At one point during the life of every child, he or she is going to want a hamster, or some other small rodent. That is, if they have gotten a firm and often repeated "no" in response to asking for a dog, a cat, or a pony. Hamster care is very important because these little critters do not have a long lifespan, so you want your child to get the most out of the relationship while they can.
What a Child Can Learn from Having a Hamster
- Responsibility. Having to provide food and water, clean up after, and play with an animal is not always fun, but it still has to be done.
- Empathy. By having a living being that needs to receive and to give love, children learn to be kind and gentle. They also learn compassion for others and respect.
- Friendship. A pet offers unconditional love to a child and needs to receive that same type of love in return.
Hamster Supplies
Hamsters are actually one of the easiest pet options that a parent can agree to. They are relatively easy to care for, and inexpensive in their upkeep, after the initial purchase of the needed equipment and supplies.
These are the basic necessities that your new hamster will require.
- Cage. You should consider a home for your hamster that will give him enough room to scamper easily about without knocking over his food dish.
- Food. Pet stores and some grocery stores carry food mixes that contain corn, sunflower seeds, cereal, alfalfa, etc. Hamsters will also eat vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and cauliflower. They also enjoy fruits such as grapes, apples, raisins, and small seeds.
- Toys. Your new family member needs to play and exercise. It is recommended that you have an exercise wheel or ball to keep the little guy in optimum health.
- Water bottle. This is usually provided with the cage, as it most often hangs on the inside, next to the food dish. Make sure the water is clean and present at all times.
- Bedding. It is best to use soft shredded paper bedding because it will not hurt him, if the hamster should chew or swallow it. Hamsters are “nesting” animals, which means that they make themselves little snuggly beds to sleep in. You can buy pre-packaged bedding, or simply use un-dyed or treated paper towels, or even toilet paper.
Varieties of Hamsters
There are several different varieties of hamsters, including Dwarf (very expensive), Banded Syrian, and the Teddy Bear (most common). These are just a few, as the list goes on and on. However, they all share common characteristics in that they will live for about four or five years, they require the same basic care, and your child will adore any of them.
Where to Buy a Hamster
- Buying from a breeder. The best place to buy a hamster is directly from a breeder. This is someone who knows about hamsters and can give you great advice on how to care for it, and may offer a guarantee if you find out that the hamster is not the best option for your family. It is not always easy finding a breeder in your area.
- Buying from a pet shop. A pet shop will not offer a guarantee on your hamster, and often times hamsters from stores can contract illnesses that both the store owner and you may not be aware of.
- Buying from a rescue home. The final option for buying a hamster is a rescue center for hamsters. Rescue centers assess a hamster's health when they arrive at the shelter and take care of any illnesses or injuries that they are able to. The pitfall to buying at a rescue home is that it is not easy to tell the age of the hamster, so you cannot be really sure how long it will live in your home.
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