To be THIS upset about a hamster

[ArtyKitty]

I know this is ridiculous. And I never even wanted the bloody hamster in the first place. But after a weekend of helping my recently bereaved father move from the family home and being shattered from manic cleaning and packing
I got back to my home 3 hours away, go to bed, then have my Dp wake me to say the wee guy wasn't well. An hour later we're at the 24 hr vets putting him to sleep and I'm bawling my eyes out like an idiot. Brilliant. I am pathetic, aren't I? But I still can't cope with dealing with his little empty cage tomorrow...

I also think it isn't only about the hamster (although they are lovely and I may shed a tear when our own ginger fella leaves us). I think that with all the other things you've had going on, you've had to be practical and organised and hold it all together - lots of family complexities, concerns, etc.. But the hamster was a simple soul and his loss is the thing that your mind has latched onto IYSWIM. This is very understandable and frankly, I'd probably just go with it, no notions of being "silly" or anything. It's probably giving you some useful catharsis.

I'm sorry about your dad Arty.

IMO you wouldn't have been unreasonable to be that upset about your hamster without all the other things. My little hamster, Rupert, is 2 years 7 months now and I don't think he is going to be here much longer, maybe a week or two. It breaks my heart to even think about it.

Last night I was talking to DS1(19) on the phone (he's away training for the Army). He breezily said "how's Rupert" and my voice cracked. His voice changed and was sad, he just said "oh, no!" They are mates! Even DS2 had a bit of a tear last night.

We had to have one PTS, I cried so much at the vets. The receptionist said "go home and have a cup of tea, we'll worry about the bill another time!"

If you're daft, then so am I!

Sorry about your Mum OP.

I was upset when the dc hamster died. I have just recently been diagnosed with depression... since losing my beloved dog earlier this year. I still cry even if I just think about him.

It has nothing to do with the size of the animal, it really is ok to grieve...

You have your hands full at the moment, so your reaction is not unreasonable at all.

If it was about the hamster then yes, but it's not really, is it?

Yanbu and I sobbed when both of ours died. Some hamsters are just seen as something you have to clean and feed, whereas other people are really bonded to them. We were the latter, despite having a dog as well, the hamsters were the favourites, and gave back a ridiculous amount of affection.

I had to take a (self-employed) day off work when my hamster died about 15 yrs ago. He was elderly at nearly 3 years old and had a stroke in the day, his movement was very limited, so I took him to the vet to be put down, out of hours in the night, at great cost.

I bawled my eyes out all the next day in between the much-needed mouthfuls of G&T and kept his little furry body for 2 days before I could bring myself to bury him. 15 years and a house move on I still know which (garden) plant pot he's buried in, though I doubt there's anything of him remaining.

And my life had no other issues, so the day off, and the need for G&T were entirely small-furry-loss driven, with no "proper" excuse.

So, I empathise with your upset. We just get so attached to our pets don't we?

I cried so much when our hamster died, she was such a lovely trusting wee soul. losing a well loved pet is always tough. you have my sympathies.

Why is it not okay be be sad about the death of a pet without other 'bigger' things that contribute to the sadness? Surely it's up to individuals how they experience the grief of their pet, even if it is "just a hamster".

I cried when our hamster was put down but more because my son was upset. (He was 12) felt silly but that's what happens sometime.