The Venerable Bolt Bobble...

[Hambobs]

On the 3rd of June I found my Chinese girl Bolt curled up in her final sleep. I had wondered if the day would ever come - I was delighted when she reached her 4th birthday a couple of weeks earlier and it almost seemed as if she would go on forever...

- When I decided to get back into hamster keeping for the first time in twenty years just after the Olympics in August 2012, I chose Chinese hamsters because apparently they were the most long-lived of the species - there was a good chance they could live between 2-3 years. At the pet shop, I asked for two male hamsters, and was told there were three to choose from. I picked Blake, a dominant spot (who did indeed live to be 30 months old ). Looking at the other two, there was one normal and another dominant spot. I decided that as they were going to live together, it would be easier to tell them apart if I picked the normal (who would be called Bolt). This was despite the fact he had bitten and then peed on the assistant. Oh well, how bad could it be?...

- A few days later, when I tried to handle them for the first time, I had my answer. Blake was quite laid-back when I picked him up, but Bolt... to say you were a raging, biting ball of fury isn't an exaggeration. I also noticed you were already displaying dominant behaviour, chasing Blake around the cage and hoarding food. Oh well, I would just have to watch you both carefully...

- A couple of weeks later, after some rather belated research into my new charges , I had realised two things: firstly, you were both female (due to you being rather lacking in the funbag department...), and secondly, you would have to be split up, because the play-fighting and food hoarding had descended into an almighty comedy-Batman-style fight inside a snuggle pouch (BAM! KerPOW!) that somehow didn't end in blood being drawn, but it was surely only a matter of time.

- Once you had settled into your separate homes, I bonded with Blake quite quickly, as she was relatively easy to tame. You were definitely more of a work-in-progress, but amid the biting and scratching I had come to understand that you weren't really an aggressive, nasty hamster - you were simply terrified, and reacting instinctively. I just needed to help you learn to trust me...

...and as it turned out, with time, love and lots of hand-fed treats, you became a gentle and confident girl who loved burrowing in her substrate, and running in her wheel. You never really took to free-roaming, but you enjoyed exploring the depths of the sofa whenever I did your cleanouts, finding a snug spot to settle down and chill out. You weren't a fussy eater - you would eat almost anything I gave you, and you especially adored dog biscuits, baby food and monkey nuts...

In the four years you were with me, five other hamsters including Blake have been and gone from the hamstery, but you just carried on. Time didn't appear to touch you very much though - you never seemed to get ill, and the only health issue you ever had was a cyst on your neck that you managed to cure by yourself (I'm still not sure how ) It was only during the last couple of months that you began to struggle with your back legs - losing the strength in them, and I had to start clipping your back claws because you couldn't take care of them yourself.

I was so pleased that you made it to your fourth birthday on the 20th May, when I took my last pictures of you. You had started to look old, but you were still active, and always the first out of the nest at feeding time. My last wish for you was to go peacefully when your time came, and happily you did, when I found you just outside your nest on the 3rd. I will dearly miss you my funny girl, the last of the original Bobbles, you have certainly earned a nice long sleep

(The first two pics are the last ones I took on her birthday, and the others are two of my favourites)

[cypher]

Such an amazing little lady, it's so sad she's gone & I'm really sorry for your loss, I'm sure she's going to be missed very much but has left you with wonderful memories of her long & happy life.
Lovely memorial for her.

Run free & play well at the bridge little Bolt.

[Fluffagrams]

What an amazing life she had!

I'm so sorry to hear of her passing, it's never an easy time but cherish those memories that you had together and you will get through it.

Play well lovely girl.

[souffle]

That is such a beautiful tribute to a very special hammy. She really was something special and will stay in your heart forever.
Play well at the bridge Bolt xx

[Pharaoness]

Oh dear, Bolt lived a wonderful life! So sorry for your loss RIP, Bolt ❤

[Rodent Fan]

What an amazingly long life she lived. She must have been a very well looked after and loved hamster. I am sorry for your loss and I know how hard it is to lose a little friend, but she really couldn't have asked for a better life. Rest in peace little one.

[Hambobs]

Thanks for all the comments, Bolt is now at rest in my parents garden.

One thing I forgot to say was that when I bought Bolt lots of pet shops had Chinese hamsters for sale, so they weren't particularly difficult to find. But four years on they seem to be much rarer, apparently for commercial reasons (didn't sell as well as other species)

I just wanted to say that if anyone is debating whether to give a Chinese ham a home, you won't regret it, because they really are a joy to have. They may not be as attention-seeking as Syrians, or as crazy as a Robo, but they will make you fall in love with them
...

[Thin Lizzy]

Wow! What a long and wonderful life Bolt had. 4 years is a fantastic age. The bond the 2 of you had over that time will be forever remembered, the memories will be with you forever.
A very beautiful memorial for a very beautiful girl.