Should I buy a hamster?

Question

A few years ago, my cousin bought my sister and me hamsters. They were both teddy bear hamsters, and they died in a few months.

One of the reasons why they died so quickly was because my father hated the smell, and put them outside during the winter.

I couldn't change his mind, so I tried putting bits and pieces of my old clothing inside his house. I didn't see him come outside for a few days, and noticed that when I lifted his house up, he was stiff. And then I buried him.

But four years has passed and I really want a hamster!

I would like to again buy a teddy bear hamster, but this time I would like to take better care of it.

My dad would make me bathe my hamster; however, I'm not sure if I would want to do that to my new hamster. So can anyone help me persuade my father so I can have a hamster and take care of it all by myself? And where would be a good place to keep my hamster? I'm afraid that if I keep it outside, my father will mistreat it or it might run away.

Answer 1

u dont give hamsters baths! thats rediculous! seriously DONT! u dont leave them outside either! cruel, cruel ppl! that is not righj! DO NOT GET A HAMSTER U WILL KILL THE POOR THUING! u obviously cant take care of them. get a virtual pet instead, or a plant. but for the good of the animal, dont get a hamster.

Answer 2

ugh rodents, dont suggest it because they get out and get lost, then you find them 6months to a year later under the frigde...yuck. just trust me...ahaha. then your father wouldnt ever let you get another pet again. get an axolotl they are really cool. look them up...

very low maintenence n you get to feed them live fish (10 at a time) and they don't smell. learn everything you can about them BEFORE you purchase though.

Answer 3

you can buy certain beddings for a hamster that make it so that the cage doesn't smell as much. also, you can bathe a hamster. My friend has a teddy bear hamster and she uses this soap meant for hamsters once every week, and the fur is so clean and she doesn't smell that bad. You should keep your hamster in a place where it isn't too cold or too hot for the hamster. I keep my hamster on a table by the chimney cause we never use the chimney anyways. by the way, I wouldn't recommend getting a dwarf hamster because they are so small that they can easily get lost. I have a short haired hamster and it is very friendly.

                              hope this helps!

Answer 4

You shouldn't get another hamster unless your father agrees to not put it outside. You don't need another dead hamster. If your dad would do that to an animal, maybe having an animal in your house is not a good idea. That is just cruel. If this EVER happens again, take the animal to a shelter rather than letting it suffer.

Bathing the hamster isn't going to do anything. It's the pee and p**p that smells. You have to clean the cage out a lot in order for it to not smell. Personally I think hamsters are kind of boring. If you want a really great pet get a rabbit or ferret. They can be litter trained and don't smell. People think ferrets smell, but it isn't true. You just can't feed them food with FISH in it AT ALL. Do some research, but I would forget the hamster, you can't do a whole lot with one.

Ferrets and rabbits are much more interactive and don't smell as long as you teach them to use a litter box. Make sure you have plenty of time to dedicate to a pet first. Make sure you have a plan for when you are out of town or when you are at school or go off to college...who will take care of it then? You have to think about things like that because you are responsible for your pet as long as it lives. Do some reading and present your father the information that you find.

Answer 5

I would recomend getting a teddy bear hamster again, they are the friendliest and easiest to tame. In order to control the smell your father hated, you should clean the cage often (about once a week.) Don't bath it because hamsters don't enjoy them and they can ruin their coat. I would sugest keeping it in your bedroom, but try to get a silent wheel so that it doesn't keep you up at night. Get as big a cage as posible, atleast 1x2x1 and get as many toys as possible that you can rotate in and out. As for bedding, my personal favorite is carefresh, it helps hide odors well and hamster love nesting in it.

Hope that helps

Answer 6

I love hamsters and it sounds like you do too. But you can't wash hamsters because it is bad for them. Use this to help reduce smell:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js...

and

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js...

Clean twice a week or use a lot of bedding to help reduce smell

If she sleeps a lot in the same spot you can replace that bedding every other day to keep the actual hamster from getting stinky. I suggest syrain hamsters. That does include teddy bear hamster. Teddy bear is actually just referring to the coat pattern. I love the dalmation syrians. Heres a list of them http://www.freewebs.com/happyhamsterhelp... .

Bedding I just suggest wood chips. But many people think it leads to respitory problems but we don't like carfressh because we used it once on our hamster and he died right after. I also suggest tolite paper and newspaper. I line the bottom of the cage with newspaper. This makes clean out easy.

I like this cage:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js...

but can be too expensive in which case i suggest bin cages. Heres a places were you can learn how to make bin cages:

http://www.freewebs.com/happyhamsterhelp...

http://www.petwebsite.com/article_read.a...

http://www.ehow.com/how_2101498_hamster-...

Food:

Well if you go here it will tell you every thing you need to know about feeding your hamster:

http://www.freewebs.com/happyhamsterhelp...

Also i use this food:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js...

For additional info check out this site:

http://www.freewebs.com/happyhamsterhelp...

I would try and get your Dad to let your dad keep your hamster in your room again because it would help you bond. But as long he is in the house its okay. I don't think your dad would hurt it. Try also keeping it in the living room or rec room and that way you will always see it and will remember it. I wouldn't keep it in the kitchen because of the food, just looks unsanitory, or in an office as it would look out of place. The best place is the bedroom, and you always know if you need to change the bedding early(when it smells)

Goodluck.

You sound like a really nice person that hamster will be lucky!

Answer 7

idk how to convince ur dad because I am trying to convince my dad currently too. But here is some links to a cage,food,& bedding.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js...

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js...

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js...

Answer 8

Putting a hamster outside when it's to cold is extremely cruel. If you want to get a hamster, make your dad promise he won't put it out side. Also tell him never to give a hamster a bath, never!! Put it in your room so you can watch it while you sleep. Next, if he does promise, tell him hamsters don't smell, but their cages do. Clean out his/her cage every week or when it smells.

Anyway. You should buy a hamster kit, here are all the links so you can see how much it costs and what it looks like:

Cage Set:

http://www.petco.com/product/12283/Super...

Treats:

http://www.petco.com/product/105284/Vita...

or:

http://www.petco.com/product/105282/Vita...

Hiding Place:

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_ProductL...

There's a whole list of hiding places there. That's all you need for now. You'll have to get more bedding, food, and treats in the next month. Or, go to  http://www.petco.com and feel free to search around. I have the exact stuff im reccomending you. They are great!!!

Answer 9

"One of the reasons why they died so quickly was because my father hated the smell, and put them outside during the winter."

ok first off I can see how very many people could see this as Outside the house^.

Do you guys live in a single room building? because your house should be heated to keep him alive. We can only go on what info you give us and frankly you havent given alot.

If you give me more information on were he was exactly i can help you out in supplies and stuff

Answer 10

If you clean their cage once or twice a week and clean their potty area everyday their shouldn't be a smell at all.  The only way you can safely bathe them is with chinchilla sand.  Why would your dad make you keep it outside your room? At least if it was in you room he wouldn't have to see it or smell it at all.  Not that you should be able to smell it anyway.  I have three in my dining room and the only way you can smell them is if you put you nose in their cage.