Housing is probably the most important part of owning a hamster. With an endless variety of cages, making a decision can be very hard to do. One of the main things people need to consider before buying a cage is the size. Some people just get a cage for the looks and don't consider the size. In the U.S. the bare minimum cage size is 360 sq. inches of floorspace. Anything smaller than that is way too small. Who decided that just because hamsters are small animals means they are supposed to have small cages? Many people say, my hamster is lazy and doesn't do anything. Why would it need a big cage? Hamsters are either crepescular or nocturnal, so they are most active at night. Do you stay up all night watching your hamster? Most people don't. In the wild, hamsters can run 5-9 miles in one night. Yes, hamsters have wheels but that is not nearly enough activity. Hamsters need to have room to burrow, play, and explore. Hamsters should have enough room for all their toys and accessories without feeling cramped. If you are wondering if any pet store cages are large enough I'm sorry to say the answer is no. I have never found a cage with even close to 360 sq. inches of floorspace made for hamsters. However there are many great alternatives, such as bin cages, Ikea detolf cages, tanks and so much more.