A DIY hamster maze is fun for children and adults. How to make a house for a hamster with your own hands How to make a ladder for a hamster from branches

A paper hamster folded using the origami technique fully corresponds to the concept of “kawaii” that is fashionable today. The Japanese introduced the term into global culture, first using it in the 1960s to describe adorable children's animal toys. Hamsters, according to the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun, are super-kawaii, that is, “pretty,” “tiny,” “causing a desire to protect and snuggle.” In 2020, Japan was hit by a rodent craze known as Hamuketsu. Fans take pictures of... hamster tails and post them on social networks or send them to each other for admiration. Such pictures are considered an effective anti-stress. Probably, three-dimensional hamster figurines, also made with love, will have an even stronger positive impact.

How to make toys for hamsters with your own hands

Let's look at how to quickly and easily make various toys for hamsters with your own hands from scrap materials.

Ladder (bridge)

Materials and tools:

cardboard toilet paper rolls;
wire;
pencil or pen;
scissors;
awl.

Step-by-step instruction:

Cut the toilet paper roll lengthwise into two equal parts. Repeat the same with all bushings.
Carefully roll each piece into a tube, wrapping it around a pencil or pen.

Take out the pencil and roll the resulting tube several times in your palms so that it retains its shape.
On each part, mark the place where the wire is attached - 1.5–2 cm from the edges of the tube and make through holes in them. In this case, the free edge (cut) of the part should be on the back side of the bridge.
Make additional holes in the first and last tube so that you can secure the wire and protect your pets from sharp ends.
Measure the required piece of wire based on the total length of the ladder and a small margin.
Bend the end of the wire into a hook and thread it into the tube through the back hole. In this case, the tip of the wire should “hide” in the second upper hole.
String the remaining tube parts onto the wire. Fasten the end of the wire to the last part.
The ladder is ready. To turn it into a bridge, you just need to bend it in a semicircle.

Video: DIY hamster bridge

Tunnels for hamsters from a plastic bottle

Materials and tools:

plastic bottles;
sharp scissors or stationery knife;
electrical tape or tape.

Step-by-step instruction:

Wash all bottles thoroughly and remove labels.
Trim the top and bottom of the bottles, giving them a cylindrical shape.
Treat all sections with electrical tape or tape to prevent the hamsters from getting hurt.
Connect the bottles into a single tunnel using tape. The simplest tunnel is ready. Do not make it too long to maintain good air circulation.
To complicate the design, you can make a hole on the side surface of one of the bottles, where you can insert the second bottle and secure everything with electrical tape. There may be several such branches.

Swing

Materials and tools:

children's counting sticks;
sushi sticks;
beads with small beads;
Super glue.

Step-by-step instruction:

For the swing seat, several counting sticks (about 10 pieces) should be placed end-to-end on the table. In this case, the two outermost ones should be at such a distance from the neighboring ones that beads can be passed through the resulting gap.
Read also: Do-it-yourself doll for a teapot: step-by-step master class on making a “Dunyasha” doll from various materials
Glue two sticks across the laid out sticks along the edges of the seat, also leaving a small gap between them for the beads.
Glue two sushi sticks with their thick ends at an angle of about 45 degrees. Do the same with the second pair of sticks. These will be the swing stands.
Glue the crossbar - another sushi stick - on top between the two posts. For greater stability, additionally secure the structure with rubber bands.
Pass the beads through the gaps on both sides of the seat and secure them to the crossbar. The swing is ready!

Video: DIY hamster swing

Hammock

Materials and tools:

felt fabric;
satin ribbon;
floss threads;
scissors;
chalk or thin soap,
glue.

Step-by-step instruction:

Cut two strips of felt measuring 20x24 cm. It is more convenient to cut out both parts at once, fastening them together with pins.
Using chalk or soap, mark shallow semicircles on the four edges of the felt parts. However, they should not reach the perpendicular edges of the fabric by 1.5–2 cm.
Trim the fabric on all sides along the intended semicircles.
Cut a satin ribbon about 22–25 cm long into four parts, singe the ends over the fire so that they do not fall apart.
Fold a piece of ribbon in half and glue or sew the ends between two corners of the fabric. In this case, the ends of the tape should extend 3–3.5 cm inside the product. Repeat the same for the other three corners.
Finish all the edges of the hammock with floss threads using a looped (over) stitch in increments of about 5 mm. The hammock is ready!

If desired, you can lay padding polyester or cotton wool between the two parts of the hammock.

