Hamster?

[hereisnewyork]

I really, really love animals but they aren't allowed in my building...I'm pretty sure that just refers to cats & dogs tho, an animal that could cause damage. So I'm thinking about getting a hamster, it would be nice to have something cute and soft to come home to and to have something to take care of...I don't think there's any reason NOT to get one? Do I have to ask my roommate (she's psycho and we don't talk to each other)...the hamster would only be in my room. What do ya think?

[Krishna]

I really, really love animals but they aren't allowed in my building...I'm pretty sure that just refers to cats & dogs tho, an animal that could cause damage. So I'm thinking about getting a hamster, it would be nice to have something cute and soft to come home to and to have something to take care of...I don't think there's any reason NOT to get one? Do I have to ask my roommate (she's psycho and we don't talk to each other)...the hamster would only be in my room. What do ya think?

They are nocturnal, and run on their wheels about 90% of the night, which makes them loud. They also can be very smelly, even if you clean the cage regularly. They aren't always the most long-lived creatures, and (at least mine), had a propensity towards escape. Each hamster I owned escaped at least once....many stories to tell bout that....

[wordsmith]

I, too, enjoy pets and am not allowed a cat or dog, but I think I'd rather volunteer at a shelter and walk and play with the dogs and cats than keep a hamster or a fish or some other primarily caged/aquarium-ed pet, personally. I'm big on pets that you can be more active with.

[hereisnewyork]

I had a budgie for 10 years that I loved more than life itself...so I'm more than ok with small animals, just never had a hamster before...and never had a pet in an apt with a crazy person.

[Dirty Sanchez]

I had a budgie for 10 years that I loved more than life itself...so I'm more than ok with small animals, just never had a hamster before...and never had a pet in an apt with a crazy person.

If you want a hamster or a budgie, go for it. Just don't tell your roommate.

And, DON'T let the budgie out of the cage. I still have a scar on my ear from when my college roommate let out her psycho-ass cockatiel.

[red]

I can't really get behind the idea of getting any kind of pet and not telling your roomie. hamsters smell and some people are allergic to hamsters and guine pigs.

of course this is colored by my roomie in my first apartment ever getting 2 smelly ass hamsters and then moving out and leaving them behind for me to deal with. Not cool.

[Bocheezu]

Each hamster I owned escaped at least once....

My buddy growing up had one, and one time I tried to pet it on the head, at which point it bit me. Of course, the natural reaction is to pull your hand back and out of the cage (similar to the reaction of touching something super hot), and poor hamster got flung across the room. It was fine, but had officially escaped (probably not the way it intended) and took a good couple hours to corral.

[hoodie]

Ahh hampsters...
With the same thought pattern, minus the not-tell-the-roomie issue, I adopted one in college. He was nameless until after a gradual socialization of voice and presence, I finally tried to pet him and he promptly took a chunk out of my finger. His name became Schiz after that (probably not the most PC decision ever, but I was 19...not the most PC phase of life either).

Anyhow, Schiz did run on his wheel all night, but a little white noise never bothers me. I picked him up using garden gloves after that love-at-first-bite moment. He was kind of cuddly once you got him out of the cage. He used to sit in my hoodie pouch pocket and poke his little head out, which was adorable. He also took a liking to my mom when I brought him home and would climb the cage in the direction of her voice.

But he did die at the ripe old age of 2. He had only just gotten socialized when he croaked, so I never got another hampster. More investment than payoff.

I'd second volunteering with dogs and cats before getting another hammie. Guinea pigs, however, live longer and are sweeter-tempered.

PS- tell your roommate. Even if they're a nut job, you'd want the same for yourself. Someone's got to be the bigger person.

[embrassezla]

Hamsters never really struck me as being good pets. I think they are probably pretty miserable being kept in a tiny cage, especially if they are alone. And they don't prefer to be handled. If you love animals, do the hamster a favor and volunteer at a shelter instead.

[Krishna]

My buddy growing up had one, and one time I tried to pet it on the head, at which point it bit me. Of course, the natural reaction is to pull your hand back and out of the cage (similar to the reaction of touching something super hot), and poor hamster got flung across the room. It was fine, but had officially escaped (probably not the way it intended) and took a good couple hours to corral.

6 hamsters, 6 escapes, 5 captures using peanutbutter traps, and 1 capture via dad yelling his head off for me to come quick, cuz he'd found my damn rat and he sure wasn't gonna pick it up. I even had one that was strong enough to shift a rock off the top of his cage. Most escapes lasted between 1 and 2 days for mine. :rolleyes:

[hereisnewyork]

ok im definitely being persuaded to not get one...and as much as that sucks, its probably for the best...too many factors against it...im just gonna have to wait till i have my own place so i dont have to worry about psycho roomates and can put the hamster or other pet in a room besides my bedroom...till then ill try the volunteering thing or just stare at the puppies in the window on lexington avenue.

sigh

[red]

where do you live in nyc? there are several city shelters and i also know some rescues out there that can always use help.

let me know if you want info.

www.nycacc.org

lots of terrific dogs end up in shelters. my dog is from the 125th street (manhattan) kill shelter and he is the best!

[cheshrcarol]

You might want to look into getting a guinea pig, if you're interested in a caged animal. I had one in college and a few years afterwards, and she was more like a cat. She had a ton of personality and you can even litter train them so you can have them out of the their cage for a while and they'll use a special litter tray that you put on the floor.

Of course, you will still have the cage cleaning issues, but no hamster wheel.

[okielahoma]

I can understand your desire for a pet, and some company. I've felt the same way.

For several years, I have wanted a dog and lived in places that allow dogs-- but that required pet deposits, pet rent, and so forth. Needless to say, I didn't get one at that time because of the cost, responsibility, and desire to be more "settled" in life before getting a pet. Pets are "forever"-- or at least a decade or more, for some types. When I moved here for school this Fall, I rescued a dog. I definitely enjoy the company, but that's not to say that it's not a "hassle" figuring out where I can place him if I go on vacation, or if I study abroad, and keeping it happy. I idenfied (and talked to) several people who have offered to take him for me, if needed-- though I certainly plan on keeping him. I know that he'll be a bit difficult to find a home for if I move to large city again. He's over the 25 pound "limit" for small dogs. I think he weights 26 or 27 pounds. But, he's good company and I'm glad to finally have a dog.

I think that you should "ask" your roommate, saying where it would be kept, "is this ok?", etc. Psycho or not, you live together and are sharing a space (and a lease).

Hamsters can indeed be noisy... and smelly. I had one once and it was cute, but really not much "company." They can't really interact, go on walks, or anything obviously-- and they sometimes try to bite you. I'm almost afraid of ever having a hamster again. The pet store that I got my hamster from was not reputable (I didn't know it at the time), and was sick when I got him. He only lived a few months.

Turtles, fish, frogs, and so forth are "fun" and at least a little friend, but they aren't cuddly and all you can really do is stare at them. That's not to say that they aren't fun, but they might not fulfill your desire for some sort of interaction with your pet.

Good luck with your pet search and roommate! :)