to be counting down the days until our hamster dies?

[SnuggMugg]

Just that really. 30 weeks pregnant and irritable. I hate our hamster. Is smells after a day. It makes a massive racket on its wheel. It has a horrid ugly cage. I feel guilty knowing it can't run around like a wild hamster should/would. It's just annoying and pointless. Hardly ever gets played with by DD. Am I a vile human being to have had a fleeting thought re how nice it is going to be when hamster is no more and refusing to get another?

Is the house the little plastic one it comes with? I got rid of that really quickly as they stink!!! 😷
Our hamster has a bundle in a corner that he has made in to a nest he sleeps in - so much better then the stinky house.

I think the OP is getting a hard time. She didn’t want the bloody hamster in the first place, and she’s clearly looking after it. She’s not going to harm it and pretty sure the hamster doesn’t have a clue that she’s counting down the days til it pops its clogs. Calm down people.

How awful.

syrian hamsters are the best.

There’s a thread running right now about someone wishing her mother would die and she’s getting support and love... compare that with this. Baffling.

That post is from May @MaryPoppinsPenguins and appears to have been deleted.

I just screenshot it today.

I don't like animals in cages , like you I think what's the point and would never have one . And yes I don't visit zoos or eat meat before anyone starts . Let the fecker go. At least if it had a day in the wild and got eaten it would be free 🤷‍♀️

Op your post really upsets me. All I can picture is a lovely neglected little animal. I get you didn't want him/buy him BUT I had someone literally turn up on my doorstep with one years ago and I HATE caged animals. I bought him the biggest cage I could find. Gave him attention plus choc hamster treats plus used to let him come out of his cage regularly for a good run around. Those plastic balls suck as they tease the poor bastard for humans entertainment. They DON'T stink but they do wee a lot so cage needs cleaning out once a week with lots of added sawdust

It isn't neglected... unless you consider keeping a small animal in a small cage neglect, in which case you could argue that maybe it is neglected... but then so are all hamsters kept as pets!

It's not neglected. It's houses, fed, has entertainment, and is well cared for. OP doesn't have warm and fuzzy feelings for it but do you really think the hamsters knows or cares?

According to the pet thought police, apparently so. It actually strikes me as amazingly self-aggrandizing to believe that a pet needs your love. Care and attention, sure, but love? Who do you think you are to think that a wild creature gives two hoots about your feelings?! It's anthropocentric to a quite bonkers degree.

(that was to the people calling the op vile, obviously). As for the person saying the problem is the op not putting her pets on equal footing with her children, words actually fail me.

Maybe you can claim benefits for your fur-baby child, op? Enrich its life, maybe upsize your home for free from the council to give it its own room?? Reading this thread, I'm almost certain this would be a vote winner. I also think CAMHS would be able to offer Hammy counselling to help with her issues brought about by your cold parenting style?
((Hugs)) (for hammy, NOT cruel hammy-mothers)

the person saying the problem is the op not putting her pets on equal footing with her children, words actually fail me

Well, quite. People needs come above pet needs, as unpopular as that opinion may be with some. If push came to absolute shove and I decided I didn't want my hamster any more for whatever reason then I can put him in a little box and take him to the nearest pet store for rehoming. The DC, not so much.

And that's the story of why I'm barred from the local Pets At Home

This has to go in classics.

This evening, I told my dog if he didn't hurry up and wee quickly, he’d be puppy pie. I guess that makes me worse than the OP.

It’s ok to silently hate the hamster, but hamsters have a very strong ‘gut’ feelings, so the hamster will be aware of your resentment towards it. It will know you hate it and may start acting out.

So if it starts tutting or crossing its arms while staring angrily back at you then it has definitely copped on.
I would encourage the hamster to take up a hobby or join a band if possible.
It might be good for both of you, especially while you are on maternity leave so you can both get a break.

Best of luck.

Also, if it took up smoking it might not live as long and might help with the smell and also the boredom.

I’m not saying to actually give it the cigarettes but if it found a few by accident, then so be it.

Hey the OP didn't mentiin anything about abusing it. We've all been pregnant and irritable at one point. Since having a child I can't tolerate any pets in the house except for fish! Pets at home do accept unwanted pets though, they have a little section for them

What an unpleasant attitude towards a pet! My poor DGD recently lost both her dwarf hamsters within a fortnight of each other. First one died,then the other escaped when they left her with a friend while they were on holiday. Poor DGD was heartbroken.

The only shocking thing is that MNHQ would delete a thread about wanting a hamster to die
while allowing threads about wanting a parent to die (both are understandable)

This is a forum for adults to discuss things
MNHQ: please don't try to infantilise us all

SnuggMugg: sounds like you can accept serious offers from MNers here to rehome hammy, to mutual benefit

YDANU To sternly tell DP you'll rehome him if he ever gets a pet without your prior agreement
He is a twat

Your DP should be your focus here to make sure he never pulls a stunt like that again.
My BIL once turned up at our house for Christmas once with a big bag with straw poking out. Luckily I clocked it before the DC and told him to take that right back to his car. No way did I want any pets without being informed first.

The only shocking thing is that MNHQ would delete a thread about wanting a hamster to die

I imagine it had something to do with the thread in Chat which was zapped shortly before this thread was started which was full of people gleefully talking about ways they'd abused or killed their pets. Now that thread was disgusting but this one isn't IMO.

As a side note, I don't think animals really care if you love them or not. I've loved all the pets I've ever had but I imagine they only care/cared about being fed, watered, given stimulation, etc.