Video: how to make a hammock for rats with your own hands

Labyrinth

Materials and tools:

a large cardboard box from a parcel or shoes;
cardboard partitions of different lengths;
paper towel tubes;
wax pencils;
sharp scissors.

Step-by-step instruction:

At the ends of the box, cut two square holes - start and finish.
Cut the partitions to such length that you can tightly insert them into the box lengthwise and crosswise. Make cuts in the partitions with which they will be connected.
Think over the route of movement of the hamsters and mark the necessary places for the holes with a pencil or pen.
Make holes in the partitions in the form of windows, doors, holes, etc. so that hamsters can move between cells.
Cut round holes on the opposite walls of one or two cells and insert a tube (or half) of paper towels into them, forming a tunnel.
Make another type of tunnel by cutting out a small semicircle at the bottom of the partition and inserting a tube into it.
You can also make upper rectangular cuts on two opposite sides of the cell, where you can insert a regular bridge for hamsters. Don’t forget to make an exit from the cell where the hamster will end up by going down the bridge.
Use wax pencils to paint the partitions with any designs or funny inscriptions. Assemble the maze and enjoy the joy of hamsters!

Video: how to make a maze for a hamster Now you know how to make excellent toys for your beloved pet with your own hands, spending very little time.
New games will certainly bring him great joy and will become a source of pride for his owner. And if you involve other family members in the work, this activity will become doubly interesting.

Playground

Do you want to equip a whole area for your hamster? Great solution! It will be problematic to do this in a cage, but an empty table will do just fine. You can also arrange it in the corner of the room, where the platform will not disturb anyone.

Glue together high enough walls from cardboard (you can take regular corrugated cardboard from boxes from the store) and place it on the floor so that the hamster cannot escape anywhere. Make sure they are secure and cannot be knocked over by a rodent.

All that remains is to install wheels, sand bowls, ladders and many other toys on the site. Show a little imagination and think of what toys you can make in addition to the existing ones. Now you can let your favorite rodent go to a hamster amusement park even for the whole day - he will probably like it here, he will have fun all day long, which will have a positive impact on his health and life expectancy.

Plump and clumsy at first glance, the hamster is very active and curious. He will be bored in a perfectly clean cage without the opportunity to run, explore, climb into holes and houses. There is no need to spend money on store-bought entertainment; it is cheaper and more interesting to make toys for hamsters with your own hands. They will bring pleasure to the pet and its owner.

When a fluffy little ball appears in the house, constantly busy looking for food and adventure, the question arises of what you can do for the hamster with your own hands. In practice it turns out that there are many:

stairs;
labyrinths;
swing;
carousels;
wheel;
houses.

And all this will be used for things that are not needed in the household, but it would be a pity to throw them away. Additionally, time will be pleasantly spent, and children will be busy with creative and useful work.

Any available means are suitable for making toys.

When making toys for a hamster, you need to be prepared for their fragility. The rodent will quickly deal with them and gnaw them. Store shops won't be able to survive either.

Before you start creating, take from the mezzanine:

unnecessary boxes;
remnants of plastic pipes and fittings after repair;
stocks of ice cream sticks;
boxes of used cosmetics;
rolls of towels and toilet paper;
plastic bottles.

To this wealth you can add sticks from trees, thin cord and glue.

How to make a toy for a hamster with your own hands in a few minutes. The easiest way is to build a ladder or slide for it. The material for this is sticks on which there was ice cream or branches.

You need to place the material in a large saucepan and boil. Remains of food, bacteria, fungus will be eliminated.
Make the base of the ladder from two guides, and glue the crossbars to them.
A ladder can be placed next to the house so that the animal can climb on top of it.
Make another similar ladder and connect them at the tops. You will get a double-sided stepladder - a slide. The rodent will be able to travel along it.

DIY hamster ladder

The second side can be replaced with a paper towel sleeve and the animal will travel through the tunnel with interest.

The distance between the steps must be adjusted to the size of the pet’s paws. Make the slope small so that the hamster can easily overcome it.

The structure can be made from the same material as the ladder, and additionally use cardboard. You just need to make sure that there are no sharp edges.

The swing platform is glued together from sticks.
Holes are made in the corners and a cord is threaded. It should pass under the created platform.
The swing is suspended at a short distance from the floor so that the pet can climb onto it freely.

Hamster swing

A bridge is assembled from several platforms. It is attached between two stationary surfaces, such as a house and a slide.

