large enclosure with deep substrate, an appropriately sized solid-wheel, and hiding areas transforms hamster welfare dramatically. The cost difference between appropriate and inadequate housing is minimal.