I love hamsters. I think they make great pets for adults and children alike. Some people complain that because they are nocturnal that can cause problems, but I actually think that is an asset as they are lively in the evening when you come home from school or work. Besides they have cute little hands like people, who couldn't love an animal that can actually sit there and hold it's yoghurt drop treat whilst it takes a nibble.

Anyway I digress, today I want to tell you about what I look out for when selecting a cage, and there are some key points to remember, so that both you and your new little house-mate are happy.

Firstly there are several different types of hamster cage, the ones that are made up of pods and tubes that you can continually add to or the more traditional square ones.

I think this is more a personal choice as to which design you prefer, so to each their own. You must however make sure that the size of the cage is right for your breed of hamster, for example a Syrian is going to need a lot more legroom that a little Russian.

If I am choosing from the more traditional cages available I tend to go for ones that have a nice deep plastic base, this stops your little monster from kicking his nice fresh sawdust all over the floor. They are hard to find but I also like the ones where the top is made of clear plastic, as this cuts down on gnawing on the bars. However these ones tend not to be that large and may suit Russians better.

Make sure that the bars of any cage are small enough that the hamster is not able to slip through them and that any exits seal securely. You will realise the importance of this if you have ever tried to retrieve a hamster from under a sink, at night, in a powercut. Not putting you off am I?!

Ok so the house is roomy and secure, let's now build in some playtime. There are loads of hanging ramps, hammocks, seesaws and all sorts of toys that you can add to your hamster's house and the more variety the better. They have to spend a lot of time in one place, apart from the time that they are with you, and they need plenty to keep them active. At the very minimum you should get a wheel as hamsters can travel extraordinary distances in the wild and they need the exercise.

So there you have some pointers on choosing a great cage. Above all have fun with it and spoil your little one - they deserve it.