Not to get a new hamster cage?

[hollyfrost]

Hi, I'd be really grateful for some advice from any hamster owners out there.
My DD begged me for weeks about getting a hamster, and I finally gave in after she showed me a hamster up for adoption - we didn't have a cage, so we bought the largest one our pet store had (this one - www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/pets-at-home-wire-grey-hamster-home-extra-large ).
Fast forward a few weeks - DD absolutely adores the hamster- she spent nearly £50 on buying the hamster a 'better' wheel (apparently the old one was too small ) and overpriced toys. Fine, it's her money, I didn't stop her.
But now DD is obsessed with getting her hamster a new bigger cage - I keep telling her that the one we have right now is perfectly fine (it is) and that the hamster sleeps all the time anyway (it does), but she just starts yelling at me for being 'cruel'.
I'm not cruel at all, I just don't think it's worth spending £££ on a hamster which already has everything it needs. Is DD being unreasonable, or am I?

(In case anyone's wondering she wants to get this one - www.zooplus.com/customerpicturedisplay/shop/rodents/cages/rabbit_cage/120_cm_cages/348157 . WAY too expensive for a hamster IMO)

It’s heartening to see so many people on this thread agree that the hamster’s needs should be paramount here

Even if this hamster only lives another year, if she loves animals so much she will probably want another one, so the cage will get more use.

If it's her own money YABU to stop her. It's her decision whether it's a bad use of the money or not. It's only your responsibility to stop her if she's being scammed/tricked or if she wants to buy something harmful.

It's a much better "waste" of money than frittering it all on Fortnite skins!

Aw, hammy deserves a better cage! We did have one of the generic PetsAtHome ones when we got our first Syrian years ago, soon learned it was too small but have kept it for travel (when we get a new Syrian that's what we transport it in). We purchase our hammies from a breeder we know well and she will not sell to people who have too small a cage. Pedigree hammies tend to be larger, about 200g, but they all need floor space and digging materials as they are burrowing animals.

They make delightful pets. In fact, I need to go and clean the kitchen as it's around this time our chap wakes up and is ready to play.

We have the Alaska, had it a few years now. They really do benefit from the extra space. I’d let her get something like the Alaska

The OP should be setting an example for her DD, not the other way round. Sad

Jeez, you think the hamster doesn't deserve a decent quality of life because it's life expectancy isn't long!! Please listen to your daughter and look after the little thing as best you can.

YABU.

I think it’s excellent that your daughter is being a responsible pet owner and trying to improve its quality of life, even if you don’t view it as a worthwhile expense for something that will “only” live a couple of years.

Our hammies have usually lived for 3 years. They do slow down in their twighlight, but are lovely animals. We've learned a lot since having them. They love dog chews. We use Harry Hamster muesli but mix in mealworms, nuts and of course, daily fresh fruit/veg, and extras (they love popcorn!).

Your DD is proving a responsible hammy owner.

Please get the hamster a bigger cage. Don't make your daughter save for it. Do it for your daughter who is showing empathy and responsibility for her beloved hamster and that should be both rewarded and encouraged.

The outcome of this will stay with her forever. Please make this memory a happy one for her where her beloved pet gets a lovely home on the basis you acknowledge how important it is to her.

The one she wants is much better....

I had a number of hamsters that actually got out of the metal cage, i was always baffled to how untill one day, i saw it squeeze through the bars..... To this day i am still amazed...

Yours is too small, the one she wants isn’t suitable. They need one to climb on.

I fell into the trap of buying a small cage, I then joined a FB group and bought the Barney and a large wheel, the hamsters behaviour changed overnight, she stopped biting the bars and started using her wheel.

It also takes a lot longer to smell, the small one stank after 2 days but this one takes well over a week and even then I only need to spot clean the corners.

Your daughter's love and compassion for animals should be encouraged and you shouldn't be setting bad examples by knowingly causing suffering and saying it's ok because the animal has a short life span.

I had one similar at first and soon decided it was too small. Got a another one, which was bigger and great,until he worked out how to get out, the 4th escape where we took ages to find him was the cue for a new cage.

