MITCH CASEY The Marietta Times Kendyl Love, left, plays with a dwarf hamster in its protective ball while fellow Pioneer Pete Day Care student Mason Chutes looks on Wednesday.
They're cute, they're fuzzy and relatively carefree. Perhaps that is why hamsters are such a popular first pet with children and their parents.
"The kids really enjoy them," said Carla Minney, an administrator with Pioneer Pete Day Care Center on Front Sreet in Marietta. "We get (the hamsters) out and let them run around in their ball."
The center has two dwarf hamsters in their infant and toddler room, where children ages 6 weeks to 2 1/2 years are taught to be gentle toward the creatures. The hamsters are also used for lessons in counting and colors.
But before you go to the pet store or shelter to pick up one of the critters, consider that there may be some things you might not know about the furry rodents.
For instance, hamsters are mostly nocturnal creatures, but it's a habit that can vary depending on the animal's environment.
"Our hamsters are up when the kids are here, and the afternoon is when they all crash," Minney said of the center's resident pets.
If you plan to place the animal near a bedroom, something to keep in mind is that the little fuzzball might keep the family awake.
Hamsters also have poor eyesight; they are nearsighted and colorblind. However, they have an acute sense of smell and are able to hear extremely well. Hamsters can use their sense of smell to detect other animals or people, locate food and detect pheremones. They are also particularly sensitive to high-pitched noises and can hear and communicate in the ultrasonic range.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, hamster bedding should be cleaned regularly and should consist of products made from recycled wood or paper materials or aspen shavings. The society recommends avoiding cedar, sawdust, corn cob bedding, chlorophyll bedding and cat litter.
Some of these are allergens and highly toxic to the creature.
"We carry cedar bedding," said Adam Johnson, assistant manager of We Lov Pets in the Lafayette Center, "but it is used mostly for dogs. It can cause respiratory distress in hamsters and most small animals."
Johnson recommends pine or recycled paper bedding and, if room allows, a large cage.
"The bigger, the better. Hamsters need to be active so a lot of the cages we sell also come with wheels," he said.
Hamsters also have high metabolisms which require constant access to food and water.
"Their main diet is seeds, but they can also eat fruits and vegetables," said Johnson. "They also need a chew block because their teeth continue to grow."
The animals, which were discovered in Syria more than 70 years ago, are omnivores and should ideally have a diet consisting of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and protein, such as eggs.
Hamsters tend to have an average lifespan of two to three years, according to Johnson, so parents need to be prepared to explain the facts of life to young children, that is if the child doesn't tire of the animal first.
Sometimes, despite being low-maintenance, hamsters can end up at the local animal shelter.
"We have had hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and rabbits," said Steve Herron, shelter manager with the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley. "Sometimes it's because people are scared of small rodents and it seems like a mouse to some people. Other times the child's just lost interest."
Herron said that they will try to find homes for the animals but reminds folks that, just like dogs and cats, hamsters need a lot of TLC.
"Just like any other pet, you must be willing to give it attention," he said.
Hamster Derby
A hamster derby will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at We Lov Pets in the Lafayette Center, Marietta.
Hamster owners are invited to bring their pets to the race, which will be tournament/bracket style. Balls and tracks will be provided by the store. Prizes will be awarded for the winners. (Source: Erin E. O’Neill, Marietta Times)
FACTS:
What you need to know before you get a hamster:
When you first get your pet, you'll spend about $35 for a cage. Food runs about $50 a year, plus $20 annually for toys and treats, and $220 each year for litter and bedding material. This is a big consideration given today's economy, according to Steve Herron with the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley.
The ASPCA recommends that you get your hamster from a responsible breeder or, better yet, adopt one from a shelter or small-animal rescue group.
Syrian hamsters are solitary and must live alone. Dwarf hamsters are social, on the other hand, and like to live in pairs. Do not house male and female dwarf hamsters together, since rodents breed quickly - and often - with large litters.
The enclosure should be placed away from direct sunlight and drafts, and lined with an absorbent bedding such as hay, aspen shavings or shredded paper. Do not use scented chips, such as cedar.
Hamsters need lots of exercise and also like to hide and sleep inside enclosed spaces. They also love crawling through tubes, which can be homemade (empty cardboard tubes from paper towels and toilet paper) or purchased from a pet supply store. Remember to regularly give your hamster small pieces of paper towel or napkin to shred and make a nest with.
Your pet will do well on hamster mix, which contains seeds, grains, cracked corn and pellets, and is readily available at pet supply stores. The ASPCA recommends that you supplement your pet's diet with fresh foods every two or three days. Be sure to clean up any leftover fresh food before it spoils. Never give your pet raw kidney beans, onions, raw potato, rhubarb, chocolate, candy or junk food.
Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. It is best to use an inverted bottle with a drinking tube, which should be changed daily.
Remove droppings, uneaten food and soiled bedding every day. Every week, remove and replace all the bedding, and scrub the bottom of the cage with hot, soapy water.
If you think your pet is sick, seek medical attention immediately. Common signs that something isn't right with your hamster may include dull-looking eyes, matted fur, weight loss, shaking, runny nose and diarrhea. Also note that hamsters seem to be susceptible to respiratory problems, especially the common cold, which they can catch from their human pet parents. (Source: www.aspca.org)
)
