Temptation

[KatiePillow]

I am really struggling to not adopt another hamster at the moment, I really want a syrian - despite the fact that I would have to buy a new everything in a larger size to accomodate one >.<

I miss having a larger than life character, Pillow is lovely, but he's not really demanding enough to keep me occupied.
Everyone in my family thinks I should not have any hamsters at all, my OH also thinks this, but I can't stop thinking about all the hamsters being rehomed on my local free ads.

Just feels like nobody in my real life understands why I want them, and I know they inconvenience me in terms of mobility, but one more won't actually make a difference..>.<

I just thought I'd ramble that out to some like-minded people >.<

[Pompompoms]

I completely understand how you feel, losing George has left a huge Syrian shaped hole in my life, and I am tempted daily to to rescue. I know I'm stretched as it is with all the pompoms, but logic isn't really playing much of a part. Mr Poms thinks it would be ridiculous and he's right, but it doesn't stop me feeling that way.

I still don't know whether sense will prevail and I will be without a Syrian for about a year, but when I think of it in those terms, I just imagine going that long.

I'm glad you got it out, there will be a lot of people here that know exactly how you are feeling xx

[KatiePillow]

I can imagine how you feel about George - he reminded me of a syrian version of my alfie, always getting ill/having things wrong, as well as being unwanted by his original home - So I can imagine what an amazing personality the little guy had. That's another reason I want to rescue, because I LOVE how hamsters bounce back from the horrible situations they were put through.

Maybe you could train the poms to stand on each others shoulders and pretend to be a syrian? I don't think I could cope with as many poms as you have atm, but I think the different species need such different interaction that a robo (or 8..) doesn't distract you from wanting a syrian, same with my dwarves.

Doesn't help that people on here have some gorgeous syrians!

[Pompompoms]

Can you imagine the bedlam that would ensue if they did . There would be mating and fighting going on all over the place!!!

I know exactly what you mean about loving the ones that bounce back so much, just seeing George so happy every day and remembering how ill he was when he came to me filled me with so much happiness.

A couple of days ago I was looking at vids on youtube of hams and saw one that looked just like George so I thought I'd click on it, well it seems I am queen of misjudging videos ( I thought the human centipede was about an acrobatic troupe - er no :-&) the poor little one was dropped in with a snake and eaten. I actually cried for about half an hour thinking of George, thinking of how much character and personality he had, how loving and trusting he was, and that this ham would have been the same. I am too soft hearted sometimes, I just want to save them all

[KatiePillow]

I'd have cried too, I started watching iron chef the other night and was appauled (and turned it off) because the lobster wasn't killed before being put in the water.
and today I saw breeding cages for mice on a reptile website.. hate the idea of that.

The world makes me sad sometimes, and I wish people who enjoyed seeing animals in pain could get a hit around the head! I tend to avoid watching videos of animals on youtube just because I know most of the time they'd be horrible!

That's another thing that makes me want to rescue another little one, the idea of them not being treated well. - there's a syrian and the owner said that it'd need taming as her daughter had gotten bored of it and she (the mother) hated it - which makes me think of a poor thing all lonely.

[Hamtastic]

Katie, I think only you can decide when it is a right time to get a ham. Circumstances differ. Sometimes we get something due to temptation and maybe regret it later (not the ham--the ramifications of having +1), and sometimes it's just the right thing to do and someone you know needs to be rescued. Whatever it is, since you're not under immediate pressure to get anything (like no unexpected litter from a friend or what not), I'd decide for yourself if you're ready. It could be that you are, and that's why you're having those thoughts.

I must say, I had those temptations a LOT until I got to seven hamsters. I'm very happily content with my lot, which I thought would never happen and I'd just want a whole zoo. A certain number is our "comfort" number, I think, and if you're feeling like something's missing with three, maybe four would be your magic number You've already had that many, so think about what that was like and if you want it again. Maybe you could visit a shelter and see if a ham captures your attention? If not, then you have an excuse to wait longer!

[KatiePillow]

I think what's holding me back is my OH, he agrees one second and then says 'I don't think you should get another', which is really frustrating!
I will see how I feel after taking sesame to the vet next week, if I feel I can handle another along with any medication (for her diabetes) that the vet may recommend I think I might try and adopt one.

(The reason it matters if my OH is on board is because he has to look after them when I go away, and therefore they keep him in etc)

I think the problem is I don't have an Isabel anymore! nobody constantly begging to be out. I think I could handle 6+ of my current hams, or one Isabel lol

[Hamtastic]

Ugh, yes, she's a handful! It's sort of why I've been avoiding syrians, but then I got one in a dwarf package. I like cats, as they are good on their own and sort of just watch you and participate just by being there. Dogs seem like a lot of work for me, and I'd just feel constantly guilty not to give in to their attention craving. So Isabel was a bit like a tiny dog for a while, wanting to be out all the time, wanting attention, falling off stuff in her cage trying to get out, so I was laughing and crying at the same time watching her (but I can't take her out ALL the time... she'd just get even crazier and never want to be in her aquarium at all).

Anyway, I agree. I'd be set with two hams like Isabel. Out of my seven, so far only she and Lucy are attention seekers, so the other 5 are not a huge time sink. I'd be completely overwhelmed otherwise. That's why I think I should downsize in the future.

[KatiePillow]

Yeah, I had the same thing with Sandy, always waving at me from her cage. Sesame has recently become an attention seeker, clinging onto her bar roof and chewing it, but she also has begun biting more (as in, she's sitting in a flat palm and trying to gnaw me!)

I will see how it goes anyway, new cages should be being bought soon, so once they're here I'll re-evaluate (despite wanting to rescue every hamster in the world right NOW)

Watching a video of Isabel now, so hopefully that'll remind me what a handful some hams are

[Hamtastic]

Unfortunately, I don't have any videos of her being too needy. The latest two are in a set up that made her attempts to escape or hurt herself in some way more difficult. She'd climb onto a corner house on her shelf and scratch at the mesh screen and try to grab onto it. Then she'd topple over and fall off the house. Once all the way to the first floor. It's not tall, and there's soft bedding, but she's SO clumsy, I just didn't want to take any chances. Plus she'd get right back to climbing after falling.

On the night she fell three times in a row trying to get out, I put her on my bed (that keeps her entertained for a while, but she's taken to falling off it and going off to explore lately) and moved that house. So now she scratches at the potty thing, thinking she can get out that way! At least she's not in the Expedit with sliding doors anymore, where she licked the gaps between the doors and the walls every time she wanted to get out...