Welcome to Hamsters' Lodging

We offer hamster boarding services at reasonable rates for owners who are not able to take care of their hamsters when they are away on holidays etc.

We have also included free 2-way transport services as part of our package.

Please refer to Services provided for more information.

You may wish to visit our Facebook page for more pictures of our furry boarders =)

Diluted Lavender Vinegar to Clean Hamster Cages

Some of our boarders have tried our add-on service which involves washing of cage with diluted white vinegar solution and were wondering why Hamsters’ Lodging chose to use this ‘cleaning agent’. 

As pet owners ourselves, we were constantly on the lookout for items that are natural and non-toxic. The same logic applies when we are trying to maintain a clean living environment for our furry pals. White vinegar has been a popular household cleaning agent and it can also be used to clean/disinfect/deodorise the hamster cages with minimum effort. As the smell of white vinegar can be rather pungent, we chose to add dried lavender buds to ‘mask’ the scent. In addition, lavender has antibacterial and deodorizing properties, further enhancing the effectiveness of this cleaning agent.

We purchased our natural white vinegar from Phoon Huat (S$6+ for 2 litres) and dried lavender buds from Chinese medical halls (less than S$5 for a big packet). 

Steps to preparing the lavender vinegar:

1) Combine white vinegar and dried lavender buds in a glass bottle using the ratio of 4 : 1.

2) Place the glass bottle in a sunny spot for around 2 weeks.

3) Strain out the lavender vinegar and set it aside. You can continue to make another batch of lavender vinegar by adding dried lavender buds into the remaining soggy mixture in the glass bottle and top it up with white vinegar with the same ratio as stated in 1).

4) Dilute the lavender vinegar with water using the ratio of 1 : 3 and add the resulting mixture into a spray bottle.

5) Use to clean pee/ poo spots on hamster cages. Wipe the area with wet wipes to remove any remaining traces of the vinegar.

OR

For more stubborn stains, spray the mixture around the cage and leave it to soak for half an hour. Thereafter, rinse with water and wipe dry.

If your hamster tends to leave pee stains all over the cage and the pee odour does not go off even after numerous wipes, you may wish to give this diluted lavender vinegar soak a try. For more thorough cleaning, you can use the diluted lavender vinegar to soak and clean the cage. Any plastic portion of the cages would become sparkly clean.

The usage of this diluted lavender vinegar is not just limited to cleaning of hamster cages. You can also use it as a daily household cleaner. We have tried using it to clean our floor, remove irritating streak marks along the taps, clean the mirrors etc.

As for the wet wipes we use to clean the cages, we tend to look for those with natural ingredients. Currently, we get our supply from Qoo10 and it has been a satisfying experience so far. The Jeju wet wipes are moist, odourless and pocket friendly (800 pieces for S$20+). One piece of wet wipe is usually sufficient for us to wipe a hamster wheel and some pee spots around the cage.

We are away from 1 March 2014 to 15 April 2014

Thank you for your interest in Hamsters' Lodging.

We regret to inform that we are not able to take on any boarders during this period due to personal commitments.

We hope you will find a suitable boarding service for your hamster!

Thank you and have a nice day =)

恭喜发财 身体健康

Hamsters' Lodging wishes everyone a happy and prosperous 2014!

Cremation Service for Hamsters

Option 1: Mount Pleasant Veterinary Centre

Website: http://www.mountpleasant.com.sg/index.html
Address: Mount Pleasant @ Whitley (cremation service is only offered at this outlet)
232 Whitley Road Singapore 297824

Tel: 6250 8333 (24 hours)
Operating Hours:

Mondays to Fridays
9.30 am - 12.30 pm
2.00 pm - 4.30 pm
6.00 pm - 8.30 pm
Saturdays & Sundays
9.30 am - 12.30 pm
2.00 pm - 4.30 pm
Public Holidays
Closed

Mass cremation without ashes - S$21.40 (inclusive of GST)
Mass cremation with ashes in container - S$53.50 (inclusive of GST)
Private cremation with ashes in container - S$214 (inclusive of GST)
Above charges are not inclusive of transportation.

