Okay, yes, let's get it out of the way: they are rodents. They have incisor teeth that keep on growing - so they constantly gnaw - and while arguably cuter than a rat and far less nasty-seeming they are still rodents. Only your child won't care. So why do you?
Whether it's at Christmas of 2010, which nears as of this writing, or before or past, when the kid wants a hamster at the very least you need to consider it. Hamsters have been domesticated in North America since the 1930s and many parents have grown fond of them so you might, too.
Hamsters are (Mostly) Gentle and Live Longer in Captivity
They're gentle, or mostly gentle. If you were to leave two males in a cage they are likely to fight to the death, true, but otherwise they don't cause trouble. Or much. They replicate a great deal; indeed some species start when they're a month old while others take a whopping two or three months to begin popping out pups. They can have several litters a year.
Like more than three.
Of course you can always get just the one hamster though your child might not be pleased. "It's lonely," he or she might say. "It really needs a nice friend."
Getting a Hamster: Caring for Hamsters is Easy and Cheap
Hamsters don't require a lot of maintenance and are not costly animals to keep. A large cage might run you around 50-70 bucks in a store but are actually cheaper to buy online. Hamster food is cheap, a $3 bag of nuts and bits of seeds will last months and the cost of bedding is also cheap. The cage should be cleaned out at least once a week and fresh water should be given regularly.
The bottom line is that if your kid wants a hamster, well, it's the birthright of a contemporary kid to have one (or more). And hey, it's not like we're cruel to hamsters, they actually will live longer in captivity, in a hamster cage, on average, than the wild. Now you can figure out plenty of reasons for not getting a hamster. Here are some reasons to get a hamster:
Top Ten Reasons to Get Your Kid a Hamster
- They don't eat much. Why not? Because they're not much bigger than a bar of soap.
- You kid will be so excited to have a hamster he'll take care of it - for about one week.
- A hamster's droppings are small and the cages easy to clean...well, it's something.
- Because hamsters are a nocturnal creature, your child will learn a brand new word.
- They escape a lot so your family will spend quality time together looking for Hammy.
- Having one is a really good lesson for your cat in restraint; or at least that's the plan.
- Hamsters spin about on a wheel and it will remind you of how pointless life can be.
- That last one is a bit depressing so next a comforting one: their bite only hurts a bit.
- Should they bother you then all you need to do is to stick their cage in another room.
- Hard finding 10 but let's end here: Others have learned to love them so you can, too.
Don't Get Your Child a Hamster, Do Get Your Child a Hamster - Your Choice
The bottom line is that she's gonna be thrilled to see that furry little mammal spin in the wheel and roll in the hamster ball and chew its way through the wiring at the back of your computer. Besides you love your child right? Right. So it stands to reason that you love anything that will make her or him happy. Alright then - time to decide and it's all up to you.
Happy Hamstering.
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