Hamster or Manx rat?

[drinkswineoutofamug]

Without a long back story I ended up rescuing this little girl last week. Got told she was a hamster. I've kept hamsters and rats over the years. I'm actually questioning whether she is a hamster. She doesn't put food in her pouches , but takes it a bit at a time back into her house. She's a skirting board runner. Not nocturnal, doesn't twitter like my other hamster , but that maybe because she's settling in. Her face is pointy , but was apparently sold from pets at home as an Syrian hamster. I know that they have breeding farmers as such and she's probably a hienz 57 but , what is she?

Oh she has a stubby tail but not as short as my hamsters , it sticks out more🤔

Isn't she pretty? But to my untrained eye she doesn't have the face of a hamster.

My dad has just visited and doesn't think she's a hamster. I'm stumped. She's running round her cage like a nutter . If she's a rat, she's going to need a lot bigger cage. She's still in the one I got her in .

The markings are more rat like.

Could a hamster and rat mate and produce?

That's a rat

And rats bite less than hamsters!

I will try and get a picture of her tail if she will keep still long enough! She's more inquisitive than my hamster, but he's male. They have no interest in each other, but he's lazy,
She's got short coarse hair but a fluffy belly. She's possible 2/3 months old going by the size of her. Oh she's called Harriet

Female and male hamsters are like two different species. Females are much more inquisitive. A female hamster will happily rip the throat out of a male if she is not in the mood for mating.

Harriet looks lovely, whatever she is.

Chinese hamster? They are meant to be rat like?

If she is a hamster, she is a golden one.

Her nose looks a bit too flat to be a rat but I could be wrong. Could you weigh her? Pet shop rats can be underweight but she should be 150-200g at 2 months (very approximate!). Do you have any photos where she's more stretched out? And yes she's beautiful.

I will try later . She's taking a power nap

What ever she is , she has a caring Home for life.

She is quite similar to this hamster.

Wow she is!!
Well done @MrsPestilence
So she is a hamster ! Thank you so much!

She looks like a hamster to me. She’s got the same shaped head/face as my hamster. How big is she?

She fits in the palm of my hand . Still will need a bigger cage though

That's a Syrian hamster!

Glad you have identified the need for a bigger cage already (80x50cm unbroken floor space minimum). Do check out Zooplus.co.uk - their Alaska, Barney and Alexander models are excellent value for money. You'll also need a 28cm diameter wheel - smaller ones cause spinal problems.

You may also want to join one of the hamster Facebook groups, such as Hamsters UK

My other hamster has a huge cage, her looks like a £20 special. No wheel etc so need to invest . She's got a ball that she runs about in , they both have freedom of the house to go exploring. Unfortunately it's going to have to wait till pay day.
I will look on line at You recommendation. Thank you everyone!

Sorry to report that little Harriet was found dead in her cage.
She had a good short life with us. A clean cage, warm bed, food and water.
R.I.P 🌻

Rest in peace little Harriet. They live such short little lives. Ours is 2 this year and very much part of the family, I will be devastated when he goes

Oh no, I'm so sorry. I was just admiring how lovely she was

She was only a baby, few months old.