Hamsters only need to scamper about to boost mood

Fluffagrams · 07-29-2015, 02:14 PM

I was sent a link on Facebook today from The Daily Mail which outlined that rodents such as hamsters only need to scamper about to boost their mood.

The study, which used male Syrian hamsters bred in captivity showed that their happiness increased when they were provided with more enrichment in their living environments.

Rodents like hamsters only need to scamper about to boost their mood* | Daily Mail Online

Pebbles82 · 07-29-2015, 04:10 PM

That's an excellent article Fluffagrams - and good publicity to help improve more Hamsters' environments.

"It was the first time anyone had been able to demonstrate that shifts in emotion can objectively be measured in hamsters."

It always makes me laugh when scientists say something like this. Why do people need to objectively measure whether or not animals have moods and emotions - of course they do!

Shannonmcn · 07-29-2015, 04:21 PM

That study is really good news! If it has to be in the daily flipping mail to get exposure then so be it I guess

Don't like that they used a barred wheel though, no need to risk harm

Fluffagrams · 07-30-2015, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

That's an excellent article Fluffagrams - and good publicity to help improve more Hamsters' environments.

"It was the first time anyone had been able to demonstrate that shifts in emotion can objectively be measured in hamsters."

It always makes me laugh when scientists say something like this. Why do people need to objectively measure whether or not animals have moods and emotions - of course they do!

It's almost like people think that they can't possibly have emotions like we do but I tend to think of it the other way. Why wouldn't they have different moods?

There was a comment from someone there which said that you've never really been snubbed until you've been snubbed by a hamster. It reminded me about that comment you'd made in Charlie's thread the other day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannonmcn

That study is really good news! If it has to be in the daily flipping mail to get exposure then so be it I guess

Don't like that they used a barred wheel though, no need to risk harm

I thought that when I read it too. I don't know what they thought they'd achieved by using a barred wheel rather than a basic plastic one?

The Daily Fail also publish The Metro which is given away free at train stations and on buses and will be read by thousands of commuters and travellers. Some of those people could own a hamster or be thinking of getting one and that article could make all the difference.

Here's the Metro's version of the article: Hamsters are more optimistic when they've got a hammock, study finds | Metro News

souffle · 07-30-2015, 03:13 AM

It was in the Times as well and has been reported all over. Great if it helps provide more pets with valuable enrichment in their habitats. I think this is something we hamster fans have known for years though

Pebbles82 · 07-30-2015, 04:01 AM

Hmm not keen on the headline of the Metro one - I can see loads of people going out and buying unsuitable types of hammocks or attaching them unsafely or something. Also it doesn't mention the space/cage size thing. I'd like to pat those researchers on the back though for getting this publicized.

Fluffagrams · 07-30-2015, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Hmm not keen on the headline of the Metro one - I can see loads of people going out and buying unsuitable types of hammocks or attaching them unsafely or something. Also it doesn't mention the space/cage size thing. I'd like to pat those researchers on the back though for getting this publicized.

The Metro tends to cut the articles down a little bit but they can sometimes cut out information that would be quite useful and certainly the cage size is an important thing to mention when talking about the happiness of hamsters.

Oonaghspets · 07-30-2015, 10:55 AM

Wow this is interesting! I suppose this is good for newtime hamster owners that don't know how important keeping your hamster entertained and inriched is. It's good that the message is being sent out there!

racinghamster · 07-31-2015, 10:43 AM

Someone commented under the article, "A hammock makes me happy too"!!! And how nice that they show a hamster inside a ball......:-& I won`t say a thing....

All pet shops should be handing out pamphlets to ALL new owners regarding cage size, enrichment and diet because we still live in a society who think providing a small cage, a ball and a dish of gruel is all a hamster requires. Articles like this help, but most people will forget it in ten seconds after reading it. x

Oonaghspets · 08-02-2015, 02:06 AM

Well said racinghamster! Pet shops really do need to start to make a difference! When I got my first ever hamster pip, the pet shop recommended this tiny cage and I trusted everything they said! Luckily I had some common sense and went on the Internet and found out it was much to small so I immediately upgraded to a detolf!

From my experience first time hamster owners get whatever cage is recommended or sadly are small children and get whatever cage is the most colourful and completely disregards the hamster!