Hamsters are part of the Rodentia family, as their teeth continuously grow, this requires a lot of gnawing to keep it under control. As overgrown teeth can cause damage to the inside of the hamster's mouth. So it is important to provide things for hamsters to chew on like untreated wood. Many times hamsters store items such as food and bedding in their cheek pouches. When distended, their cheek pouches can become more than double the width of the hamster’s head and shoulders. So it is important to avoid materials that are unsafe for hamsters such as “fluffy bedding” and nothing sharp that can cause lacerations. Hamsters also have feet and hands with small claws that are made for burrowing underground, it can be important to provide deep bedding and places to climb. Failure to provide such stimulation can cause sore feet.