To get a hamster?

[IWantAHamster]

I really want a pet. However right now I live on my own in a flat and don't have enough room for a dog or cat.

Even though I know they're not the most exciting pets and that they're stereotypcal children's pets but I think a hamster would be the best option for me right now.

So if I go to Pets at Home will it look odd if I, as a 27 year old woman with no kids in tow, to say "I would like to buy a hamster please?"

Nothing wrong with an adult having a hamster if you want one! Before we had the kids we had a hamster, he was really tame and used to run round in his little ball. Go to a rescue centre though, not pets at home :)

Nothing wrong with getting a hamster. I wouldn't go to pets at home though.

There are hamsters in rescues? I didn't know that .

I loved my gerbil. Nothing wrong with a hammie as an adult. Enjoy your new pet

We got our hammy at 24ish. She made a fabulous pet.

DH and I have a hamster! We're both 30! We're practising keeping something alive :D

My 39yo dh bought one a couple of weeks ago seemingly for our 2yo but i know that's not true it is for him really

I got my first hamster when I was 25, she was lovely. Had another after her, but haven't had a pet since we've had the kids. I think hamsters make great pets for adults and crap pets for kids. My first hamster was a wee grey Syrian called mrsh.

I'd have a hamster if we didn't have cats. (Just 'cos I'm afraid of it escaping and being eaten. Probably wouldn't happen, but I don't want to take the risk). The rest of the family wouldn't be at all interested in it, it would be mine, all mine (as are the cats and rabbits).

Absolutely nothing weird in getting a small pet, whatever age you are. What business is it of anyone else anyway? I'd get a rescue, not a new one from Pets at Home. (PaH do have some rescues though)

I got 2 gerbils from pets at home. They are 2.5 years old.

I'm forever making them toys and buying toys. They are great fun

Agree, Letthem - many small animals make crap pets for children (including rabbits).

Or should that be - many children make crap owners? Not fair to let children "practise" ownership skills on a living creature.

Adults always have to be there to oversee, at the very least - and if necessary, take over entirely.

Hamsters are great. We have one called Boris. He is a golden coloured Syrian hamster. He is really entertaining and very tame. He has been lost a few times but always comes back!

Pah do put 'old stock' in their rehoming bit which I find immoral. Usually rabbits once they loose their cute fluffy babyishness.

I'd recommend a pair of rats over a hamster, they are super intelligent and fabulous pets, but if a hammie is what you fancy, get one! I had one when I was in my early 20s, he was called Archibald, I adored him!

Oh, gosh - poorly worded post by me up above! "What business is it of anyone" - I meant regarding older person wanting small pet, not a reference any old odd-bod who might not care for it. Sorry

Get rats, they are like hamsters but funner.

We got our Hamster from Pets at Home and she's amazing. She's really affectionate and funny and the children adore her.

YANBU to get a hamster

But you have to call him Martin.

I was very fond of dd's hamster till the cat ate it. However you don't want a hamster in a roome where you sleep or try to work/ watch telly. They are nocturnal and noisy! (going round and round in their flipping wheel and chewing the cage half the night).

Brillo a rat?!

Worra why Martin? I quite like the name Dave for a hamster.

I have no idea really

But Martin, Dave or Gary are all great hamster names even if they're female

No. Call it Roy.

The teenagers are desperate for one and want to call it Colin. Apparently, you can get silent wheels.