Checklist

 - Cage
 - Nesting box
 - Exercise wheel
 - Coarse sawdust or pine bedding
 - Nesting materials:
    > hay      
    > white paper
    > cotton rags
    > cardboard
 - Food dishes
 - Drip-feed water bottle
 - Food:
    > packet hamster mix
    > vegetables
 - Small branch or piece of hardwood for gnawing on

The cage

Pet stores stock various types of cages, or yo may want to build your own.  Your hamster is going to spend all its life in the cage you provide for it, so choose carefully.

How big should the cage be?  

A average cage is about 19 x 9 ½ x 9 ½ inches.  But the bigger the better.  The  ideal size would be 29 ½ x 16 x 16 inches.

Will the cage allow your hamster to have all the exercise it needs?   

Hamsters are very active.  They need to run, climb, and burrow.  A smaller cage that has a shelf with a ladder up to it can be as good for the hamster, and more interesting than a larger one in which it can run about on one level only.  Most cages include an exercise wheel. If not, you can buy one separately.

Is the cage escape-proof?

Hamsters are good at escaping.  They can gnaw through soft wood and squeeze through narrow gaps.  Be especially careful about this if you make your own cage.

Will your hamster be sheltered enough?

Your hamster will be more sheltered in a cage with a solid back and sides.  However, these cages are not easy to find ready-made, so if your cage has bars all around, keep it tucked into a corner, out of drafts.

Nesting boxes

Your hamster will need a nesting box.  You can buy or make one out of hardwood.  It should have a lid so that you can easily check whether your hamster is storing moldy food.

Source: Taking Care of Your Hamster by Helen Piers.