Different Enclosure Minimum Standards by Organization

Organizations and companies may implement smaller standards for a reason. Some may have a lack of research, others may try to make hamster care more accessible by setting a more inclusive standard that more people can follow while slowly upgrading their standards, as some places have a lack of commercial options that are available to them. Setting a high standard while there are no options may put people off and may turn people away from proper care and lead them to buy an unsuitable enclosure.

However, some companies may set an incredibly small minimum size so that they can sell you more products.

Laws on animal welfare need to improve, and companies need to do a better job at manufacturing affordable ethical options for all hamster owners. This will not happen if we do not speak up. Please consider signing the following petitions, and feel free to email us your own petition.

  1. Make Petsmart develop humane, safe cages for small animals [USA]
  2. Raise the UK Minimum size to 80cm x 50cm [UK]
  3. Ban the sale of hamster cages below 80x50cms [UK]
  4. Ban all hamster cages under 450sqin [USA]
  5. Increase the size of hamster cages in Indonesia [Indonesia]
  6. Set a legal minimum requirement for hamster cages [UK]
  7. Stop Pets at home selling unsuitable products and giving false information to customers [UK]
  8. Stop pet chains selling and keeping pets in unsuitable environments [UK]

Standards

  1. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
    Unted States
    Minimum Floorspace: 200 sqin / 1290sqcm
  3. California Hamster Association
    United States
    Minimum Floorspace: 450 sqin / 2904sqcm
  4. Canadian Council on Animal Care
    Canada
    Minimum Floorspace: 100 sqin / 650sqcm
  5. Dakin Humane Society
    United States
    Minimum Floorspace: 288 sqin / 1858sqcmNote: Recommended for tank only
    Minimum Floorspace: 230 sqin / 1484sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 20x12x11 in / 51x30x28 cm
  6. Diebrain
    Germany
    Minimum Floorspace: 1550 sqin / 10000sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 40x40x24 in / 100x100x60 cm
  7. Five Little Hams
    For syriansMinimum Floorspace: 775 sqin / 5000sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 40x20x24 in / 100x50x60 cm
    For winter whitesMinimum Floorspace: 620 sqin / 4000sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 40x16x20 in / 100x40x50 cm
    For campbell dwarfsMinimum Floorspace: 620 sqin / 4000sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 40x16x20 in / 100x40x50 cm
    For roborovskisMinimum Floorspace: 620 sqin / 4000sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 40x16x16 in / 100x40x40 cm
    For chinese hamstersMinimum Floorspace: 620 sqin / 4000sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 40x16x20 in / 100x40x50 cm
  8. HAMSTERS Facebook Group
    Minimum Floorspace: 450 sqin / 2903sqcm
  9. Hamster Central (Outdated. No longer recommended)
    United Kingdom
    Minimum Floorspace: 465 sqin / 3000sqcm
  10. Hamster Hideout (Outdated. No longer recommended)
    United States
    Minimum Floorspace: 450 sqin / 2903sqcm
  11. Hamster Society Singapore
    Singapore
    For dwarfsMinimum Floorspace: 434 sqin / 2800sqcm
    For syriansMinimum Floorspace: 620 sqin / 4000sqcm
  12. Hamster Welfare Philippines
    Philippines
    For syriansMinimum Floorspace: 776 sqin / 5000sqcm
    For dwarfsMinimum Floorspace: 621 sqin / 4000sqcm
  13. Hamsters South Africa
    South Africa
    For syriansMinimum Floorspace: 558 sqin / 3600sqcm
    For dwarfsMinimum Floorspace: 465 sqin / 3000sqcm
  14. National Hamster Council
    United Kingdom
    For syriansMinimum Floorspace: 394 sqin / 1000sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 16x10x8 in / 40x25x19 cm
    For dwarfsMinimum Floorspace: 124 sqin / 800sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 13x10x7 in / 32x25x17 cm
  15. Ontario Hamsters Club
    Canada
    Minimum Floorspace: 450 sqin / 2904sqcm
  16. PetSmart
    United States
    Minimum Floorspace: 144 sqin / 929sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 12x12x12 in / 31x31x31 cm
  17. Philippine Hamster Keepers
    Philippines
    For syriansMinimum Floorspace: 420 sqin / 2400sqcm
    For dwarfsMinimum Floorspace: 360 sqin / 2700sqcm
  18. Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Outdated. No longer recommended)
    United Kingdom
    For dwarfsMinimum Floorspace: 430 sqin / 2774sqcm
    For syriansMinimum Floorspace: 620 sqin / 4000sqcm
  19. San Diego Humane Society
    United States
    Minimum Floorspace: 200 sqin / 1290sqcm
  20. The Humane Society of the United States
    United States
    Minimum Floorspace: 576 sqin / 3616sqcmNote: Recommended for wire cage only
    Minimum Floorspace: 288 sqin / 1858sqcmNote: Recommended for tank only
  21. The Spruce pets
    United States
    Minimum Floorspace: 288 sqin / 1858sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 24x12x12 in / 61x31x31 cm
  22. Tierärztliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz
    Germany
    Minimum Floorspace: 775 sqin / 5000sqcm
  23. Wood Green
    United Kingdom
    For syriansMinimum Floorspace: 620 sqin / 4000sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 20x32x14 in / 50x80x35 cm
    For dwarfsMinimum Floorspace: 620 sqin / 4000sqcmMinimum Dimensions: 20x32x14 in / 50x80x35 cm