Small pets in Europe?

JuniperLoki · 04-10-2016, 08:11 AM

Hi!

I have noticed there are lots of people from Europe on this forum (someday I shall travel there!! Someday!!)

It had me wondering - are smaller pets like hamsters/gerbils/guinea pigs more popular in Europe than other pets like cats and dogs?

It sometimes seems that here in NJ we're all about dogs all the time - but hammies need homes too.

Although the lady at the pet store gave me a weird look when I told her that the hammie was for me, the 32 year old.

cypher · 04-10-2016, 08:19 AM

Just going by what I see here I would imagine small pets are probably more common in the UK (don't know about the rest of Europe) than the US but I think too you just hear & see a whole lot more about cats & dogs, if you watch pet/animal programmes on TV in the UK you'd think no one kept anything else!

Elliiy · 04-10-2016, 08:26 AM

here where i am it is less common to hear that people have hamsters as pets, unless they are children, but i wish it wasn't like that because most children dont know how to care for hamsters. But yea other than children and well me I personally have not met another person with a hamster as a pet in the us

**Cinnamon Bear** · 04-10-2016, 08:51 AM

I had a family member (not close) ask me if there was something wrong with me for having dwarf hamsters? lol

flowerfairy · 04-10-2016, 08:51 AM

I dont have any friends with hamsters. All my family and friends think i am somewhat eccentric to keep hamsters and rabbits at my age (55).

cypher · 04-10-2016, 08:54 AM

Still young flowerfairy

They are most commonly seen as children's pets here in the UK too, it wasn't until I began keeping them that I wondered why on earth they should be thought of as an ideal pet for kids!

Pebbles82 · 04-11-2016, 08:35 AM

There does seem to be a big affinity for hamsters in Germany! But I don't know the statistics as to whether hamsters are preferred as pets to cats and dogs. Probably not - cats and dogs tend to be the most popular pets most places.

I'm in the Uk and some of our friends think I am strange talking about our hamster! They think they're just for kids. Ours is actually owned by little boy (but he's mine too lol).

Enh98 · 04-11-2016, 11:36 AM

I'm in the US and I can "get around" the weird looks by telling people my hamster lives in my counseling office at school, where he does serve as a therapy pet. He is very well cared for here and the students love him. I want a hamster at home, luckily I can say it's for my son but it's really for me!

Elliiy · 04-11-2016, 11:57 AM

i find it strange that people or well adults have to justify having hamsters for pets, i dont see anything wrong than getting a hamster since there is nothing wrong with it. But as i have been reading most people have to justify why they would want a hamster, as if their cute and adorable faces isn't reason enough.

M3gan · 04-11-2016, 01:11 PM

Ireland has the usual kids who get the hamsters, but when I have my weekly visit to the local pet shop they always have a few new hamsters. Someone must be buying hamsters, weather it is kids or not, I do not know.
I have one friend who keeps a hamster, but is stuck in the 'old' ways. Small cage etc. Stubborn and not open to new information.