Species: Dwarf Hybrid
Gender: Female
Est. DOB: 5 May 2025
Likes: Being nosey, porridge, and fresh veggies.
Dislikes: Being on her back, having her ears cleaned, and being grabbed shortly after waking up.
Fosterer’s Instagram: @deep.space.ham9
Feel free to shoot a DM over if you’d like to see the current enclosure set up.
Requirements:
Cage: Min. 90x50x50cm - As per HSS guidelines
Wheel: Min. 21cm - As per HSS guidelines.
PLEASE NOTE: She occasionally will pee on her wheel. You should wipe it down every other day. You will start to see it become opaque and nasty and you will know it’s cleaning time.
Bedding:
I use a mixture of the following bedding, however you only need one (1) kind of any of the stated paper based beddings. I personally enjoy mixing textures as I have access to various types via donations.
Tafit Hamster Paper Bedding (PLAIN WHITE)
Boxo Comfort Small Animal Bedding
However, since she has had skin issues and allergies in the past, it is recommended to make sure any bedding used is DUST FREE. Jonsanty Hamster Bedding (PLAIN WHITE) is another good dust free bedding. Oxbow unfortunately is not consistent with their bedding and packets can occasionally be very dusty.
Any HSS approved sand such as Niteangel, Sanko or Witte Molen.
Sand bath size should be at least 14cm in diameter or length.
NOTE: She is not super used to sand as for most of her fostered life she was housed in allergen free bedding and no sand due to skin issues. But she does enjoy occasionally using it and it does help her fur, so she should have it!!!!!
I would not recommend giving her any timothy hay or aspen shavings as she has never had them before and they could potentially trigger an allergic reaction which we absolutely do not want. The same goes for cocopeat.
Food:
Currently using a mixture of FatPouches Standard Hamster Seed Mix and Bunny Dream Expert Dwarf Hamster.
I encourage you to also get a foraging mix from FatPouches such as the Foraging Seed Mix or Delight Mix! This can be sprinkled and lightly mixed into the bedding every few days.
Alternative foraging choices can simply be another brand of HSS approved seed mix such as Rodipet brand to provide diversity in “healthy” feed/foraging.
I've also provided her with sprays like millet and flax. Millet sprays that are marketed towards pet birds are just as tasty for hamsters.
Enrichment:
At least 3 hideouts
Can be one large nesting area/chamber hideout and 2 smaller ceramic or cardboard hideouts.
She LOVES her cardboard tunnels! Often you can hear her furiously digging around in a long kitchen towel tunnel and it sounds like she’s playing the drums super duper fast. It’s very cute.
It is recommended she has enough bedding to properly dig around in. Please refer to the HSS website for further advice.
OPTIONAL: Non perishable treats and food hidden in bedding.
Profile:
Miss Hello Kitty has been through a LOT. From skin problems, to allergies, all while looking like she was being chewed on and spat out halfway. But that botak furless ham has blossomed into an adorably soft and sweet girl!
Miss Kitty loves to stick her head out whenever there’s noise about - she’s soooo nosey! She will even happily jump into your hand so she can get a closer look at what’s happening in the world outside her hideys. Give her a treat and a kiss, and she will give you a licky kiss back. She’s just the sweetest little thing! And if she’s not happy? You’ll just get some nibbles in response as if to say, “Hey! STOP IT!”.
Unfortunately she is a bit high maintenance due to her medical history, but she will never feel like a burden. She will make every day with her feel like a delight and even when you have to care for her skin, and watch her get upset, she will never make you feel like the bad guy.
IMPORTANT NOTE: She has had a history of bad skin and ear issues, and occasionally will get a little eye pimple. As a result she will need constant monitoring of her skin and ears. As advised by her primary care vet, she will need her ears wiped 1x per week with Dechra TrizUltra Keto Ear Solution, and the same solution to be used to wipe her body 2x per week. For the rest of the week, her body should be wiped with a little bit of saline to keep her clean since she has a horrible habit of sleeping in her own pee.
https://vetcentral.com.sg/products/dechra-trizultra-keto-ear-solution-118ml
