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Original poster

Could I have a hamster?

56 replies

HunieBunie · 11/07/2006 10:07

Hi,

I have had a look back at previous threads here, and like Patttsy's family we lead a busy life, but do you think I could possibly take on the commitment of having a hamster?

I am home every evening (not always at the same time tho'). My children are in junior/secondary school. I am pretty sure I could find someone of our school chums to take care of it when we are away for a couple of days?

Well, what do you think? Can I have a hamster? Pleasssssseeeeee!

OP posts:
Iklboo · 11/07/2006 13:32

Pet rats are the BEST! If you can get over the long tail issue that some people have, they are brilliant pets. Very friendly, trainable, they love cuddles & playing.
We had to get rid ouf ours when I had DS as we didn't have the time spare to play with them, give them the attention they deserve. I bawled my eyes out and still get upset when I look at pics of my lovely rattie girls

Bugsy2 · 11/07/2006 13:34

Guinea pigs, guinea pigs, guinea pigs. They are cute & cuddly - only bite if severely provoked. Not smelly, easy to look after. Yummy, lovely, cuddly bundles of fur!!!!

Original poster
HunieBunie · 11/07/2006 14:41

But guinea pigs need more space and a bigger commitment, and don't you really need to get two?

OP posts:
zephyrcat · 11/07/2006 15:47

Our rats have never had a smelly problem - they are so far about the cleanest pets we've ever had!!

Iklboo · 11/07/2006 15:48

Boy rats are smellier than girls because of the scenting issue. Boys are lazier & so easier to cuddle & get to sit on your shoulder etc, but girl rats more fun

expatinscotland · 11/07/2006 15:50

Uggh. Wormy tails. I keep thinking of 'The Rats of NIMH' or 'Animal Farm' - or plague - when I see them.

Iklboo · 11/07/2006 16:13

Its what a lot of people don't like. Their tails are actually very soft & silky, they use them for balance & stuff.
Rats are never going to appeal to everyone because of hollywood/sewer rats/the plague (although that was the fleas on the rats). You either love 'em or hate 'em

NomDePlume · 11/07/2006 16:30

OOOOOH, you've got me all rat-broody now. I had a boy and he was brilliant. Very sociable, playful and gentle.

expatinscotland · 11/07/2006 16:33

Just think of plague-ridden fleas, NdP, that should quell your broodiness.

Kelly1978 · 11/07/2006 16:34

I'd love a rat again. dp would have a fit though! He's keen on rabbits, but rats are more intelligent. and rabbits are harder to sort when holidays come up.

Kelly1978 · 11/07/2006 16:35

rats are CLEAN!

mien was light brown with an adorable pink snuffly nose. Think mroe giant mouse!

NomDePlume · 11/07/2006 16:35

Oh God, Kelly. DH would have a coronary.

expat - have you ever actually 'met' a pet rat, you old cynic ?!

NomDePlume · 11/07/2006 16:36

Yeah, Noel was a gorgeous chocolate colour. Like a furry bar of dairy milk

expatinscotland · 11/07/2006 16:44

I have 'met' many rats in my time - scurrying across power lines at dusk, lurking in the garden trying to eat my father's produce, in the Old Town - we even had some in the basement of this building.

Eeeewwww.

Plague, people. If they're so clean, how is it they live in sewers?

zephyrcat · 11/07/2006 16:48

I'm tempted to post a pic of our girlies just for you expat!!

expatinscotland · 11/07/2006 16:50

that's what DH called his, his 'girl'. I told him we should make some extra money capturing rats in the Old Town at night and selling them to suckers as pets.

zephyrcat · 11/07/2006 16:52

DP brought one home from work who belonged to the receptionist in his office as she didn't have time to look after it... now that was a manky rat!!! It was a boy, brown and HUGE!! For weeks I swore blind it was a sewer rat and I hated him!! Our ones are pretty though lol

Kelly1978 · 11/07/2006 19:24

you can't compare domestic rats to sewer rats, it would be like comparing a labrador to a wolf!

Original poster
HunieBunie · 12/07/2006 09:33

Erm...(to change track back to the OP)I am now unsure whether I should get a hamster, as all this talk about bites and being a noturnal animal. Does anyone have a generally good opinion of hamster? Do they not mind being handled essentially during what is their nighttime?

Can't get my head round the idea of a pet rat, Dh just won't go for it, don't think the kids would be too keen either.

I would just like a pet which wouldn't require a high level of commitment, is unlikely to bite, scratch, snarl etc, but will enjoy being handled and petted.

Would like to get guinea pigs, but we go away lots so they would be farmed out maybe too much, which might not be fair on them.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 12/07/2006 09:37

My SIL had a brilliant hamster, Scrappy (RIP), who loved being handled.

'I want a 'amster. Spinning round and round on a wheel.'

NomDePlume · 12/07/2006 09:45

I''l refer you back to my original post on the subject

"By NomDePlume on Tuesday, 11 July, 2006 10:20:48 AM
I had a big chocolate Syrian, Seymour, and he was fantastic. Not a biter, they shouldn't be if you handle them lots from the start. I don't like the Russian dwarf ones, they are too tiny and fragile. "

If you wade through the rat worship posts you'll find a few pro-hamster ones

My hamster used to wake up at about 6.30pm - 7pm, but he would be pretty grumpy for the first half hour. IMO, they are a good pet for an older school aged child who is awake later than 7pm.

Original poster
HunieBunie · 12/07/2006 10:18

Okay then so hamsters aren't so bad....NomDePlume, have you got a hamster at present?

I am thinking of getting one from a breeder, rather than a pet shop in the hope that it may:

  1. live longer,
  2. have been handled more.

When everyone was talking about noturnal I was imagining the hamster waking at 10pm or later.

OP posts:
NomDePlume · 12/07/2006 13:19

Not right now, HunieBunie, no. I have a cat instead . I am seriously considering a guinea pig for DD though, just got to talk DH round.

NomDePlume · 12/07/2006 13:20

My pet shop hamster lived to be a very creaky 4 years old !

NomDePlume · 12/07/2006 13:21

Lifespan is expected to be around 3 years, Russian/dwarf hamsters live for half that