What type of things do you need to consider when choosing a hamster for a pet?
Hamsters fall into the rodent family of pets. You need to consider that there is a higher likelihood of injury from falls when being held than a dog or cat would.
Some useful questions when deciding to choose a hamster for a pet:
- Are you a morning person or evening person? Hamsters are more likely to be active during the day , but other rodents are nocturnal so they will be more active during the night time.
- Are you likely to get too emotionally attached to your hamster? Hamsters have short life spans so chances are your pet will die before you do.
- Are you willing to "hamster-proof" your house in case your pet escapes?
- Do you have the room for a cage big enough to provide adequate space for exercise, sleeping and eating?
What type of person would not make a good hamster owner?
If you are someone who is looking for a pet that you can cuddle with constantly, hamsters may not be the best pet for you. You need to be willing to create a safe space outside of your pets cage to roam around. You also need to be the type of person who can handle the short life span of hamsters. Hamsters, like most rodents, love to chew on things. If this is something that would bother you or your don't have enough space to keep them away from things like electric cords, hamsters would not be a good fit for you.
Where can you get a hamster?
Hamsters can be purchased from pet store or from breeders. You may be able to find some through rehoming services or shelters also, but that may be less common than with other types of animals.