Kaytee Chew Proof Hamster Cage Review

Hamsters are notorious escape artists, and 'chew proof' is a claim we take as a challenge rather than a fact. We tested the Kaytee cage with a Syrian hamster who had previously chewed through the corner seam of a cheaper plastic habitat within days.

Three weeks in, the metal bar construction on the upper portion showed no chew damage — the bars are simply too hard for a hamster's teeth to get purchase on. The plastic base, which is the more vulnerable material on any 'chew proof' cage, held up better than expected but did show light tooth marks along the door seam by week two.

Three weeks with a known escape artist

• Metal bar sections showed zero chew damage after three weeks with a persistent chewer
• Bar spacing is narrow enough to contain even a young or smaller-bodied hamster
• Deep plastic base holds bedding well without excessive spillage onto the floor

'Chew proof' turned out to mean 'the bars will win.' The plastic base earned an honorable mention, not a perfect score.

Where it fell short

• Plastic base and door seam showed light tooth marks by the second week — not fully immune to chewing
• Fewer expansion and add-on options compared to modular cage systems

A genuinely secure cage for the areas that matter most for escape prevention, with the plastic base as the one component worth checking periodically on a determined chewer.