Hammy powered paper shredder on tv

[Holly]

I hate it, personally - I'm not keen on the gimmicky idea, the (sharp and uncomfortable) paper will fill the poor hamster's cage and that wheel is downright dangerous.

What I hate most about it though is that someone who knows nothing about hamsters is using one in this way - if this was someone who had a simillar idea with a much loved pet and made sure their hamster was safe, happy and comfortable I'm sure I wouldn't mind it.

Hope he reads th email.

[Mollz]

Originally Posted by Holly

What I hate most about it though is that someone who knows nothing about hamsters is using one in this way - if this was someone who had a simillar idea with a much loved pet and made sure their hamster was safe, happy and comfortable I'm sure I wouldn't mind it.

As well as me thinking it is cruel, I think that is a big problem that I have with it. He could have at least researched into hamsters first

[borrett71]

I got a reply from the inventor today!

Dear Miss Borrett,

Thank you for your email. The Hamster Shredder is just a piece of art and
was never intended for manufacture. Only two exist in the world and the only
time it has been used with a real hamster is for the TV show, where a stunt
hamster was used. The gears are the other side of a Perspex sheet and so are
completely protected from the hamster. A wire wheel was used because this is
the typical image one has of a hamster wheel and this piece of art is
indended to be consumed visually.

Thanks for you concern and rest assured that you have nothing to worry
about.
Kind regards

So it is not intended to be a commercial hamster cage after all, and is instead a piece of visual art.

[suga]

At least you got a reply which is a good start and great to read that its not for real.

[souffle]

A stunt hamster
I wonder how much a stunt hamster gets paid. I have quite a few that should apply for the job

[Holly]

Originally Posted by souffle

A stunt hamster
I wonder how much a stunt hamster gets paid. I have quite a few that should apply for the job

I read an article recently (Metro I think) about a woman who trains animals for TV - it was very interesting until she said hamsters are the most difficult animal to work with and her heart sinks when she has to work with them

[Mollz]

It is relieving that this isn't actually intended for use, but I guess someone will make a proper one at some point

I have to admit that the "stunt hamster" comment made me laugh though ... what on earth is a stunt hamster?!

[borrett71]

Well, my hamster does stunts but only on his own terms. Last night his stunt was hiding from everyone for an hour. He had managed to sneak into my storage room during freerange. Eventually I found him performing impressive acrobatics on the top of a huge pile of spare cages I have in there. I called out to him, he looked at me... and ran away! But not quite fast enough because I managed to quickly retrieve him.

His amazing paper shredding stunt hamster.... I think that might have been just an ordinary hamster running in a wheel

[Bailey-Benji]

I saw it on R&J and thought it was evil.

It's re-assuring that the "stunt" hamster doesn't live there though!