Hamsters are popular house pets because they’re friendly, easy-to-care-for, and generally clean animals that appreciate love and affection from people of all ages.
Choosing a great cage for your hamster is one of the best things that you can do to make their life happy, comfortable, and entertaining. But did you know that most hamster cages available on the market today are designed for the large Syrian hamster? If you’re thinking of adopting a dwarf hamster, you’ll need to find a cage that’s better suited to their small stature.
Here, we compiled a comprehensive list of product reviews and guidelines to solve all your dwarf hamster cage problems!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall | Prevue Pet Products 528 Universal Small Animal Home |
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Best Value | Habitrail Cristal Hamster Cage |
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Premium Choice | Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage |
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Favola Large Hamster Cage |
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MidWest Homes for Pets Hamster Cage |
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The 10 Best Dwarf Hamster Cages
1. Prevue Pet Products 528 Universal Small Animal Home – Best Overall
Dwarf hamsters are well known for their escape artist tendencies and love of chewing through anything that they can get their teeth on. If you already own a dwarf hamster, you may have experienced these problems with the first cage that you bought for them.
Despite its unglamorous name, the Prevue Pet Products 528 Universal Small Animal Home is the best overall dwarf hamster cage. To start, the large plastic tub base is deep enough for burrowing and nesting but detaches for easy cleanup.
Any escape attempts are nullified due to the 3/8” wire spacing and hamster-proof locking mechanisms. Add in the side and top entry doors and an adjustable platform and ramp, and this enclosure is easily the most versatile and durable dwarf hamster cage you’ll find.
2. Habitrail Cristal Hamster Cage – Best Value
Are you a first-time dwarf hamster owner looking for a cage that won’t break the bank? If so, you’ll be interested in the Habitrail Cristal Hamster Cage, a budget-priced cage option that has everything that you need for one hamster.
What really makes the Habitrail the best dwarf hamster cage for the money is the wide variety of features conveniently located in one small cage. Complete with a wheel, ramp, feeder, and water bottle, all it needs is bedding and your hamster.
Measuring 16” long by 10” wide and 9 ½” tall, it’s ideally suited to one dwarf hamster. That said, if you plan on adding more hamsters to your home later, it’s equipped with a clever locking connector system that easily attaches to additional cages.
3. Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage – Premium Choice
If you’re looking to buy just one hamster cage that comes with everything that you need and is big enough to add more hamsters, you’ll need to be ready to make a large initial investment. For a long-lasting premium cage that’s fully equipped, the Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage fits the bill.
A large, deep plastic base sets the scene for a veritable playground of hamster toys. The included tunnels, exercise wheel, two houses, penthouse, and water bottle mean the only things that your hamsters will need are food, bedding, and your love and affection.
In short, the Savic Hamster Heaven Cage is pricey but for good reason: It’s the most fully outfitted cage that you can find for a dwarf hamster.
4. Favola Large Hamster Cage
An excellent option for anyone looking to adopt multiple dwarf hamsters, the Favola Large Hamster Cage is a generously sized home with thoughtful design features not found in most other cages.
Perhaps the most noticeable benefit is the deep see-through base. While other cages tend to obscure your view of your hamster, this one gives full 360-degree viewing. Along with the wide selection of included accessories, you’ll easily be able to see your hamster run, play, and eat in this cage.
That there’s only one door is the biggest downside of this cage. The somewhat noisy latch and awkward positioning can also make it more difficult to put your hamster in and take them out.
5. MidWest Homes for Pets Hamster Cage
This cage just might be the best option for anyone who wants to watch their dwarf hamster play all day long. The MidWest Homes for Pets Hamster Cage has a high-back play area that’s separate from your hamster’s main living quarters.
It’s a bit on the small side for a cage at this price but makes up for it with a clever design. The included suite of accessories is a nice touch, as is the ability to add on more modular pieces with connector tubes. Overall, it’s a fun option for anyone who prioritizes watching their dwarf hamster play.
6. IRIS 2-Tier Hamster Cage
Simple yet effective, the IRIS 2-Tier Hamster Cage might be a good option for anyone with limited space for their hamster’s home. Measuring about 18” long by 12” wide and 15” tall, it’s only suitable for a single dwarf hamster.
While it comes with everything that you need to care for your hamster and is designed to be easy to clean, it’s a bit too simple for most hamster enthusiasts. But for beginners and general hobbyists, it’s a good alternative to other small cages if they are not available.
