Should I get a hamster?

Darira · 02-11-2017, 09:01 AM

I have always wanted a hamster but as a kid I was never allowed to have one.

Now I live on my own and am planning to adopt a hamster. I have one small problem though: I have a studio that is 2 hours away from home and almost every weekend I go back home to my family.

This is why I want advice on wether or not I can adopt a hamster. Should I take him/her with me every weekend? I don't have a car so I have to use public transport (train and bus). Or can I leave my hamster for 2 days alone (I leave friday night and am back sunday night)?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

InkyPen · 02-11-2017, 11:45 AM

Hamsters can be left for a couple of nights at a time, but I'm not sure that it's fair on them to be doing it every weekend - they do enjoy social interaction and handling (with only a very few exceptions for individual hamsters!).

I did transport Inky home to the family once (about 2.5 hours by train) as they had never met her before and there wasn't going to be anyone at home that weekend. She traveled well, but I'm really not sure I'd want to do it every weekend - it's a bit of a pain, and I did worry about the cold (luckily I was able to transport her in a bin cage which is meshed on the top only and put a blanket over the top, but still)

The other thing you'd have to factor in is that a cage which is large enough for a hamster (Zooplus Alaska / Barney / Alexander are the most commonly recommended if you're in the UK) is going to be too large to readily carry on public transport alone (and, if it's crowded, you may struggle to find somewhere to put the cage - luggage racks are a no-no as you don't want anyone moving and dropping the cage, and taking up seats becomes hard to justify if someone else is standing...). Some people do have smaller travelling cages (I just took the larger half of Inky's cage with me) but I don't think a hamster would appreciate being put in a different cage every weekend...

Personally, I wouldn't until you've either got to the stage where you aren't visiting home so often, or you have a flatmate / partner who would be able and willing to look after and play with your hammy each weekend.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 02-11-2017, 12:02 PM

I agree, it wouldn't be fair to the hamster. Something could go wrong as well. Sometimes illness creeps up or the water bottle can get stuck. I'd adopt as soon as you have a roommate as stated above or travel less frequently.

AmityvilleHams · 02-11-2017, 12:03 PM

Bad things do tend to happen when you're not around with pets

It comes down to putting the welfare of an animal before your desire to own them,and if owning them would mean they'd not get the best care then it isn't a good idea.

Drago · 02-11-2017, 12:19 PM

It's really your choice to make, but remember that by taking in a life it's a huge responsibility. It's pretty pricey to get a good cage, around $80+ for a true cage or you could spend $30-60 for a detolf style cage or $20-50 for a nice sized bin cage. You'll also need to spend a couple hundred on toys and cage accessories. You'll spend $300-500 on a yearly basis for one to two hamsters so it's not a HUGE expense but it's still quite a large sum of money. Hamsters are time consuming too, they need a bare minimum of 15 minutes of out of cage time each night (which, if you leave on weekends would be okay to skip but not preferable).and cage maintenance will take a few hours of your time when it comes time for clean out. However, hamsters aren't all work and no fun! They're good animals for people who don't want an animal that demands hours of attention daily (like dogs) and are lower maintenance unlike things like (horses and cats). They soft and affectionate little fluffs with unique personalities! Hamsters can really only be left alone overnight before having to be monitored and even overnight, especially on a regular basis isn't recommended. Anything could go wrong while you are away and hams go downhill quickly so someone will need to be there to prevent these kinds of emergency situations from occurring. If, after much research, considering your budget and living conditions, and arranging someone to stop in and check on your ham, you think a hamster is still right for you, then go ahead! Hamsters make great pets though and are definitely a lot of fun to have around, if they're cared for responsibly!

Darira · 02-11-2017, 12:54 PM

Well the expenses wouldn't be a problem. I have already been looking around to custom make a bin cage and make/buy toys for the hamster. I do have a friend that lives just a few minutes away and who also has hamsters of her own. What if I ask her to check up on my hamster during the time I'm away?

CMB · 02-11-2017, 01:02 PM

Having someone check your hamster and give food and water should be ok.

If you have space for a cage (the same one) at both houses. You could transport the hamster in a travel cage/carrier. They will often sleep most of the journey especially during the daytime. A hide in the travel cage/carrier with substrate/nest from their cage and a small amount of food and cucumber (instead of water)for the journey.

AmityvilleHams · 02-11-2017, 01:05 PM

You still have a risk of something going wrong between then and when you come back.If you're not there,will they be capable of taking your hamster to the vet?There are lots of potential risks involved,and it isn't something to play around with.

Will you be prepared to expand your bin as needed and have a cage that is potentially over 1,550 square inches?If not,you might not want to get a hamster,or instead stick to Chinese,Russians,and robos.

Darira · 02-11-2017, 01:16 PM

Well I was planning on getting a russian dwarf hamster. I don't understand what you mean with expanding the bin? I thought overall a bin cage was considered a good cage for hamsters?

Drago · 02-11-2017, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darira

Well I was planning on getting a russian dwarf hamster. I don't understand what you mean with expanding the bin? I thought overall a bin cage was considered a good cage for hamsters?

Amity means that if your hamster shows aberrant behaviors like excessive chewing and digging at corners or trying to escape without break, to the point of it being OCD, then it's an indication that your ham wants a bigger cage and will need to be upgraded. Getting a hamster isn't something to be taken lightly, but it's also not a super overly complicated process. If you can teach your friend the basics of hamster care and have a vets number and directions on how to get there on hand, then it won't really be an issue when it comes to travelling