Option 2: Pets Cremation Center

Website: http://www.petscremation.com.sg

Address: 18, Pasir Ris Farmway 2 Singapore 519322
Tel: 6584 4844 / 6260 6260
Email: services@petscremation.com.sg
Operating hours: 24 hours

Individual cremation with ashes in simple urn - S$120
Individual cremation with ashes in urn with photo - S$180
Above charges are inclusive of transportation.

Option 3: Mobile Pet Cremation Services

Website: http://www.mobilepetcremation.com.sg/index.php
Tel: 9455 6355
Email: contact@mobilepetcremation.com.sg
Operating hours: 24 hours

Cremation with ashes scattered at sea - S$70 nett
Cremation with ashes in urn - S$140 nett
Above charges are inclusive of transportation.

Option 4: Pet Hotel

Website: http://www.pethotel.com.sg/cremation_columbarium.htm
Address: No. 20 Pasir Ris Farmway II Singapore 519317
Tel: 6582 2222
Fax: 6583 4986
Email: pethotel@singnet.com.sg
Operating hours: 9 am to 6 pm

Mass cremation without ashes - S$50 (inclusive of GST)
Mass cremation with ashes in a heart shaped container - S$100 (inclusive of GST)
Private cremation with ashes in container - S$250 (inclusive of GST)
Above charges does not include transportation.

Option 5: Tengoku

Website: http://www.tengoku.com.sg/
Address: 11 Pasir Ris Farmway 2, Singapore 519326
Tel: 6749 5039
Email: info@tengoku.com.sg
Operating hours: 24 hours

Single cremation with ashes in urn: S$280
Above charges are inclusive of transportation.

Option 6: Pet Mobile

Website: http://www.petmobile.com.sg/deceased-pet.html
Tel: 6462 6071 / 9099 8511
Email: sales@petmobile.com.sg / help@petmobile.com.sg

Mass cremation without ashes - S$85 (inclusive of GST)
Mass cremation with ashes - S$160 (inclusive of GST)
Private cremation with ashes - S$310 (inclusive of GST)
Above charges include transportation service (pick up from Mon to Sat between 9.00am to 6.00pm).

Note: The above information is accurate as of 18 December 2013.

Fresh Produce for Hamsters

Some of the fresh food items that can be added as supplements to a hamster's diet includes dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach leaves and long beans. Uncooked tofu is another excellent source of protein for hamsters. 

Please remember to soak the vegetables for at least 10 minutes in tap water to get rid of any pesticides. 

You can start off with thumb nailed sized portions once a week and gradually increase the frequency. 

Please note that you would have to remove any unconsumed portions after 2 hours for hygiene purposes. 

* Look at how focused they are, munching on the fresh produce

Pet Care During the Sumatra Haze - Hamsters

As a pet owner, I am naturally worried about the health status of my 2 hamsters, Fly and Nami.

They seemed to be more lethargic during this period, dozing most of the time but will return to their energetic selves whenever they hear food being added to their food containers. But their appetite do not seemed to be as good as before.

Basically, I treat my hamsters as if they are human beings during this critical period and have resorted to bring them in their cages to whichever location we happened to be in the house. If I feel that the room is getting hot and stuffy, I am sure they will feel the same too. For instance, if we are in the study room with the air conditioner/air purifier switched on, we will lug them along. Fly and Nami will usually become more active, eg: roaming about in their cages, digging here and there. Generally, the ruckus can be quite loud especially when they are with us in the air conditioned master bedroom and we are sleeping =(

I have heard of cases whereby hamsters have passed away during this haze period which makes me and my partner even more worried.

Generally, I would recommend pet owners maintain a clean air environment by closing all windows and doors and switching on fans/air-conditioners. If you do not have any air conditioner and would like to keep the home cool, you can keep the toilet area constantly wet (tends to dry up within a few hours) or even mop the entire unit. The evaporation process can really bring down the temperature of your living environment.

Please also ensure a constant supply of fresh water for your pet to keep them hydrated. You can also offer them a small portion of vegetables/fruits if they do not seem to be taking in much fluid.

Hamster as a pet

For me, the main purpose of having a pet is for companionship. I love the thought of having a special one waiting to welcome me back home, no matter what happens. The first thing that I do upon entering the house is to check on my pet and spend some time interacting with it before continuing with other stuff. It helps in relieving stress and it is one activity that I really look forward to other than eating or sleeping. 

