New Taipei City’s Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office yesterday marked World Hamster Day by advocating for proper care of the pet rodents.
Recently in New Taipei City’s Yingge District (鶯歌), a hamster required veterinary treatment after it accidently ingested a foreign object, the office said.
The hamster was unable to open its eyes and was breathing weakly, and vets found it had an object stuck in its intestines, it said.
Photo courtesy of the New Taipei City’s Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office
After receiving treatment, the hamster recovered and was put up for adoption, it added.
According to the office, hamsters have an average lifespan of two to three years and are nocturnal omnivores, with a diet consisting mainly of grains, as well as vegetables, fruits and protein.
Hamster owners should follow five key principles, the office said.
First, provide each hamster with an enclosure of at least 60cm by 40cm, as hamsters might fight if kept in an enclosure together.
Second, provide enrichment such as exercise wheels inside the enclosure, as well as a safe substrate that they can dig into and create hiding spaces to reduce stress.
Third, avoid washing hamsters with water to prevent hypothermia and other risks.
Fourth, ensure hamsters maintain a healthy diet and do not ingest unknown foods or objects.
Fifth, regularly check enclosures are secure, as hamsters might chew the cage and attempt to escape.
Hamsters are strictly prohibited from going outdoors alone, with contraventions subject to fines of up to NT$15,000, the office added.
New Taipei City has launched a program to incentivize people to register pets that are not dogs or cats.
Until the end of this year, the first 500 people who register birds, rabbits, snakes, turtles or rodents and download the “New Taipei Life” app would receive NT$300 in New Taipei City vouchers, which can be used at the four major convenience stores, the office said.
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