My hamster has died

[TheJollyPirate]

... and I am sat here blubbing away with DS.
I know she was "just a hamster" and I know they have short lives but she was only a year old and it was too short.

I am sitting here trying to understand why - did I clean her cage out not often enough? Did I not give her the right food? Did I feed her too much fruit. Tbh last week I thoight she looked a little on the thin side but she had plenty of food and stuffed loads of apple into her cheek just two days ago.

Her bedding is all okay but she peed in it so am panicking that she got an infection from that and died. Am so upset because she was just a gorgeous little hammy.

DS is devatstated and we are going to bury her tomorrow at my Mums (we have no garden). DS has written her a letter on the computer and we have printed it out....

Have just cleaned the cage and binned it. Hamster is laying in state in the kitchen for a little hammy funeral tomorrow - DS is asleep now and I am relaxing finally.

I'm very sorry. It doesn't matter that she was 'just a hamster' she was a living thing that you cared for.

My DH always cried like a child when our hammies passed on, he took it so much worse than I ever did. I don't think it is anything that you did, sometimes they just don't live so long. One of my hammies died after 6 weeks and that was awful, I felt so responsible, but he had a happy, if short, life so please don't blame yourself - remember the nice things and mourn the loss.
Now have a cup of wine tea and relax X

I'm so, so, sorry. I bet he was really happy living with you all. It wasn't anything you did, they just don't last very long.

Thank you for your kind words. We are going to my Mum's after school and will bury her with DS's letter, some flowers and a little thank you to the universe for allowing us to have time with her. Not sure why she died so quickly - DS says he never wants another hamster which is fine with me as it was a full time job protecting our hammy from the cat!

Have said to DS that she was loved by us all through her short life and to remember the lovely things about her.

Oh bless you, Im the same with my hammies. Ive had 18 over the last 10 years (got 3 atm), and got so attached to one particular one that when it had a pouch prolapse (literally its cheek pouch turned inside out and was hanging ot of his mouth) I ran crying into the vets and paid hundreds to have it operated on etc, but it had to be put to sleep eventually as it just wasnt fair.

My lord did I cry. And wail.

(And btw, Ive had a ham live 4+ years, and some lived to only 1. Its like any animal, they vary due to natural issues)

Oh thank you monkey - you've just made me feel a whole lot better over the fact that she only lived a year.

Jolly, Ive had hams from pet shops/rescue centres, and they have told me stright that they are 8 weeks old etc when I know full well they are more like 16weeks/even 6-7months!

Unless you bought from a breeder, or are quite experienced like me a self confessed animal geek then you may have had a much older one than you thought.

Please dont worry- Ive rescued hamsters that have spent months in their own filth because people forget about them, at least your baby was loved.

And dont be put off getting another for you your son as they are lovely pets.

Thank you monkey - we buried her this afternoon with some flowers and a letter from DS saying he loved her (sob).

All done and am relieved. She was in her bed when I found her - eyes shut tight so went in her sleep. Just love hammies so much - so utterly endearing.

....and of course I want another one. Off to search for hamster breeders in Essex.

aww so sorry to hear about your hammy

they are not just creatures but a part of the family, even if only had them a few months/year - small cute and furry and prob always happy to pop out for a play/cuddle

does seem a tad young to die but sounds like went peacefully which is better then one of ours had a tumour

glad funeral went well,we always bury ours in the garden and get a dog tag engraved with name and date of birth/death and put by grave - or you can keep at home as grave at parents

and yes we go and get a new hammy asap as seeing the empty cage is awful and sure other hammy (we always have 2) seems to pine - sure they talk and swing together at night

TJP I sorry to hear about ur hammie, mine died a couple of weeks ago after i had to get her put down, she was paralysed after doing some silly acrobats at night (from what i can guess as i has seen her do this previously)

I thought i was being silly but after posting on here i was told pretty much the same as u have been told (that no matter how small an animal you still loved and cared for it and getting upset is only natural.

So sad to hear about ur DS's letter, how old is he? My DS is only 4 so i thought it was best to just give hammie to my dad to bury in his garden as we have the same situation (no garden) and talk with DS after (told him that molly had gone to live with lots of other hamsters and she was very happy and thanked him for looking after her while she was with us

Are two little hammie's are probably up playing with each other right now