When using branches for construction, a hole is drilled in them and a strong thread is threaded. The structure holds well if grooves are made at a short distance from the ends and a thread entwined around the branches is attached to them.

To make the most interesting entertainment for a hamster with your own hands, you must first come up with a design and try to make it. It can be simple, of 2–3 moves, or complex, multi-tiered.

It's better to start with a simple maze of plastic bottles.

Cut off the neck and bottom of all bottles.
Mark the largest hole. To do this, apply 2 smaller ones on one side or different ones, but in the same plane.
Cut holes according to the markings.
Remove sharp quacks. To begin with, the easiest way to do this is with electrical tape or adhesive tape. Preference is given to natural materials. Tape is glued to the ends.
Insert the cylinders from the former bottles into the holes prepared for them and secure them with the same insulation.

You can pour sawdust inside the maze, hide treats under it, and your hamster will be happy spending time in it. The design can be complicated and enlarged.

DIY hamster maze

While your curious pet is enjoying the new toy, you need to prepare a more complex maze for him.

Take a shoe box. Its sides should be higher than the rodent on its hind legs. It shouldn't come out freely.

Several pieces of cardboard should be cut to the size of the box, according to its length and width. Place it by creating unique cells. You can use ready-made ones if you have a cardboard box in your house for detergents or cosmetics.
Make cuts at the junction of the strips and insert them perpendicular to each other.
Now you should make a cascade of arches in such a way that the hamster can get into all sections of the maze. First outline with a pencil, then cut out.
Assemble the entire structure and secure it by gluing it to the bottom of the box and its sides.

Now you need to put nuts and seeds in the cells. Let the furry traveler look for them. To make it more challenging, you can sprinkle everything with sawdust or put treats in rings cut out of cardboard tubes.

Labyrinth of plastic pipes

Using ladders, cardboard sleeves, bridges, you can make a multi-level complex labyrinth. In addition to the arches, make lowerings and throw bridges over them. Use small boxes with holes cut out to create elevated platforms. The large box will also accommodate labyrinth elements, small houses, and tunnels.

The labyrinth is also made from the remains of plastic pipes. Select all that the hamster can easily access. Use fittings to connect them.

In plastic pipes and all other opaque elements of the labyrinth, many holes or longitudinal grooves must be made on top.

With a dark maze, the hamster can get scared and get lost. It is difficult for him to breathe because there is no free access of air. The holes allow you to see exactly where the animal is and what it is doing.

First, the structure is pre-assembled. Then the necessary holes are made, all sharp corners are cleaned and after that the labyrinth is assembled.

The simplest house is made from a cardboard box. You can turn it upside down, mark the windows and the door - the entrance. Cut holes and cover with colored paper or paint.

There is no need to make large windows; the hamster must have a shelter where he can hide from everyone and feel safe. This is a place for sleeping, supplies and hiding places. This is where supplies can be hidden. Therefore, it is necessary to pour sawdust or a substitute thereof inside and outside.

A hamster house can be made from an ordinary box

For a more complex house you will need at least 2 boxes of different sizes. The larger one is below, and the smaller one is mounted on its “roof”. The ladder must be made in such a way that the hamster can freely climb into the upper house.

If you want to create a permanent structure, you can use plywood or thin boards. Sketch, mark and cut out 4 walls and 2 roof parts. The number of floors and rooms, the presence of transparent walls and balconies is determined only by the owner’s imagination, the desire to create for the pet and free time.

The easiest way to satisfy a hamster's desire to move actively is on a wheel. To do this you need to prepare the details:

a solid foundation;
rack strips;
2 washers;
knitting needles;
cylinder or 2 rims;
nut.

Hamster wheel

A cake box can be used as a running disc. The inner diameter of the wheel should be 1.5 - 2 animal body lengths. If it is less, then your back will bend strongly while running. Will no longer rotate under the traveler's weight.

A massive base is needed to prevent the wheel from turning over. Stands in the form of A are attached to it.
A hole is made in the upper part and the axis is fixed horizontally.
The treadmill frame is made of radiating spokes and one rim attached to them.
The treadmill is a cylinder, inserted into a structure of axes radiating from the centers and rims. You can stick ice cream sticks, cardboard and other material to the inside of the rims, or just a lid from a cake.
The side of the knitting needles must be closed so that the hamster does not get hurt. A hole is made in the center.
Place a washer, a wheel and a second washer on the axle, and secure with a nut.

