My Chinese Dwarf hamster, Thundercat, might be small, but she has a lot of big needs. The walls of her cage need to be washed every week with soap and hot water, including the tiny pieces like the tunnels and her favorite ball. The bedding should also be replaced at this time. I use a thick layer of natural pine shavings, layering enough so that she can burrow to the bottom and hide out underneath. After you cleaned the cage and replaced the bedding, you can put all her toys back inside, like the tiny hut and her miniature "dog house."
Now her hamster food needs to be topped off, and the empty shells of already eaten seeds must be discarded. Then, you should detach the water bottle from her cage and replace it with fresh water. Please give her some time to exercise by placing her inside her hamster ball and allowing her to roam free around the apartment, she thinks that's super fun. She'll get tired after a while and need you to place her back in her cage, though. Later at night if you settle down to watch TV, you should take her out and let her curl up in your lap, petting her really softly (you'll probably only be able to pet her with one finger since she's so tiny), until she falls asleep, but make sure you use the special furry blanket in my room--that one is her favorite because it's as soft as she is. If she starts to crawl all over you, be very calm and still, she scares easily.
Never, ever, drop a hamster--they are too fragile and their little bodies can't handle the impact of a fall. Let her crawl from one hand to the other, carefully alternating hands as she moves from one to the other, it's like a never-ending treadmill for hamsters, they love it. Remember not to ever let Thundercat crawl around on the floor without her ball, she can burrow inside anything and get lost. If she gets too crazy, place her back in her cage and close the hatch.
When you're done with Thundercat, simply wash your hands, and go about the rest of your day!
