How To Make a DIY water bottle to Make Your Pet Feel At Home?
If you have a pet hamster, you know by now how innocent and loving this species is. It is a loveable companion and is easy to maintain. So, if you have got yourself a hamster, you can make a DIY hamster cage at home, using household stuff. Buying a hamster cage can be a little costly. Therefore, you can create one at home.
However, there are online platforms where you can buy a DIY cage, which can be a little cheaper than a factory-made one. A hamster is not a big animal. Therefore, you do not need an extra-large cage for your pet.
But you must keep in mind that there should be enough space for the little animal to run around.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to build your own hamster cage.
How do you make a homemade hamster cage?
If you are making a DIY hamster cage at home, you can easily use the readily available items in your house. You can use household items and make DIY hamster cage wood-made, DIY hamster bin cage, or DIY hamster cage storage box. By using things such as a bin, a storage box, bolts, nuts, an empty water bottle, and a wooden box, you can make one. Once you’ve gathered your base material, you can start making your DIY hamster cage. Here is how to make a hamster cage with household items.
Here are some of the DIY hamster cage ideas
You can make a DIY hamster cage using almost anything you can find in the house. But what you need to ensure is that the pen is safe. As long as the materials you use are harmless, you are good to go. It is vital to have your tools and materials in one place, so you don’t have to search for things later. Before you start setting up the cage, you have to make a list of things you will need and ensure they are all available. It will save you time, energy, money, and perhaps, sanity!
Hamster cage DIY – The materials you need
Making a DIY hamster cage ideally means using what you have in the house. Therefore, these models will mainly require the items that are available in any household. You need to understand that each of these items is there for a reason, and if you keep them ready first, you are going to have a cost-effective, excellent hamster cage!
The base material
For the base material, you can use a storage box, a storage bin, or a wooden box. You are going to build the hamster cage inside the base material you choose. Are bin cages good for hamsters? Nothing is good if they are going to harm your pet. Therefore, when selecting the base material, it is best to ensure that the material is harmless. It should be a clear box or a bin. The larger the box or bin is, the better it is for the pet. You can make a DIY Syrian hamster cage or create one for two dwarf hamsters. That is why you should make sure the box is at least 30” x 20”.
Wire mesh
This is primarily for windows of the cage. If you are using a bin or a storage box, you should cut windows to get ventilation. If you can find a gauge roll in the house, that would be sufficient to use as a window mesh. You can cut the windows in a wooden or storage box and paste the mesh for the air to circulate.
A water bottle
It is essential to have a water bottle inside your hamster cage. Building a DIY hamster cage means ensuring that all the supplies are available for the pet. Making a pen does not mean only a confined space.
A wire
You will need a wire so you can secure the water bottle and other items in the case. A two-feet long wire is more than enough to secure the water bottle and the toys.
Nuts and bolts
You can easily find nuts and bolts in the house. If you do not have any in the house, you can always purchase some from any shop. You will need nuts and bolts to fasten the mesh and other items to the wall of the bin or box. If you use nuts and bolts, it is more likely to last longer.
A wheel
You will need a plastic wheel because it is vital in a hamster DIY cage. If you have a Syrian hamster, you can use an 11- or 12-inch plastic wheel. If you have a dwarf hamster, an 8-8.5-inch wheel will suffice.
All the materials are necessary as they are used for a specific purpose. Without fulfilling the required items in the cage, your DIY hamster cage is not complete. Therefore, you must make sure that all the materials are available before you start making the hamster cage.
The tools that you require
These are the tools you will require to put the materials together. When assembling the materials into a cage, you might find that some of the tools are not available in your house. But buying these tools will still be cheaper than a DIY hamster cage for sale in a store.
A wire-cutter or a plier: You will need a wire cutter or a plier to cut the wire mesh. You will also need a plier to cut the wires when assembling the water bottle and other toys in the cage.
A knife or saw: You must get a knife or a small saw, depending on your base material. If you are choosing a wooden box, then you must get a saw to cut through it. If you use plastic or another material that can cut through with a knife, you will need a knife.
A Drill and bits: You will need a drill machine to drill holes in your hamster cage. It is necessary to create ventilation. Ideally, an 11/64 sized drill bit is more than enough to drill holes in the hamster cage.