The wheel should be at a height accessible to the hamster. It is advisable to place the stand against the wall. The treadmill surface should be smooth, but not slippery.

Starting with simple designs, you can gradually create a complex entertaining labyrinth for your hamster with passages, houses and ladders.

Anyone who wants to get a hamster needs to know how important a home is for him, because the animal needs a reliable shelter. A hamster's house should be spacious, interesting and cozy. Even the health of a small pet depends on this. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain certain sanitary standards in the home and provide some activities for the rodent.

The stores offer a huge assortment of different houses, but a homemade design will bring more joy and will be cheaper.

Peculiarities

In natural conditions, rodents are constantly moving. In this way they protect themselves from predators and look for food. Hamsters living indoors must also constantly move to maintain physical fitness. An active lifestyle is also necessary for the excellent mood of pets.

The animal must have several toys. The cost of some of them can be high, in this case you can collect available materials and please your pet with interesting crafts. The number of toys can be any, the main thing is that there is enough free space in the cage. It is best to make several different products.

Varieties

All toys that are chosen for pet rodents are aimed at two tasks:

search for treats;
encouragement to move and be active.

In some products, these two purposes can be successfully combined. It is worth noting that the treat for the hamster is safely hidden. To get to a tasty treat, you need to go through a maze or cope with a tricky structure. The smell of food is an additional incentive to go through the maze or perform other actions.

Other products that do not hide food are considered exercise equipment. The most common toy of this type is the running wheel.

What should they be?

The main requirement for crafts is safety for the rodent. Be sure to inspect the finished product for sharp parts and other elements that could harm your pet. The use of toxic materials is strictly prohibited. These include varnishes, paints and other similar compounds. When assembling some structures, you may need glue. Make a choice in favor of high-quality compounds that can be used indoors, as well as in homes with small children and animals.

If you decide to make a ladder, labyrinth or other similar structure, accurately calculate its size and shape. The animal should be comfortable while playing.

Bulk Djungarian hamster

Using the “Water Bomb” pattern, you can make a three-dimensional origami hamster figurine. The round paper animal is very reminiscent of the “jungarik”. This breed belongs to the miniature variety and is considered the second most popular after the Syrians. Assembling the “Water Bomb”, familiar from childhood, will not be difficult; the only difference from the classic model is that you will need to form the ears and paws of the animal.

You can “treat” the dzhungarik with origami fruits or vegetables:

And this origami hamster from the famous master Katsuta Kyohei seems just the height of kawaiiness:

How to do it yourself?

At home, anyone can make homemade interesting toys for their pet.

Crafts from nuts

You can easily make an interesting toy from walnut shells. For work you need to prepare the following items:

nuts with whole shell;
hammer;
nail;
rope;
metal washer.

Let's look at the step-by-step execution of the work.

Walnuts must be carefully split into two halves, but they must remain whole. You can treat your rodent to the core; such a delicacy will be not only tasty, but also healthy for him.
Prepare a piece of rope that fits the size of the cage (consider its height). The rope must be strong.
Using a hammer and nail, make a hole in the center of each shell.
Tie a washer to the edge of the rope.
Next, string the peeled nut halves onto it.
Be sure to leave some room to securely attach the toy to the top bar of the cage.

You can improve this product if you put the animal’s favorite treats in the shell. As you can see, to manufacture the structure you need available materials and very little time.

Sleeve toy

The cardboard rolls left over from kitchen paper towels can be used to create a simple yet fun toy.

To create this craft you will need the following:

sleeve;
scissors;
a piece of treat for the hamster.

Getting the job done is quite simple.

Cut 5 rings of equal size from the tube.
Next, you need to insert the rings into each other so that the result is a cross section. There is no need to use glue, paper clips or other connecting elements.
We put a delicacy for the pet inside the structure and place the toy in the cage. Thus, the hamster will get to the yummy food through the cardboard rings. The pleasant and appetizing smell of the treat will attract the rodent’s attention to the craft.

Hammock

A fabric hammock will not only be an excellent toy for your pet, but also a decoration for the cage.

To make it you will need the following:

satin ribbon (length about 25 centimeters);
floss thread;
a piece of felt (this material is great for the product due to its reliability and excellent shape retention);
glue;
scissors;
a piece of soap or chalk (for marking).

Completing the job involves several steps.

