They are generally small, fluffy and fit in the palm of your hand. They love to cuddle and adventure outside the door of its cage. They are quiet and gentle and they sleep in the morning and awake in the night. What could they be? Hamsters. When we hear the word rodent, we think of the mice in the kitchen cupboard helping itself to food and the rats in the garbage cans scavenging for leftovers. However, hamsters make wonderful pets, small yet interesting.
I have hamsters at home, and they are nocturnal. They wake up at around 8 each night. From there, they have an action packed list of things to do. In that cage of theirs, they can entertain themselves for hours. Watching them at night is going to be the most exciting part of the day. Hamsters do things that they don’t usually do in the morning. They spend time grooming themselves, straightening out their fur coat. They run on the wheel like an athlete training for a marathon. They gnaw on the grinding stone in the cage. They climb up and down the cage. They store seeds in their cheek pouch and gather together in their little house to enjoy their meal. They bring bedding into their house. They clean their house of all their faeces and waste. They cuddle together and play catching. In the morning, they sleep and are more inactive. It is a two in one, lazy yet active.
Mas Selamat escaped from jail through the toilet window. That is nothing compared to a hamster. That’s right. A hamster is an accomplished escape artist. It can reach speeds of up to 6.8km/hr. Able to climb up surfaces with spaces which a hamster can use to cling onto with its “hands”, able to burrow into soil as it is a natural burrower and with an acute sense of smell and extremely good hearing, no maze would be able to render the hamster lost. No structure can keep the hamster caught. No puzzle can actually challenge a hamster. You can compare a hamster with a spy, a secret agent. Its natural gift of a strong sense smell and hearing puts the hamster a cut above most animals. Putting a hamster in a maze or puzzle of any sort is a very exciting thing to do. Watch as the hamster slowly works its way out of the maze, watch as the hamster gets itself out of a fix. Then reward it with a treat or two accompanied with a pat on its back.
Hamsters are largely vegetarian, but eat meat occasionally if offered. They eat anything vegetarian, the leafier the better. Things like strawberries can be used as treats, and they are available at any food court or fruit store. These treats are inexpensive, and can be enjoyed by both humans and hamsters.
Hamsters are lovable pets, and are exciting and fun companions. The next time you hear the word rodent, remember to think of the hamster.
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