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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to ask what the actual purpose of a hamster is?

83 replies

ditavonteesed · 04/10/2015 18:04

I want one, and dh says no, he says I don't need a hamster. AIBU to suggest that nobody needs a hamster.

OP posts:
AuntieStella · 04/10/2015 18:04

Purpose of a hamster?

To make more hamsters, surely?

theycallmemellojello · 04/10/2015 18:06

Haha. Maybe they could be used to power tiny generators?

Lowdoorinthewall · 04/10/2015 18:06

Do they eat spiders? Considers getting one for each room

FarFromAnyRoad · 04/10/2015 18:07

You can't train it. You can't take it for a walk. As long as you feed it, it doesn't really care if you live or die. If that's what you're looking for in a pet, just get a cat!

Spidertracker · 04/10/2015 18:08

I think all caged pets are pointless and a bit cruel. I think that is good reason not to have one to be honest, poor creature stuck in a box all its life occasionally git out for a cuddle which must be terrifying for a prey animal, nowhere to burrow to escape.

Egosumquisum · 04/10/2015 18:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShowOfHands · 04/10/2015 18:10

You can train them to go to the toilet in a mini litter tray (ours did). They do like cuddles and handling. If you have a friendly one who is well handled, it will curl up and sleep in your arms or on your lap. Our used to sit by his door and wait for us to get him out for a cuddle. They're interesting to watch and play with and an easy, low-maintenance pet.

Ours died on Thursday and is much missed.

bessarabiantiger · 04/10/2015 18:10

Well clearly you need a Hamster. That is reason in itself.

I want an Octopus, named Abacus, and I want the entire house to have a series of clear pipes running through each room so he can follow me and hang out.

Luckily for me my Husband is entirely open to this idea.

Wilding · 04/10/2015 18:14

I have a hamster and he's great! I let him out every evening for a run around the flat, he loves climbing up things and I leave exciting treats like bits of fruit lying around for him to find. He keeps me company as I live in my own and I love watching him running about. He also has no problems being handled and will run straight out onto my hands as soon as I open the door of his cage.

I feel really sorry for those hamsters who spend all their time in those piddly little cages though. Hamsters actually need quite a lot of space and ideally some nice deep sawdust for digging in too.

ditavonteesed · 04/10/2015 18:22

we used to have hamsters, and I had them when I was at uni always loved them. We had cats but the neighbour stole them. we have dogs and chickens and fish but I really want a hamster, which I think I probably want more because dh said no, dd's both want a hamster and I think it would be good for them to look after they help with the chickens and dogs loads. I would get it a massive cage. Now KI am sulking like a stroppy 2 year old, which is fine as dh is out so doesn't actually know I am sulking. I think I really just want to distract myself from a load of crap that is going on at the moment tbh.

OP posts:
RomComPhooey · 04/10/2015 18:27

What are hamsters for? Making whichever room in your house they live in smell of stale rodent widdle. A kind of anti-Glade, if you will. Also for spooking babysitters and house guests late at night when they can't work out what the weird, intermittent sound they keep hearing,especially if it stops every time they mute the telly or go to have a nose around. Wink

MrsFrankieHeck · 04/10/2015 18:30

They are ill tempered, hungry, sawdust stinking idiots.

ghostyslovesheep · 04/10/2015 18:33

everyone needs a hamster

ours is lovely - never bitten any of us, funny little thing he is - he seems to like us Grin

Thumbcat · 04/10/2015 18:35

I don't particularly like hamsters but if you really want one just get one. I can't see how it would affect your husband so there's no need for him to have a say in the matter.

Elisheva · 04/10/2015 18:39

Why are his reasons for not getting a hamster? Is he scared of them? Maybe he had some sort of hamster related trauma in his past?

Madratlady · 04/10/2015 18:40

I have one, I have no idea why. I look after her and she lives in a luxury cage but I can't say I've become that fond of her.

Rats (plural, they need the company of another rat), on the other hand, are amazing pets if you feel inclined towards getting rodents. Affectionate, trainable, gorgeous.

Although I like bessa's octopus idea. Dh has vetoed me having an octopus.

KimKK · 04/10/2015 18:44

There's no point. Ours hated the ball thingy and pooped herself silly. She was an evil fucker who knawed her way through several cages before finally retiring to the big hamster wheel in the sky.

KimKK · 04/10/2015 18:44

**gnawed not knawed, which isn't even a word, apparently.

profbadbride · 04/10/2015 19:28

Well, they spend their lives toiling round and round and round in their little hamster wheels, then turn up their toes after a mere 2 years.

All in all, an excellent tool for teaching young children about the futility of life, and the certainty of death.

ditavonteesed · 04/10/2015 19:41

when you put it like that takes the cute right out of the whole idea ;)

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/10/2015 19:45

I always thought their main purpose in life was to make every other male's balls look inadequate by comparison??

I'll get me coat ... Blush

RomComPhooey · 04/10/2015 19:46

All in all, an excellent tool for teaching young children about the futility of life, and the certainty of death.

Oh yes, that too. DS2 has asked if our next pet can be longer living as having to bury a hamster so often us too sad. (3 dwarf Chinese hammies in 18 months. Sad )

PineappleParty · 04/10/2015 19:47

Just get them first and think about explaining the why after Grin. I love hamsters, but we basically have a zoo at home, here's my two!

PineappleParty · 04/10/2015 19:48

there was suppose to be a pic attached to that :/ never mind!

CloakAndJagger · 04/10/2015 19:50

I have a dwarf hamster and he's a little cutie. He wakes up in the evening and he enjoys a cuddle on the sofa. He's so soft.

I've always kept small animals. Rats, mice and hamsters.

If you handle them lots they can be a lot of fun.

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