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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:
joelallie · 20/11/2006 16:55

I don't know np.....I do see what you mean. Years ago I had a guinea pig that I loved ....bought another guinea pig and together they made beautiful music and lots of babies. So Dad built them a big shed where they could run around to their hearts content. Not cruel at all ...a little guinea pig kingdom. About 10 years later mum bought me a rabbit for Easter - I was an adult with a full-time job,a busy social life, no kids to keep me at home and no time for the poor beast. He was outside and TBH had very little attention - I felt so guilty about the animal that I ended up resenting it. He was never physically neglected but emotionally he was I think. After he died I ended up having nightmares about it. That was cruel and I am still cross with my mum for being so stupid. My DS#1 wants some rats. They will be in his room so that he can't ignore them (not that I think he will). The cage we've bought is massive and will have a wheel and other 'toys'. The intention is to let the rats out of the cage for plenty of cuddles and exercise - if DS#1 gets fed up with that I'll happily do it. That (I hope) won't be cruel.

It depends on a lot of things.

Original poster
nailpolish · 20/11/2006 17:01

dd1 is only 4!

maybe ill think different in a few years

ive only ever had cats who come and go as they please with catflaps and clean bums

OP posts:
ScroogeMacDog · 20/11/2006 17:03

I kept hamsters for years. Always kept them in big cages with plenty to interest them and fresh fruit/veg.
They got free runs every day.
Far crueller things than that IMHO
But each to their own

Chandra · 20/11/2006 21:38

I think you should get Sea Monkeys NailPolish, they come in a packet, just need to add water and within days they will be around. And you don't need to worry about changing the water. Just stop feeding them and they will clean it themselves!

They are so small that in their eyes a small fish tank is the size of a lagoon

zephyrcat · 20/11/2006 21:46

We got rats instead of hamsters because they don't bite, you can train them and they can come and sit on the sofa with you, have a run around or go around the house on your shoulder and won't run away and hide behind the cooker!!!

They have a cage each which we took the doors off and joined together for one big cage.

Kelly1978 · 20/11/2006 21:46

i keep fish, but have a 260l tank and they are perfedctly happy. Domesticated pets aren't the same as wild animals/fish. My biggest fish is about 10" and very tame, she will be hand fed and follows me around the room (from behind the glass!) I can even stroke her, though she will peck at me if I try to move teh tank about - she likes it how she arranges it. Sounds stupid for a fish, but even they have a brain and she knows what she wants.
I've kept all sorts and always managed to keep them happy. As long as you care for them properly they will be happy. I would be more nervous of reptiles or something because that does fee wrong, but hamsters would be fine!
I kept hamsters and felt bad, so bought them a huge great trail thingy and they hated it, they liked their cosy cage with only three levels!

wannaBe1974 · 20/11/2006 22:17

I think 4 is too young for a hamster. they can bite and be very skittish and she's too young to take full responsibility for it. I personally wouldn't get a hamster until about 9/10.

fennel · 20/11/2006 22:39

When we got my 6yo her hamster we "met" all the shop hamsters and found out which one was the most friendly - a 3 month old rather than a little one, which had been handled lovingly every day. She's terribly patient and good natured about children holding her, has only ever bitten once in 8 months. you have to be careful where you get rodents from, if they're not handled right as babies they are very hard to tame later.

cowmad · 20/11/2006 22:43

noooo!!! animals in cages!
not natural
not educational
not needed

why else would a person do this to another species?

jampots · 20/11/2006 22:46

we have a rabbit in a hutch and a hamster in a state of the art cage. both are stimulated and loved and sleep in their respective homes for their protection. As YG can confirm, our hamster is locked away to save young childrens fingers from being chobbled on

cowmad · 20/11/2006 23:54

but why do you have them?

jampots · 20/11/2006 23:57

to teach my children responsibility for other living creatures. we quite often leave the hutch door open for bunny and he hops in and out as he pleases. hamster admittedly would end up as cat food if he got out

cowmad · 20/11/2006 23:59

crickey...you dont think you could just explain all that without enslaving another animal?

cowmad · 21/11/2006 00:03

admittadly its too late for your animals
but in hindsight,do you realise
they wouldnt be breed if people didnt buy them to "teach"? their children a lesson to respect another living creature(?)
domesticated animals such as dogs an cats are another issue..and with the correct care can really BE a family member...not the ones in cages tho...

JanH · 21/11/2006 00:04

You still here then, cowmad?

cowmad · 21/11/2006 00:05

ohh yes!!!

ninah · 21/11/2006 00:17

did you know abbout the new legislation proposing to tax small caged animals unless special equipment is installed connecting them to turbines, thus contributing to energy conservation?

jampots · 21/11/2006 16:48

to be perfectly honest cowmad I actually dont like animals all that much myself - left to my own devices I wouldnt have had any at all with all the shit and mess and smells etc. Ds keeps asking for a dog and i have said that if he can find one that craps bubbles and pee's short bursts of Oust then I will consider it. Not entirely sure why people cant be as kind to each other as they are to animals.

cowmad · 21/11/2006 19:05

not sure what?not sure why people cant be kind to each other as ther are to their animals??
meaning what?
sorry dont understand?
and in reply to the other bit,why not have a little dog that craps on its walk (please pick up!)rather than have a rabbit and hamster crapping in their cages so you have to beathe that in and then clean the cages out..
all so you can teach your dc a lesson?
what lesson? that if you cage a animal you will shorten its life span by half and get to see it die?
great lesson!
as i said before..cant you just explain that "circle of life thing" rather than enslave/
they are wild animals...try domesticated species instead.and i am being kind!its just my opinion!!!

jampots · 21/11/2006 22:01

my children wanted pets at aged approx 5 we bought dd a rabbit - she was delighted, bunny seemed quite happy to not be chased by foxes or cars and he is now nearly 9. Dd is a compassionarte and caring soul and i dont think either of them has suffered in this experience. obviously you have other thoughts on this. Did you have any pets when you were little?

cowmad · 21/11/2006 23:14

domestic ones yes, dogs cats in house ...horses in fields...
sorry i cant agree with you on this,i just hate to see caged animals...

jampots · 21/11/2006 23:36

no worries cowmad - id forgotten it already

hunkermunker · 21/11/2006 23:49

I keep a cow in a cage.

cowmad · 22/11/2006 00:14

not stalking then??
and if you do...bet you get free milk!!!

hunkermunker · 22/11/2006 00:41

Stalking? What? No, that's deer you're thinking of. I have one of those in a cage (bigger one, room for antlers).