Kitchen Stove

The Humble Hamster: A Great First Pet for Your Child
By: Dina M. Giolitto

Thinking of getting a pet for your little ones How about a hamster Theyre cute inexpensive easy to care for and a great first pet that will teach your child how to be more responsible. Here are some things I learned during my experience as a hamster owner. I hope they aid you in your petpurchasing decision.

Hamsters are nocturnal creatures so expect minimal activity during the day and a fair amount of noisemaking from the hamster cage after hours. Place the cage in a warm draftfree secluded spot in the house where potential activity wont cause a disturbance in the night. Be sure that the lid or door of the cage is securely latched tight as hamsters are fond of making the occasional midnight escape. As a little girl I awakened many a morning to find my hamster missing having jimmied the lock on his cage somehow. On several occasions I found him vacationing in a mouse hole behind our kitchen stove and had to coax him out with his water bottle (Im not kidding about this). It always amazed me that he never injured himself on these wild adventures.

Unlike guinea pigs hamsters are solitary dwellers. Doubling or tripling up is definitely not a good idea as hamster roommates will fight and may seriously injure each other. Your hamster will be quite content to live his adult life in his single room apartment. Be sure to provide him with a sturdy cage of either the plastic and metal storebought variety or a roomy fish tank with a secure top. Hamster housing essentials: a water bottle that doesnt leak dry cedar or pine bedding to line the bottom of the cage an exercise wheel and a steady supply of hamster food all of which you can purchase at the pet store. You may also want to buy him a salt lick and a little box of hamster treats.

Once your hamster settles into his new home the first thing hell do is build himself a cozy nest. Hamsters are quite funny with their housekeeping ways. You can watch yours fill up his cheek pouches with cedar bedding until he looks just like a blowfish; its really quite amusing to see. Then hell run to the corner of the cage and unload the contents of his cheeks. Hell do this over and over until he has a nice big hill of bedding and then hell tuck himself right into the middle and drift off to sleep. Hell likely not want to be disturbed until the sun goes down

upon which youll see him venture out of his nest have a nibble of his food and then maybe go for a spin on his hamster wheel. Your hamster will even establish a specific spot in the cage that he uses for a bathroom!

Wet tail is a common hamster ailment that can easily be cured with medicine that you can purchase at the pet store. If your hamster has wet tail youll notice his stools will be watery and he may also have a bit of a runny nose too. Wet tail is the hamster version of a cold and should be treated promptly as hamsters are not hearty creatures. To keep your hamster healthy and well make sure his cage is kept in a warm draftfree area in the house. Hamsters originate from a warm climate and therefore should not be exposed to a chill.

Your hamster cage should be thoroughly cleaned out at least once a week. Its best to tackle this task outside or near a slop sink in a basement or garage as it does get messy. Empty all the bedding into the garbage wipe down any remaining soiled parts and then use hot soapy water to wash out the cage. Do not clean your hamster cage with bleach as a residue can remain that will harm your hamster if he ingests it.

If youve taken your hamster out for a little fun never leave him unattended on a tabletop or high counter even for a second. Hamsters do not have depth perception and will no doubt make a sudden dash for the edge of the table. You wouldnt want your hamster to break his leg would you On the other hand he will enjoy a safe romp in his enclosed hamster ball. You can buy one at any pet store.

If you or your children arent ready for the committment that having a dog brings try a hamster on for size. Unlike a fish you can give your hamster a kiss. Unlike a dog or cat you dont need to feed him every single day or take your hamster outside. He will pretty much enjoy living a quiet hamster life in his hamster house. Sounds like the ideal pet to me!

Dina Giolitto is a NewJersey based Copywriting Consultant with ten years of industry experience. Her current focus is web content and web marketing for a multitude of products and services although the bulk of her experience lies in retail for bigname companies like ToysRUs. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for rates and samples.