Cut 2 identical strips. Dimensions – 20x24 centimeters.
Draw semicircles on the edges of the pieces of fabric using chalk or soap. Remember that they should not reach the perpendicular edges of the felt by about one and a half centimeters.
Place the strips one on top of the other. Trim the strips along the marked edges.
The tape is cut into 4 equal parts. It is recommended to burn the edges with fire so that they do not start to crumble.
Fold the ribbons in half. Attach their edges to the two corners of the fabric. Sew them so that the tape goes inside the hammock by about 3 centimeters.
Do the work with the remaining corners.
Finish the edges of the product with a cast stitch using floss threads. The dimensions between the loops are 0.5 centimeters.
If you want to make the toy more comfortable for the rodent, you can put a little padding polyester between two pieces of fabric and sew the product up.

To learn how to make a hammock for a hamster, see the following video.

Tunnel

If you notice low activity in your pet, you can lift his mood with the help of a maze. When creating a design, give free rein to your imagination.

To create a toy you will need the following items:

boxes made of thick cardboard or pieces of cardboard;
paper sleeves.

Here are step-by-step instructions.

We begin creating the structure by designing the holes, which should be sized to match the diameter of the paper pipes.
Connect flat pieces of cardboard with plastic tubes as you see fit. The size and shape of the product can be any.
To make the product more reliable, glue can be used at the joints of the elements. Only non-toxic composition is suitable.

Ladder

The ladder is considered one of the most popular toys for rodents and active birds. It is not difficult to make such a design yourself.

Wooden shelves for Asian food can be used as a material. They can become load-bearing slats of the product. Tree branches and other small wooden elements can be used as crossbars.

You can also make crossbars from Chinese sticks, carefully dividing them into smaller pieces. You can connect the elements using glue or small nails. Metal wire is also suitable as a fastening.

If you are using branches collected from outside, be sure to treat them before use. You can get rid of small parasites using boiling water and disinfectants.

Gnawing

Crafts of this type play an important practical role. Hamsters, like other rodents, have rapidly growing teeth. To make your pet feel comfortable, they need to be constantly worn down. For this purpose, stores sell special crayons and wooden structures.

To save money, you can build a loading toy. It is made very simply. You can use flexible tree branches and collect them in the shape of a ball. The craft is attached to the ceiling of the cage or placed on the floor. By collecting several branches of fruit trees and securing them with a thick rope, you will get a useful craft. The work will only take a few minutes.

Swing

A swing made from scrap materials is perfect for fast and active rodents.

To create a toy you need the following items:

counting sticks;
tight rope or chain.

Manufacturing involves several steps.

Place the sticks on the table, end to end. Place the two elements at the edges so that the distance between them and the main body of the sticks is sufficient for threading a chain or rope.
Two sticks are attached across the elements from which the seat is assembled. They are glued securely.
When the glue has dried, thread a chain or thread into the free holes and secure it with a secure knot. You can also fold it in half and tie it to the top bars of the cage.

Slide

Hamsters love slides very much. Such designs amuse them and make them move. Toys of this type may not be cheap, however, if you wish, you can make a toy yourself.

You can easily and effortlessly make a slide from a piece of wood. Don't forget to sand the block to avoid injury. The board must be attached to the edge of the cage, at an angle of no more than 30 degrees, and attached in any way.

An ordinary plastic bottle found in every home can be turned into an exciting craft. Cut out an oblong element from the container and attach it to the rods. Carefully trim the edges of the plastic slide.

Varied entertainment

To entertain small pets, you can use various items found around the house. Old wooden toys that have already lost their marketable appearance are suitable as fun for hamsters. Wooden cubes will also not go unnoticed.

Animals will enjoy fresh fruits. Take a bowl and fill it with lots of treats. Be sure to wash fruits and vegetables before using them, and be sure to throw them away when they begin to spoil.

Small flower pots installed in cages will act as shelters for hamsters. Small animals love to hide in shelters. But containers made of thick plastic or wood are also suitable. You can put your pet's favorite treat on the bottom.

Very simple model for children

Starting from 6–7 years old, a child is able to independently master simple origami models. And one of the first things he will definitely want to do is a hamster, because it is a popular pet. To realize your creative idea, you will need a 10x10 cm square, colored pencils or watercolors and a marker.

Step-by-step instruction:

Fold the square from top to bottom.
Divide the resulting rectangle into three parts. Bend it 2/3 way.
Fold the lower left corner along the dotted line.
Using the reverse fold, we bring it inward.
Rotate the lower right corner.
We do the same with the left one.
We form another reverse fold at the top right.

All that remains is to draw colored spots with paint, and also use a marker to draw the hamster’s face.