We're getting DS a hamster for his birthday :-)

[Curlybrunette]

DS is 5 in November and absolutely loves animals, we haven't got any pets and have decided to get him a hamster...and I am so excited it is ridiculous!!!

I always had pets growing up but we haven't had any for a while and now just can't wait to have a little fluff living with us again.

10 weeks to go, seems ages! DS hasn't asked for a hamster we're just getting it so I am double excited as I know just how delighted he'll be.

x

[sleepingbunnies]

I remember my hamster from when i was about 5... It bit my brother which made me like it even more! :-)

One thing though, Hamsters are nocturnal, they are very actuve between 10pm-5am (bloody noisy things!) if you have the outdoor space I would recommend guinea pigs! So much more cuddly than hamsters :-)

[Theas18]

Hmm I'd say 5 was too young for a hamster- asleep all day and tend to be bitey...

Dunno about others but if he hasn't asked for it either is it a good plan?

[BuntCadger]

I wouldn't get a hamster. Not suitable for 5 year old, nocturnal and easily hurt.

Actually giving an animal as a gift is wrong IMO

[Floralnomad]

I would not go for a hamster either ,they do have a tendency to be quite snappy , although you may be lucky and get a friendly one. You would however be better off with a pair of rats or a pair of indoor guinea pigs. Both of which are much friendlier and way more interactive, which in turn means that small children are more likely to stay interested in them.

[expatinscotland]

We got our 6-year-old a hamster. He's getting tamer and tamer. He has periods of activity during the day as well.

She loves him!

It's a Syrian.

[BonkeyMollocks]

As a hammy lover I agree for a 5 yo they are not the best pets.

I have a 4 yo who gets annoyed with my hamster because he is never awake answer he can't cuddle him.

I agree that if he hasn't asked for it then is it really a good idea?

By all means get a pet but either make it yours or a family pet. Either way he cannot be solely responsible so you will have to accept that he will need help looking after it or he may will get bored and you will have to take over completely.

I have 2 guinea pigs too which ds is much more interested in and loves that they are cuddely . All the.pets in this household are mine . Dh would cook them all and ds is far to young to take on full responsibility. I bought them for me!

Give it lots of thought before you do anything. :)

[Dropdeadfred]

I'd get a rabbit or a guinea pig

[lljkk]

Good luck, I think mice or rats are better pets for that age.

[MimsyBorogroves]

Family guinea pig that lives indoors would be my vote. Hamsters are dreadfully bitey and good at escaping.

[LivingInAMadhouse]

Hamsters are lovely (I'm a convert since getting my kids one). The first one we had was probably the best hamster ever. She was called Timmy (pet shop mix up with genders- we discovered what was missing later...) and she was awake from about two in the afternoon. She loved coming out and would look at you with these really pleading eyes and stand on her back legs, looking like a begging dog. She chased people in the ball. She loved snuggling. She learnt obstacle courses and played on the bed. All our other hamsters have been perfect, none have EVER bitten us.

Hamsters, once bought, need to be left alone for 24hrs. No peeking from your 5yr old (or you ). No coming into the room. No holding. Put the carry-thing in the cage, open, or gently tip it out, and then exit. Show your 5yr old the hamster, then tell them that they have to be really, really, really quiet for a day. When you start handling, I'd say you and DH should start handling first- a gentler person and also a 5yr old is generally more excitable about it, so the hamster might get scared. When you are taming it, let it sniff your hand, and, if after about a day of you having treats on your hand but it not coming, you could try to gently scoop it up in your hands, and pet it while it is still in the cage. From there, everything moves quickly and hamsters are tamed in about 3-5dys. When it is comfortable outside the cage, but still not as tame for a 5yr old to handle, let him stroke it and feed it food so it gets used to him, until it's used to its home and he can learn to handle it.

I would set a timetable for cleaning out. Every Sunday for instance, at a certain time. Your 5yr old will never be able to do all, or even most, of it. Have alternating weeks, so one week your 5yr old helps DH (even if it's simply by chucking away the woodshavings or replacing the bedding or even just holding the hamster when you are vaccuuming the room for mess- hamsters should never be in the same room as someone vaccuuming, they get scared) and the next week, he helps you. It really helps.

Petsathome are a good petshop if you are buying from a petshop, but if possible, get from a breeder or rescue. Never get a hamster which appears to be hyper, aggressive or dull. An inquisitive, energetic but not hyper hamster with bright eyes and a sleek coat is best. About 8-12wks is generally good, and be prepared for the hamster to die within 5mnths. For the first 2wks, check for Wet Tail, a deadly disease in rodents- if it is pooing a lot, has a wet patch around his tail for about 3dys straight or seems listless or isn't eating, I'd take them to a small animal vet- it's not too expensive usually, and they can treat it with antibiotics.

Goodluck with the hamster!

[BonkeyMollocks]

Petsathome are a good petshop

living you are the only person I have ever heard say that and I fully disagree! Rescues or breeders are ideal or try a good independant pet shop, there are some around. P@H are awful, just awful! :(

[brighthair]

For the love of God do not buy from pets at home. I had 3 from there, all died at 9 weeks with a insusseption (sp?!) of the bowel. I went to a private breeder and my hammy is 10 months old. They shouldn't die at 5 months, they can live a couple of years

[BonkeyMollocks]

And if a hamster dies at 5 months you have been very unfortunate or bought from P@H , my girl lived til 23months and my boy is 9 months now.

Plenty live until they are 2 + if looked after well and get a good food mix :)

[lilachair]

I got my DD2 a hamster for her 8th birthday She loves it very much, but it is ok if she is ignoring it too.

It did help that DD1, 10, is very confident with tiny bitey rodents as she really did all the initial handling to 'tame' it, and this took a little while (couple of weeks). The first thing it did was bite DD2 and she was terrified of it for a short while. She was handling it wearing my gardening gloves for a while.

I'm sure your DS will love it and it will be an entertaining addition to your family

especially when the damn thing escapes and you can have a family bonding evening scouring the whole bloody house for it

[MimsyBorogroves]

Yes, please do not buy from pets at home (or preferably any pet shop). They are generally sourced from breeders out to make a profit from their animals, have poor health and haven't had the best care. These factors will also make them harder to tame.

[Curlybrunette]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

When I said I was buying a hamster for DS I did mean that it would be a family pet, and I fully expect that I shall be the one that does most of the cleaning and caring!

I thought about a rabbit or gp but don't want an outside one (tons of cats/foxes near me, I would really worry), and haven't really got the room for an inside cage.

DS is really good with animals, he knows not to be loud and scare them etc. too much Diego and he wouldn't be left alone with it out of the cage.

With regards to pet shops, I was going to avoid p@h if I could, but this may be a daft question but where do you get hamsters from if not a pet shop?

[BonkeyMollocks]

Hamster Breeders/rescues

If there isn't one near you try small animal rescues or the RSPCA :)