We have a rotastak one but I am not sure how you work out the floor space. I need to add the second round unit for burrowing.

Get the poor thing the bigger cage. I have bunnies and some of the housing and care is tragic :(. I have a rescue with a big skin fold caused by inadequate housing. He manages but it's obvious it makes it harder for him to move about. We have a duty to provide the best care we can.

Be proud of your daughter as she is a responsible pet owner. The Alaska cage sold by Zooplus is a good budget buy that meets RSPCA minimum standards. We have two for our Syrian hamsters, they were about £28. Just because they have short lives does not mean their lives should be miserable!

@Lolwhat tank cages are fine for hamsters, they don’t need bars to climb on. You can put things in tanks for them to climb on if they like climbing.

So because it doesn't live long it doesn't matter that it has to live in a cage that's too small??

Let her save up and get a second hand fish tank which is much better for her hamster and easier to maintain than a bar cage.

Finally, we meet..

You are that parent who allows their child to have a pet, who undoubtedly tells their child they MUST be responsible for their pet, look after it, meet its needs, not get bored...

And then you prevent your child from doing exactly that, because you are the adult and you know best and you don't value that animals life because it only cost a few quid to buy and only lasts a year or two.

I am the person on the internet forum, on the facebook group, who your child comes to, to ask for help.

I am the person who spends their time trying to come up with solutions that meet the pets needs, encourages the childs desire to look after their animal responsibly, and also work around your unreasonable behaviour.

So maybe your kid hasn't gone online to ask, but this is what I am faced with on a daily basis, moderating animal care forums.

Kids, breaking their hearts trying to care for animals that parents allowed them to get, but now refuse to actually permit them to do what they have been told they must do, and those of us trying to help them are powerless and what we WANT to say to their parents, we cannot say.

Buy the hamster a suitable home.
Apologise to your child for your behaviour, it IS unreasonable and deeply unfair.

Ouch, I’d be incredibly ashamed after reading what @WiddlinDiddlin has to deal with.

Don’t put her in that position again, trying to help your child when you are actively stopping your child from being a better person than yourself.

Ouch. I’d be so ashamed to be shown up like that if I were you. Suspect you’ll be full of it though. Sigh.

YABU it's the floor space. It was my idea to get a bigger cage for my children's Syrian hamster as I felt sorry for it. We bought an expensive big wheel that she definitely prefers as it's bad for their backs to have an inadequate size.

How sad for your hamster.
Our hamster had I think 4 different cages in its short little life. I also used to let it run around a large built enclosure thing (that I could move) in my bedroom because I felt so sorry for it being in a cage. I hate animals in a cage and I'll never have another one.
I didn't even want a hamster but it was the sweetest thing, so friendly and I was so upset when it died.

The thought of people buying hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs and sticking them in a tiny cage and leaving them without proper care makes me feel ill.
Buy the cage.

People who keep animals in inadequate housing is one of my pet peeves (pardon the pun).

I keep goldfish and the amount of idiots who think fishbowls are okay and no filtration makes me so sad.

It is so cruel to keep pets in enclosures that are way too small for a good quality of life. Would you buy a puppy and keep it in a cupboard?

I'm afraid I agree with the others. It's irrelevant how long it will live for, it's a living animal and protected by law (Animal Welfare Act 2006). You are the legal owner as the adult. You are responsible for making sure the animal is properly cared for. If you're not willing to support your daughter to care properly for her pet you shouldn't have agreed to get it.

Another one here who's heartily sick of people buying 'disposable' pets and not researching beforehand what they need. I work in animal welfare and rescue.

I know nothing about hamster cage sizes, but there are loads of cheap ones on Facebook and eBay if you're worried about cost.
Also much better to not buy more new plastic.

Get an IKEA Detolf for £60 (much less on eBay), you can turn them on their back and they make a fantastic sized habitat plus they look cool.

That last bit is why people choose to modify furniture for their hamster instead of buying a cage designed for it.

Despite what people are posting, hamsters need to climb. They won’t give a toss whether their habitat matches your living room furniture ffs.