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Original poster

those of you with pets in cages...................................................

70 replies

nailpolish · 20/11/2006 14:29

dont you think its cruel?

dd1 wants a hamster but i think its cruel

would feel very guilty

even a fish in a bowl

or a rabbit in a hutch

your thoughts please

OP posts:
tensing · 20/11/2006 14:47

Dependson the animal and the size of the cage.

The cage does not only keep the animal from escaping, but also prevents predators from getting to the animal.

I have poultry and waterfowl, all are contained in the garden with a fence, at the moment one hen is in a large rabbit hutch, as she has been sat on eggs, and now has a chick, so for her chicks safety they are only out under supervision.

The 5 week old quail are also in a hutch and run, mainlt because as small birds they would make a nice snack for a passing owl.

Yes I think its crual if the cage is inaduquate, in size or type, but otherwise no. My animals even those confined to cages are often allowed out.

cupcakes · 20/11/2006 14:48

we have fish in a tank. They seem to prefer it to the floor.

madmarchhare · 20/11/2006 14:49

HATE birds in cages

Original poster
nailpolish · 20/11/2006 14:49

yes that sounds ok (to me)!

i mean like hamsters in the bedroom

or guinea pigs in the front room in cages

or even budgies

actually especially budgies, they have wings fgs!

OP posts:
FioFio · 20/11/2006 14:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

expatinscotland · 20/11/2006 14:49

no, no i don't think it's cruel at all.

Chandra · 20/11/2006 14:50

Well, it depends, if the cage prevents budgie to end up as the dinner of the cat, or hamster to be steped on, I think they are not bad.

flamesparrow · 20/11/2006 14:51

Better than puttin it in a stew....

DontlookatmeImshy · 20/11/2006 14:52

Agree it depends on the animal and size of cages.
Alot of pet store cages/hutches are woefully inadequate in size imo. Our g-pigs have a huge homemade run andwhen moved into it from the cage they were clearly much happier

Original poster
nailpolish · 20/11/2006 14:53

lol @cupcakes

well my view is they cant run around the house of their own free will and i hate cages so no dd1 we are not getting a hamster

OP posts:
wannaBe1974 · 20/11/2006 14:53

thing is though that these animals are domesticated. they can't fend for themselves, so keeping them caged is the only way to keep them really, just as long as the cages are adequate. I love birds, but I could never keep love firds for instance because we used to get them in our back garden.

puddle · 20/11/2006 14:54

We have a hamster. He's in quite a big cage and comes out every night for a run round the floor in his hamster ball.

But I do know what you mean. I wouldn't have a rabbit unless I had a big garden with room for a large run.

Original poster
nailpolish · 20/11/2006 14:54

its still cruel

OP posts:
fennel · 20/11/2006 14:55

I do, sort of, but it depends how often you let them out to range around.

dd1's hamster has the most enormous cage. Rotastak, 4 sections of it with long tubes in between. it looked ok in the shop and huge in a normal room. she gets to come out and explore different adventure playgrounds every day too, so I think she's happy enough.

Chandra · 20/11/2006 15:06

Now, in an ideal world we would live happily surounded by animals who would love to be petted and won't go and cause havoc if they were let to their own devices. Although I think that if we lived in that "ideal world" probably we would be already eating them (as Guinea Pigs who are as popular as chicken, as a meal in their original areas)

Blu · 20/11/2006 15:11

I don't think it's cruel to keep a tiny rodent like a hamster in a cage, if it has some way to excecise, a ball, or whatever. Not very keen on caged birds unless they get to actually spread thier wings and fly, or bigger things like rabbits in cramped conditions. DS wants a rabbit - we'll get one when we can get a sizable run for it. And get two for company. Do you think goldfish realise it's the same route they have been swimming round?

geekgrrl · 20/11/2006 15:13

I don't feel too bad about our hamster who, like fennel's, lives in a Rotastak monstrosity with tubing and four different compartments including a 'burrow basement'.

I could never keep a bird in a cage though.

cupcakes · 20/11/2006 15:31

I always feel bad for dogs who are kept in crates (nice name for cages) all day. I understand the need for them whilst training and at night but some owners seem to just use them to get the dog out from underfoot.

Chandra · 20/11/2006 15:37

If you are trainining they should not be on it for more than a few days, otherwise the training may not be working. However, I would have thought it cruel until I had a dog who barks at 11:00 to be put in "bed"

Original poster
nailpolish · 20/11/2006 16:22

my aunt had a cat who broke her leg and had to be kept in a cage for a week by vets instructions to try and rest the leg

cat cried for a week and aunt broke her heart

at dog cages

OP posts:
wannaBe1974 · 20/11/2006 16:38

I think caged birds are ok if they're given ample exercise - I had a cockateel when I was younger and he was very tame and would be let out first thing in the morning and had the run of the lounge pretty much and loved to ride on my shoulder, and would only go back into his cage at night. now would be impossible as have dogs/cats.

I think dog cages are ok in principle - they are the dog's space and most dogs actually like to have a space that is theirs, although I don't have them for my dogs.

wannaBe1974 · 20/11/2006 16:40

ultimately I think however you keep an animal there will be someone who thinks it's cruel. I remember when I'd had my first dog for about a year, I was walking down the road one day. two girls (I'd say they were prob between 16/18) were walking behind me, one said "oh look at that lovely dog". her mate said "that's so cruel,! Making a dog work like that!" dog was happily walking down the street with me, wagging her tail. she loved working, still runs to the door now when I get the harnass out for the other dog.

lornaloo · 20/11/2006 16:47

I used to have hamsters and fish as child. I loved them, used to play with my hamsters all the time.
When Dp and I first got together he got me a hamster (don't know why). I felt really mean because I didn't play with it much as I was abit scared it would bite me. We ended up giving her away.
I don't think it's cruel to have a hamster as long as your dd gets it out and plays with it alot. I would aslo advise you to get a male one if you do get one. In my expirience the female ones bite more.

Original poster
nailpolish · 20/11/2006 16:50

nope there is no way im getting dd a hamster or any other animal whose shite i have to clean out

i have enough to do!

i couldnt sit and watch the poor thing in a cage

either

OP posts:
fennel · 20/11/2006 16:54

my 6yo dd is very good at taking her hamster out, feeding her and cleaning her. I was surprised, was expecting to be doing this myself within a week. Though I didn't mind the idea, being a rodent-fancier anyway (as demonstrated on the rat thread). But she's very dedicated at looking after the hamster and it makes a change, before we got the hamster she kept woodlice, earwigs and maggots as pets - equally cruel but less cuddly