Talk

Flip

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Small pets

Dd's hamster has died.

5 replies

wishywashywanda · 19/05/2014 11:38

Dd is just coming up to 4 and this is the first pet we have had, should I tell her her hamster has died or replace it and hope she doesn't realise?
If we do get another hamster will I need to replace the cage or will a good clean and disinfecting it be ok. Never dealt with pets dying before so advice would be great.

OP posts:

Report

Theas18 · 19/05/2014 16:04

Assuming the hamster is stiff and cold not hibernating (unlikely in May)....

Please don't just replace it, of course she'll notice- the new one will be an untamed baby hamster, not one that comes to takes seeds from you or even be held!

IMHO pets dying is a sad but gentle introduction to the hard realities of life and death. Better to deal with endless queries about Hammy ( and 4 is an age they start trying to sort all this sort of thing out) than a beloved relative.

Matter of fact dealings with kids and death seem the way forward, not " gone to sleep" or " gone away" as these lead to imaginings that just scare. Hold a full requiem mass if you need but a match box in the garden and a few flower sis usually the way.

I think a really deep clean/petsafe disinfect of the cage and let it lie empty for a while too so it's really dry etc should be fine . My gerbils are in a second hand cage ...

Report

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 16/06/2014 18:57

The first Hamster we had died last year. It was awful! Me and my girls were gutted. They were 9 and 6 at the time and explained gently but matter of fact about death and whilst obviously they were upset they understood. I wouldn't just get replacement as she'll notice and an untamed hammy might just nip her.

We had a little funeral for Ruby and buried her in a massive plant pot we havering our garden. This is a little cross that they made out of Lollipop sticks with her name on and they often go and look at 'rubys grave'

As this was just before Christmas I initially said we'd wait till after the festivities to get another...but I couldn't wait. On the 23rd we brought home a gorgeous white syrian Hamster who we all adore.

Report

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 16/06/2014 18:59

I explained
Have in our garden
Matter of fact
I keep getting interrupted when I come on here lately!