This tower is super simple to make, and it is suitable for all Hamster Species, as well as Mice and Gerbils. It can be used as decoration, a toy, and/or a stand for your food dish. It is perfectly safe for your pet to chew on.

For this project you will need: 

• The thickest piece of cardboard available
• A hot glue gun and glue stick
• A box/craft knife 
• A pencil, pen, or marker
• A paper towel tube or three toilet paper tubes
• A ruler

And scissors make cutting the tubes much easier, but are not essential.

If using a paper towel roll:

1. Using your pencil, pen, or marker, and your ruler, mark out four little lines, one every two inches.
2. Cut the tube at each line, scissors make cutting these easier, so you have four pieces the same size, and one longer piece.

For toilet paper tubes:

1. Using your ruler, make a little line at the middle of two of the three tubes.
2. Cut the tubes so you have four identical pieces, shaped like Os. If you use scissors this step will be easier.

The third toilet paper tube/fifth paper towel tube piece size:

Syrian Hamster: Three inches

Chinese Hamster: Two and a half inches

Mouse: Three inches

Gerbil: Three inches

Campbell’s Dwarf Hamster: Two and a half inches

Winter White Dwarf Hamster: Two and a half inches

Roborovski Dwarf Hamster: Two inches

(May vary according to specific Hamster/Mouse/Gerbil, these measurements are for adults of said species and younger rodents may need the shelving shorter)

You should then have five tube pieces, one might be longer than the rest depending on the species of rodent. The four shorter ones will be the legs, and the (maybe) longer one supporting the top shelf.

Next, using your cardboard, ruler, marker, and box/craft knife, cut out two squares of cardboard.

Syrian Hamster: 8x8in and 6x6in

Chinese Hamster: 8x8in and 6x6in

Gerbil: 8x8in and 6x6in

Mouse: 7x7in and 5x5in

Campbell’s Dwarf Hamster: 7x7in and 5x5in

Winter White Dwarf Hamster: 7x7in and 5x5in

Roborovski Dwarf Hamster: 5x5in and 3x3in

Next, take your larger square, and the four identical tube pieces, and heat up the glue gun.

Place the four ‘leg’ pieces on the bottom of your larger square on each corner, and glue them into place.

Get your smaller square and last piece of tube and glue it into place.

By putting it in the corner the rodent has easier access to the shelf, but it can be glued in the middle if desired.

Flip all the pieces right side up, and glue the upper shelf on very securely to prevent the shelf from collapsing onto your pet.

You can attach it wherever you please, but if you place the shelf in the corner section the rodent will have more shelf space.

And you’re done!

This climbing toy is an amazing, easy DIY that most rodents will love!

You can make different sizes for different rodents, the sizes listed are just recommendations.

Tip: if you make larger ones your pet can sleep and burrow under it!

If you’re interested in more hamster-related content be sure to like this post and follow the blog, and I’ll be back on Tuesday with more small pet care, DIYs, recipes, cage setups, stories and more, have a ham-tastic day!