A marker: You will also need a marker to draw the windows and sketch inside the cage. It is vital to draw the measurements before cutting anything in the base material. Drawing your measurements will ensure a neat finish.
Once you prepare all the materials and tools, you can start building your DIY hamster cage quickly. Preparation is always the more challenging part. Once you have everything you need, all you have to do is to assemble the items.
How to build an easy DIY hamster cage through easy steps?
If you follow each step, you can end up having a fascinating cage for your hamster. First off, if you are using a bin, you must remove the lid and keep the bin with the bottom facing up. It will ensure that your DIY hamster cage bin does not have hazardous edges. If you are using a wooden box, remove the cover or lid, and lay the box with the bottom facing up. It will show you if your DIY wooden hamster cage has any edgy areas. The same goes for plastic storage bins and boxes too.
Once you’ve confirmed that the lid or cover and the opening of the box or bin are safe, you can start. First, you must begin the cutting session. If you are making a DIY dwarf hamster cage, you will need two small-sized windows. If you are making a hamster cage for a Syrian hamster, you will need two medium-sized cages. When you cut the windows, you must remember to keep a strip in between, so the window can hold on without losing its strength.
You must remember that you need space for the screws later. So, when drawing the rectangle with your marker, please ensure you have space on all sides. Once you’ve drawn the rectangles, you will find it easy to cut through in a proper shape. The cutting session can be the most challenging part of the entire process. Once you have drawn your markings, you must carefully handle the knife or saw and cut, following your guidelines. Once you have the window frames cut, you can move to the next step.
The second step in making a DIY hamster cage
You will find out how easy it is to work through it when you have all the materials and tools in place. You can now take the gauge mesh roll and measure it against the window frames. When you have measured the mesh, you must use a wire cutter and start cutting the mesh. You must remember to keep extra space between the window frame and the corner of the mesh. You will need this space to drill the mesh to the window. If you drill it too close to the frame, it might end up cracking. Once you finish cutting the mesh, it is advisable to fold down the sharp edges.
Finish setting up the windows of the DIY hamster cage
Once you have the mesh pieces ready, you can start drilling them into the windows. You can start from one corner and keep drilling to the other corner. This will ensure easy drilling. You can also make sure that the mesh pieces are correctly in place.
Creating ventilation holes in the DIY hamster cage
Creating ventilation holes depends on how big or small your windows are. If you have bigger windows, then you do not necessarily need the ventilation holes. However, if you feel like your hamster needs more ventilation, you can use your drill bits and drill ventilation holes for your hamster to breathe better.
Securing the water bottle
When you place the water bottle, you must ensure no contact between the bedding and waterspout. After measuring and marking the spot, you can draw four dots using the marker and drill holes. You can secure the water bottle using wire through these holes.
Decorate your DIY hamster cage
Once you have all the essentials, you can furnish the cage. You can add hamster décor such as bedding, food dish, plastic wheel, hanging toys, etc. You can add any toy that is comfortable for the hamster to play with.
Must-haves in a DIY hamster cage
No matter what material you choose, you must make sure these things are added to the cage for it to be complete:
– The cage should have sufficient ventilation
– The floor should have enough space for the hamster
– You should have easy access to your pet
– You should be able to clean the cage easily
Final thoughts: Making a DIY hamster cage without going for an expensive store-bought one
Hamsters are extremely cute pets that need love and care. So, making a DIY hamster cage for your pet should not be a burden. The upside is, making a hamster cage at home is so much fun. Once you prepare all the materials and tools in place, you can assemble the cage using a few easy steps.
To complete the DIY hamster cage, you will need to set the bedding, food dish, spin wheel, and toys. Hamster cages must have a wheel because that is something that attracts hamsters easily. Safety is number one. You must select materials that are safe for your pet. You must not use hazardous materials that might potentially harm the pet.
That is why we should secure each item and component of the cage carefully. From the window mesh to the wheel, everything must be hazard-free. If you are not up to making a cage yourself, you can also buy a DIY hamster cage from IKEA and other platforms. You may also find a free hamster cage where people give away cages for free. However, there is nothing like making one on your own. This will be your hamster’s home for a long time, and you must make it a comfortable place to be in.