Cruel or not?

[Hammy_]

I am starting the taming protest and while looking at a collection of videos I noticed that the topic of 'waking your hamster up' was apparent. Now joygeorgina agrees with it but I'm not so sure. What she said made sense but I don't know if this would be classed as cruel. Just wondered what people's opinions are

[HarryHamster]

I would get your hamster in a feeding routine, where they wake up in their own time, otherwise they can get aggressive or really scared. When they are up start talking to them gently and put food on your hand. Remember always go at the hamster's own pace otherwise they could lose trust in you. You only wake a hamster in an emergency situation or really worried that they are not ok.

[Shannonmcn]

I think it depends a lot on how you're waking them. Like HarryHamster said, getting them into a routine where they wake up at a certain time because you're putting food out or rustling their bedding can be a good thing, they're really waking up themselves and you're just providing a little encouragement. That is very different to deciding your ham has to come out NOW and sticking your hand into their nest and grabbing them or even just lifting their house while they're completely asleep.

[Bertiebobbins]

I think it's the difference between being willing to work with your pet (I.e. You bought an animal that likes to be up at night and sleep in the day and you can respect this) or not (I.e. You bought an animal that's mostly only up in the night and you're miffed so you wake it up in the day because that's what's best for you, never mind the hamster, what's the point if you never see it?). Mine sleep very soundly in the day and pretty much can't really be woken anyway, but I've never tried to make them - I went the route of doing the same things at the same times like Shannon described, so I never disturb their nests and they know I'm around first thing in the morning and last thing at night if they want playtimes. Sometimes they don't!

[Hammy_]

I

Originally Posted by Bertiebobbins

I think it's the difference between being willing to work with your pet (I.e. You bought an animal that likes to be up at night and sleep in the day and you can respect this) or not (I.e. You bought an animal that's mostly only up in the night and you're miffed so you wake it up in the day because that's what's best for you, never mind the hamster, what's the point if you never see it?). Mine sleep very soundly in the day and pretty much can't really be woken anyway, but I've never tried to make them - I went the route of doing the same things at the same times like Shannon described, so I never disturb their nests and they know I'm around first thing in the morning and last thing at night if they want playtimes. Sometimes they don't!

I think what you said was very very well put. I pretty much ruled out waking them up but I wanted to know everyone's opinion on it. I think when buying an animal you must Obide by their terms and not your own for selfish reasons
Thankyou for sharing your opinion it was a very educated one

[Jen250]

I wake my hamster occasionally, but I do it as gently as I can and only when it's nighttime. I'll hold a treat just outside the door into his nest and speak very quietly to him. If he wants to wake up and come out, he'll come out. If he doesn't, then I prefer to leave him alone.

[Coco61]

Jen that is what I do with my reclusive Mocho. I change his water and put his new food in about the same time every night. Sometimes he is peeping out of his house to see if there is a treat. Sometimes I do exactly what you do. If he is sleepy and takes the treat he just turns and goes straight back to bed. If he is more awake he might come out of his house and then get picked up for a little cuddle time.

[flowerfairy]

With my three (oh I love being able to say that) I have a morning routine and an evening routine.

I feed them twice a day and do a small spot clean each morning. Woodstock (white fluffy syrian) will often get up in the mornng and pouch his food then back to bed.

The roborovski girls will occasionally get up in the morning and play on their wheels. They like to investigate their food dishes once I am out of the room though.

So, yeah, waking them up by having a routine seems like a good idea.

[velma]

My robo comes out at the drop of a hat, or the rattle of a food bowl any time of day but if I'm in the hamster room earlier in the evening than Cleo, my Syrian, is up, I'll rustle the bedding near-ish her house & change her food. If she comes out, she comes out, if not then it's okay so long as I can her her stirring. I'd never lift her house off and then delve around in her nest just to play with her, only if I was seriously worried but generally as everyone else has said, it's how you go about waking them up. It's more a case if gently letting them know you're around

[flowerfairy]

Originally Posted by velma

My robo comes out at the drop of a hat, or the rattle of a food bowl any time of day but if I'm in the hamster room earlier in the evening than Cleo, my Syrian, is up, I'll rustle the bedding near-ish her house & change her food. If she comes out, she comes out, if not then it's okay so long as I can her her stirring. I'd never lift her house off and then delve around in her nest just to play with her, only if I was seriously worried but generally as everyone else has said, it's how you go about waking them up. It's more a case if gently letting them know you're around

Very jelly.