As a owner of 7 dwarf Sapphire Winter White hamsters,I understand that these furry creatures appeal to most age groups in our society. But do not underestimate these rodents;they’re tough balls of fur! I love them for that. 
For example,I bet most people do not know that after giving birth,if the female hamster does not believe that Baby A would survive for long,she would DEVOUR Baby A. And it does not always have to be one baby that has to be sacrificed. Frankly,I still do not understand the reason behind the cannibalism in hamsters but if this was the way God has made them,I have to accept them,don’t I?
A few months back,I researched a little about the typical hamster’s background. I stumbled upon the hamster’s history and I found it hard to believe. These cute,darling animals were desert animals before domestication. As stated in a brief outline of the hamster’s history at [http://www.hamsterhideout.com/history.html],a zoologist/professor found the first hamster discovered by man. Golden Hamsters are slightly bigger than regular hamsters we see today in pet shops. Due to cross breeding and experimentation(they can reproduce new litters in a few weeks!),out comes the colourful dwarf hamsters.
The Golden Hamsters are renamed Syrian hamsters,if I am not mistaken. They can live up to 3 years,whereas the dwarf hamsters can live up to 2 years only.A month ago,one of my baby hamsters passed away because it was too weak to survive. It did suffer quite a number of injuries after the mother seemed to treat it as another male hamster other than her own. The brawl between mother and son was pretty serious but my family did not realise that those injuries would be the very ones that sent him to hamster heaven. So,it stopped short of its life.
That is why my mother always tells me : “Don’t get too close to the hamsters. When they die,the only thing that will stay uneased would be your heart.” I do agree with her,but who could resist those little critters? I know I couldn’t.
They may have short lifespans.But they do live their lives to the fullest!
theredpants said,
May 18, 2010 @ 2:50 am
It’s a common dilemma with pets – people always tell me not to get too attached but then again, how not to? Should we then shy away from relationships with people just because one day they won’t be around anymore? I say embrace ‘em and love ‘em ‘cos once they’re gone, we won’t be able to do that anymore.