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Old 04-29-2018, 04:35 AM   #1
CookieBlossomBella
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Default Guilt after housing hamsters in too small a cages

So my past 2 hamsters had too small a cages at 266 square inches. I feel so bad about it and my 3rd hamster now lives in the savic hamster heaven home but i cannot forgive myself for what i did to my other hamsters! Any advice for getting over all of this guilt??
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Old 04-29-2018, 05:08 AM   #2
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Default Re: Guilt after housing hamsters in too small a cages

I have the same feeling. I didn't discover my first hamster's cage was too small until she was old and ill and wouldn't have wanted to move to a bigger cage anyway. In comparison my next hamster will have a mansion.

I feel guilty that she could have had a much better life. But I keep telling myself that she was happy - at least when she got her own way. And she didn't know any different.
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Old 04-29-2018, 05:09 AM   #3
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Default Re: Guilt after housing hamsters in too small a cages

Quote:
Originally Posted by CookieBlossomBella View Post
So my past 2 hamsters had too small a cages at 266 square inches. I feel so bad about it and my 3rd hamster now lives in the savic hamster heaven home but i cannot forgive myself for what i did to my other hamsters! Any advice for getting over all of this guilt??
You can get over it by remembering that your current hamster is living happily in a home that’s OK for them. Ares used to live in a tiny 82 sq inch cage, and I had such a hard time sleeping knowing he was crammed in a supersmall cage that was WAY too tiny for him. Now, he’s in a 480 sq inch bin cage and I’m content knowing he has plenty of room to roam. I do wish he could have had a large enclosure from the start, but he’s fine now and that’s all that matters.
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Old 04-29-2018, 05:33 AM   #4
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Default Re: Guilt after housing hamsters in too small a cages

My past hamster(s) lived in a wired cage that is three story like the Prevue Hendryx three story cage before, and a barred wheel. I didn't have access to cages like Glass Tanks or European Barred Cages(Large Barred Cages) or even plastic cages like Zoo Zone, nor did I have the most to research to begin with. Skip to this year now and I felt really really bad about my past hamsters, in order to make up for my mistake, I wanted to give my current hamsters a cage that my past hamsters couldn't have.

As well as the correct accessories and toys for them this time.
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Old 04-29-2018, 05:52 AM   #5
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Default Re: Guilt after housing hamsters in too small a cages

You need to forgive yourself because it wasn't your fault - hamsters did live in cages that were too small due to this not being known about for a long time. And even if it was known about when you had your hamsters, no-one told you. It sounds like they were much loved hamsters and you probably let them out a lot so that helps. My first hamster was 30 years ago (not actually mine - he came along with a boyfriend . He lived in a 3 tier rototstak thing - all three tiers were just small round things (like the round ones they sell today). He was fine because he free roamed. We just left the cage open all the time and he came and went to his cage when he wanted. And his wheel was far too small - but he seemed to live a happy healthy life to the age of 2 when he got a tumour and died under anasthetic when operated on. Out of cage time and love is important too You did your best under the circumstances at the time and hamsters are very forgiving. I should let that go now xxx
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Old 04-29-2018, 09:17 AM   #6
dreamtree1234
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Default Re: Guilt after housing hamsters in too small a cages

Please forgive yourself. As others have said, standards and the ability for hamster owners to be informed about these changes have changed drastically over the years. The most important thing is that you had and still have the very best intention to give your hamster(s) the very best life possible. I am sure that you did that with what you knew at the time. Hamsters don't only need large cages, they also need an abundance of love and care which I am certain that you gave to each and every one of them. Your past hamsters could feel that love, and I'm sure they were grateful for it. They loved you and they would want you to be alright and realize that you made them happy. Now that you know the changes in the standards, you are able to give your current hamster an even more luxurious life and I'm sure both of your previous hamsters will be looking down at you from the Rainbow Bridge and be happy to know that you have another ham to love and spoil. Give yourself a hug, forgive yourself, and thoroughly enjoy your current ham to the fullest.
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Old 05-02-2018, 07:06 AM   #7
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Default Re: Guilt after housing hamsters in too small a cages

You shouldn't feel guiltily about housing your past hamsters in small cages as most of us on the forum have done the same. I can completely relate to how you feel as I also used feel bad about my previous hamster being houses in cages which were much smaller than my current DIY cage, but I still gave them the same amount of love as I currently give my Pumpkin - which is the most important thing to remember!
It best to try to forgive yourself and continue to spoil your current hamster rather than holding onto the guilt. As you will start to feel better for it - as I know it help me to forgive myself for doing the same.
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