Source: http://i399.photobucket.com

When I was still living with my parents, I was lucky in the sense that they did not have violent objections to me and my siblings rearing any pets. As a matter of fact, the first pair of hamsters we had was a gift from my mother's friend. I could still vividly remember the Syrian hamsters waiting at their cages' entrance whenever they saw us walking past the cages. They were really intelligent and friendly animals and form a part of my fond childhood memories. After settling into my own place, it is only natural to include them as part of my family.    

Source: http://hamsterbungalow.com

Hamster actually means 'to hoard' in Swedish. It is considered a rodent albeit a cute fluffy one. To me, a hamster is like a miniature version of a dog except for the fact that it does not bark which is a major plus point. There are quite a number of neighbours in my estate who own dogs and the incessant barking/howling at various hours of the day drives me nuts. This is especially made worse by the fact that new flats in Singapore tends to be more densely packed these days. 

Source: hammieluvr.wordpress.com

Hamsters are intelligent animals which have a high standard of cleanliness and the effort required by owners to maintain their living area is rather low compared to other pets (as the cleaning area is the same as the cage area). Keeping a hamster does not require much space as long as there is sufficient space to place the cage. The size of the cage is very much dependent on the type of hamster. Another important point to note is that the costs involved in keeping a hamster is not high. Due to its small size, the amount of feed needed and all other consumables are rather low. This makes hamsters an ideal pet for people who have a budget constraint and yet desire to have the company of a pet.

Despite the above points highlighted, there are certain instances where hamsters might not be a ideal pet. Hamsters will not be suitable for young children due to their small size. In addition, hamsters are not for someone who wants a pet to keep you company in the daytime as they are nocturnal animals. Another point to consider is that hamsters have short lifespan of around 2 years. 

I hope the above will help any future hamster owners in making your choice!

DIY Mini Garden - Fresh supply of vegetables for hamsters

Bought some seeds from Horti Flora which is stocked at NTUC Fairprice with the intention of growing wheat grass for my hamsters which are really fond of vegetables.

Decided to make full use of these toy capsules which have tiny holes at the bottom as part of my basic germination kit. Have also placed trimmed pieces of filter bags at the bottom of the toy capsules which will prevent soil from falling out. I am trying to germinate the seeds (consisting of wheat grass, lemon balm and sage) by spreading them on wet cotton wool. 

Growing Wheat Grass 

These seeds started to sprout within a few days and I have transplanted them to organic soil. The growing rate of wheat grass is rather fast. Average growing height is around 1 cm per day. It has been 2 weeks since I first started and the hamsters are enjoying the end products.

Usually I will trim around 2 cm portion of wheat grass, soak it before 'presenting' to Fly or Nami. I would recommend hamster owners to give it a try. The whole experience is quite a breeze and quite fun to see Fly snatching the wheatgrass from my fingers and chomping down in great delight. Nami is not so fond of wheat grass though.

Wheat Grass

Hamster Toys

Most hamsters have a tendency to chew on their cage/cage accessories especially if they are not provided with other options such as a chewing toy. Examples of chewing toys include toilet roll, cardboard boxes, apple sticks etc. These interactive items are easily available at low cost and will allow a hamster to satisfy its chewing and burrowing instincts. 

Chewing Toys for Hamsters

One toy which you can DIY from readily available materials at no cost is the "Food Tube". This toy can be created fuss-free within 5 mins. Your hamster will have hours of fun foraging and chewing away in search of food or treats.

The "Food Tube"

Step 1: Use the scissors to create slots in the shape of 'X' spaced along the length of the toilet roll.

Step 2: Push food or treats into these slots. 

Hamster Toy - Food Tube

Another hamster toy to consider is the hamster wheel which is considered a vital part of the hamster cage. It allows a hamster to exercise at all hours within the compounds of the cage.

Hamster Wheel

Other types of hamster toys include the exercise ball which allows the hamster to enjoy its daily exercise while it spins around the house. Please ensure that the exercise ball is placed within safe perimeters within the house (no uneven surfaces, etc. Please also ensure that the hamster stay in the hamster ball for not more than 30 minutes as there is no food and water source in the ball.

Hamster Exercise Ball & Hamster Cruiser

There are many other different types of hamster toys available in the market such as the Puzzle Playground below (you will have fun assembling the pieces too). You can also release your creativity juices and create your own hamster toys!

Hamster Puzzle Playground