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Original poster

My DD is now TERRIFIED of the hamster.

49 replies

makewaymakeway · 30/04/2020 23:32

Long story short, my DD was in hospital for a while and was finally discharged in February.

She kept asking and asking for a hamster so we agreed and got her one. I had hamsters as a child and they were great. We thought it would be lovely for her to have a little guy to focus on while she gets better and to take her kind off things.

This hamster just doesn't like us.

None of my hamsters were like this. He's bitten my Dd and me many times now. Constantly biting the cage no matter what new toys, chews and outside time we give him.

I'm on edge with him and trying to keep him happy and not chewing at the cage.

I really don't know what to do. Blush dd is now really scared of him and it's not helping her recovery.

OP posts:
LouiseTrees · 30/04/2020 23:35

Get rid of the hamster to someone else. Arrange it but then talk with her before you do it.

Original poster
makewaymakeway · 30/04/2020 23:39

I don't think anyone will take him with lockdown Confused
I feel terrible for him but he's clearly not happy with us at all.

OP posts:
NoRoomInBed · 30/04/2020 23:40

How long have you had him?

Original poster
makewaymakeway · 30/04/2020 23:41

Since February

OP posts:
TimeWastingButFun · 30/04/2020 23:51

TBH hamsters IMO are nightmare pets. They can be cute, but they're like little dead things during the day, constant checking to see if they're still alive, followed by evil stares from the rudely-awakened creature, and manic noisy monsters during they day and they don't live for long. And they smell. Dogs or cats are best! If not then rabbits, guinea pigs?

TimeWastingButFun · 30/04/2020 23:52

*manic noisy monsters during the night!

LouiseTrees · 30/04/2020 23:52

I bet someone would if you live in a town/suburbia . In our area I bet someone would put a post on a Facebook group and he’d be rehomed within the day by putting at the end of the drive with all the supplies you had with him.

TKAAHUARTG · 30/04/2020 23:54

How old is DD? You need to socialise them, do you handle him regularly?

AgeLikeWine · 01/05/2020 00:03

Many vets are terrified of hamsters. Vicious, bitey little creatures with razor sharp teeth. You aren’t a proper small animal vet until you have had a hamster attached to your finger by its incisors.

Original poster
makewaymakeway · 01/05/2020 00:12

I don't think we'll be having anymore pets for a very very long time.

BIG learning curve!

I live in a very rural city. I hope someone will take him that can give him what he wants.

I've got such a bad headache from the stress of him today. I feel so guilty but at the same time I've just had enough.

OP posts:
2bazookas · 01/05/2020 00:27

contact the nearest animal rescue centre. They take all sorts.

ladycarlotta · 01/05/2020 00:34

Some hamsters are real shits. I had a truly amazing one as a kid, clever and friendly and sweet, honestly he was a delight and the whole family loved him the way you'd love a dog... and then my brother got one and it was the nastiest little bastard.

I'm sure there were reasons and a lot of people just aren't educated enough in terms of how to care for them, but also you may be right... he just doesn't care for this. In which case it might well be best to find him a new home, but if he's not going anywhere during lockdown anyway, I wonder if there's more research you can do to figure out what is motivating his behaviour. You might be able to figure something out.

wonderrotunda · 01/05/2020 00:35

Guinea Pigs are far gentler!

GarlicSoup · 01/05/2020 00:39

Have you got a big enough cage? Some of the ones sold as 'suitable' can be shockingly small.

Wanderlust21 · 01/05/2020 00:40

I've only ever had problems with Russian dwarfs. Syrians are usually big softies. Unless you wake them up xD

Perhaps try mostly just talking to him, when he us awake. And petting rather than lifting him. If you need to get him out, put food in a hamster ball to coax him in. Also, you can use gardening gloves when handling them.

I'm sure I'd bite a giant too if it tried to grab me xD

thenightsky · 01/05/2020 00:40

Gerbils are far jollier and sociable. My dd still keeps gerbils now she's in her 30s. She got her first pair when she was 8 and we've lost count of how many since. They have lovely happy personalities and are entertaining.

Original poster
makewaymakeway · 01/05/2020 00:42

The hamsters I had when I was a girl (well into late teens really) were all lovely.

I've spent a fortune on this hamster, given him lots of attention and he's still just not nice.

It's 1am almost and he's all I can bloody think about because I feel so guilty.

DD just doesn't want to be near him. I think she'll be a lot calmer and relaxed when he's gone (if I can find him a nice home)

I've been scrolling the internet and I can't find any suitable pet rescue centres near me at all Confused
I thought there would have been a few.

OP posts:
sestras · 01/05/2020 00:42

I had a lovely hamster when I was little. She sadly died. My parents got me another hamster after a while and she was such a dick.

whynotchangemore · 01/05/2020 00:42

Guinea pigs are just lovely, do they even bite? Ever?

Lofari · 01/05/2020 00:47

My son has a hamster. He was expecting a lovely little pet he could handle and love.
Instead he got a psychotic little shit who hates people and just wants to bite you.

lovinglavidaloca · 01/05/2020 00:52

Definitely get him up on Facebook tomorrow.

Cats are the way forward OP.

StudentHelp · 01/05/2020 00:53

Is his cage big enough?
Have you allowed him to get used to your scent? Try wearing a piece or kitchen paper (not toilet roll due to lint) in your sock and then put it in his cage after a day. In your bra works too but avoid under arms due to deodorant.

When does he bite? When in the cage or out? Can you try picking him up with a tube?

Does he seem in pain? Does he have any obvious lumps? The only hamster I had that bit me had a tumour the size of his head in his abdomen, he was a Russian dwarf.

pigoons · 01/05/2020 00:53

Our hamster was lovely. Never bit anyone and used to wake up during the day to come and see us when he heard our voices. We bought ours from breeders via a very small pet shop who made a point of handling the hamsters every day when young. The 'Pets at Home' hamster at DS nursery was a nightmare - terrified of everything. We left our hamster alone for a few days when we first got him, bought a new cage and wheel as they are often too small, and just spoke to him when we gave him food

FrangipaniBlue · 01/05/2020 01:02

You've got to love MN sometimes....

OP "help, what do I do about my maniac hamster?"

MN "oooh buy a guinea pig/rabbit/cat/dog/giraffe"

Hmm

OP no advice but I feel your pain, I had a lovely hamster as a child, got one as an adult who was a total knobhead!!!

Original poster
makewaymakeway · 01/05/2020 01:04

Yeah the cage is regulation and we took all of the right steps to handle him properly and get him used to our home. Like I said I've had lots of hamsters before in my childhood and teens
We did Lots of research together via books and online...

He just really doesn't like us.

As much as I feel for him, I'd rather my daughter recover properly and feel comfortable.

OP posts:
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