Plan a happy & healthy home for your new hamster

Small, playful and easy to keep, it's no wonder that hamsters are one of the favourite first pets chosen by children and their parents. But if you are thinking of buying a hamster make sure you plan a happy home before you select the resident. To help you to do this, www.petclubuk.com, a fact packed new pet lovers website, provides detailed information on the most popular hamster breeds and access to a wealth of advice on keeping your furry friend healthy and contented.

Having your new pet's housing fully prepared before bringing it home will minimise stress. There are many different designs available, from metal-barred 'mouse' cages with bars sufficiently close together to prevent escapes, to ventilated plastic boxes. Most importantly, choose one where your hamster can easily exercise and climb. Hamsters love to play and to nest in hideaways which can be as simple as a cardboard toilet roll or a small box you insert yourself.

You can also buy purpose built add-ons like tunnels, wonder wheels and room extensions. Like us humans, hamsters enjoy having separate living and sleeping quarters, so consider a home with an attic bedroom.

Once you have purchased the home make sure it is safe, ventilated and escape proof. It is important to site the cage out of direct sunlight and to keep the temperature fairly constant because hamsters easily become over-heated and dehydrated. You then need to get the following ready:

• A water bottle - not a bowl because the hamster could fall in and be unable to get out and the water can spill. Always make sure there is a daily supply of clean and fresh water.
• A food dish, a heavy ceramic dish to decrease the likelihood of food spillage.
• Toys - a wheel is one of the essential and much-loved toys, but must be sufficiently large so that the spine of a large hamster is not excessively bent.
• Food - a hamster mix containing the necessary nutrients.
• Litter - sawdust or shavings to soak up urine.
• Bedding to nest in - soft shredded paper is okay but avoid newspaper as the printing inks can be poisonous. Fluffy bedding may look appealing but can cause tummy problems if chewed and swallowed.
• A hamster ball for vigorous rolling exercise outside the cage.
• A couple of safe and yummy treats for your little friend.

Research is vital before purchasing a hamster because these friendly, responsive pets vary in size, colour, coat and temperament.

Favourite Dwarf varieties include Campbell's Russian, Winter White and Chinese. The tiniest and most playful of the smaller hamsters is the newly popular Roborovskii, which can measure just 5cms long. The nimble, energetic Dwarf varieties are hugely entertaining pets to watch at play in their homes, but this also means they need skilful handling outside their cage to avoid escape from your grasp!

One of the most popular breeds is the Syrian, also known as the Golden Hamster, the largest variety at 13cms in length. It is ideal for younger children, as its size makes it less vulnerable to unintentional careless handling and it moves less quickly than the Dwarf hamsters.

Don't be tempted to add a buddy for your hamster if you buy a Syrian. They need to live alone otherwise fighting will break out, which could result in injuries or even death. Dwarf varieties may be kept alone or in single sex pairs or groups, provided they are introduced at a young age. In all cases don't mix males and females unless you intend to breed them!

Visit www.petclubuk.com for free information to help you choose a hamster and kit out its home. If you want to share issues or photos with other hamster owners, there are specialist forums and photo galleries where you can voice your opinions, offer tips, pose a question, post a photo and enter competitions. If you register as a member, there are also discounts on every product in the site shop. A handy feature is the ability to place recurring orders for customers who want a regular monthly supply of food or treats for their pets, to be delivered on a regular basis.

"Hamsters and other small animals like rats, guinea pigs and rabbits make ideal pets for children," says PetClub UK founder Chris Jones. "Keeping pets is an excellent way for children to learn about responsibility, as well as helping them to develop a kind, caring attitude towards both animals and people. They can also gain valuable life skills such as patience, understanding and nurturing ability."

Children should always know from the start that a hamster's life expectancy is little more than two years and that over-feeding and too many treats can pose risks to its health. Specialised food for hamsters is available that ensures a nutritionally balanced diet which is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. They should also be aware of what's good and bad for their pet to eat to help ensure their hamster has a healthy and long life.

A common mistake is to re-fill the food bowl when it is empty, not realising that hamsters store their food in their cheek pouches and hide it in their bedding. You can supplement your hamster's daily diet with a small amount of carrot, cabbage, celery, cauliflower or broccoli but don't leave these foods in the cage for more than a day.

Treats are fine to give in small quantities and occasionally but too many can give hamsters an upset tummy and cause them to become unwell. Don't give your hamster acidic fruits such as oranges, rhubarb and tomatoes and avoid lettuce. High water-content Iceberg lettuce in particular will fill the hamster up quickly, yet it has very little nutritional value and can cause liver and kidney problems.

Once you have set up your hamster's new home and bought your pet, allow it to settle in without disturbance for the first two to three days. Then you can begin to interact and bond and will have an outstanding companion to enjoy.