7. Ferplast Laura Small Hamster Cage
Do you need a simple, easy-to-clean starter cage for your child’s dwarf hamster? The Ferplast Laura Small Hamster Cage may be the right choice. With long interactive tubes and easy front- and top-door access, this brightly colored kid-friendly option makes caring for a hamster safe and easy.
Appropriately sized for a single dwarf hamster, the deep plastic base is complemented by a tall wire cage and plenty of tubing. With an included home, exercise wheel, play tubes, food dish, and water bottle, all you’ll need to provide is bedding and a hamster.
The only downside of this cage doesn’t have anything to do with its construction—it’s the fact that it doesn’t come with instructions. Be ready for a bit of DIY time to figure out how to put it together!
8. GalaPet Hamster and Guinea Pig Cage Habitat for Small Animal With Accessories
Loaded with super bright, colorful toys, the GalaPet Hamster and Guinea Pig Cage Habitat for Small Animal With Accessories might be a good option for anyone with a dwarf hamster that can’t get enough stimulation. Big enough for one hamster but too crowded for two, it’s an oddly designed cage that sometimes feels like it’s built more for the owner’s enjoyment than the hamster’s.
Our main gripe with this cage is that the wide variety of “challenge accessories” included might be better suited to a larger enclosure. As it stands, the cage feels overcrowded even for our one small hamster. At a somewhat expensive price for the size, you would have to really enjoy the look to justify the extra cost.
9. Prevue Hendryx SP2060R Deluxe Hamster and Gerbil Cage
At first glance, the Prevue Hendryx SP2060R Deluxe Hamster and Gerbil Cage seems like a good option. Large enough for two hamsters and featuring two homes and a wheel. It also has a deep plastic base that’s easy to clean.
After a small amount of testing though, we cannot wholeheartedly recommend this hamster cage as a good option without serious modifications. The connections between the cage and tray are not well fitted, and we worry that our hamsters could be injured getting caught between them. It would have to be better secured to make it completely safe for use.
10. Kaytee CritterTrail Quick Clean Habitat
Normally, we’re happy to recommend products from Kaytee. However, the Kaytee CritterTrail Quick Clean Habitat simply has too many flaws to seriously consider encouraging anyone to use it.
First, it’s too small for anything besides overnighting your hamsters, and far too crowded by the large central wheel.
Perhaps more worrying though is the water bottle problem: We couldn’t get ours to stop leaking. If left unchecked, this can pose a serious danger to your hamster by soaking their bedding and cooling their body too much.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Hamster Cage
When you’re considering what type of cage to buy for your dwarf hamster, we recommend educating yourself on the following four features of small animal cages. By understanding how hamster cages differ, you can be better prepared to decide which cage is best for your house and your budget.
Size
One of the biggest benefits of dwarf hamsters may be their small space requirements, but this doesn’t mean you should skimp on their cage size! Before considering anything else about a cage, ensure that it’s the appropriate size for your pet.
As a rule, you should not have less than 1 square foot of space per hamster. That said, if it’s within your budget, it would be a wise investment in your hamster’s health and happiness to purchase a larger cage. With more room to roam, they will get more exercise and be in a better mood more often.
Wire, Glass, or Plastic?
The material of your hamster’s cage will determine a lot about how comfortable and durable it is, as well as how much enjoyment you’ll get from watching your hamster play inside.
Toys, Tunnels, and Wheels
Some cages come equipped with everything that your hamster needs to keep themselves healthy and entertained. This can include a variety of toys, tubes, and wheels for running through and playing with.
While toys are great for single hamsters, they can become a point of conflict for houses with multiple hamsters. They are territorial creatures, so taking care of multiple hamsters is often best accomplished with open floor-plan cages that have a select few toys.
Water Bottles and Food Trays
Lastly, make sure whatever cage that you choose for your dwarf hamsters is able to accommodate a water bottle or water dish, as well as space for bedding and food. The best cage will make it easy to clean up bedding, water, and food from the floor without having to take apart the entire thing.
Conclusion
For all your dwarf hamster cage needs, the Prevue Pet Products Animal Home is our best overall choice. Simply put, it has everything that your dwarf hamster needs, all in a durable and reasonably priced package. Anyone on a tighter budget should consider the Habitrail Cristal Hamster Cage as an alternative. Its small size means it’s best suited to a single dwarf hamster, making it an economical and well-outfitted choice for first-time dwarf hamster owners.
After reading through these reviews, which cage do you think your dwarf hamster will want to call home? We wish you the best of luck in finding the perfect home for your pet!
Featured Image Credit: Prevue Pet Products, Amazon