Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "hamsters are for eating" Mimi
Bart and Lia HOEN
Dear Amy,
I hate hamsters. My sister had one that bit me.
Buy it and feed it to the cat. The cat will get a lot more enjoyment out of it and that way he will be spared a lifetime of useless wheel turning that will keep you awake during the night, in addition to the mindless cage cleaning, if you don't want your child's room to stink to high heaven.
Gerbils are less smelly, and run faster, more animated. More of a challenge for the cat, too.
We had a "dwarf " rabbit called Lapinou for TEN years, I hate caged animals so we finally opted for the San Diego zoo no-bars format, just a big box on a table with low side walls, he just sat there coolly on the back porch watching the world go by. No agressive cats in the neighbourhood to worry him.
I hate hamsters. My sister had one that bit me.
Buy it and feed it to the cat. The cat will get a lot more enjoyment out of it and that way he will be spared a lifetime of useless wheel turning that will keep you awake during the night, in addition to the mindless cage cleaning, if you don't want your child's room to stink to high heaven.
Gerbils are less smelly, and run faster, more animated. More of a challenge for the cat, too.
We had a "dwarf " rabbit called Lapinou for TEN years, I hate caged animals so we finally opted for the San Diego zoo no-bars format, just a big box on a table with low side walls, he just sat there coolly on the back porch watching the world go by. No agressive cats in the neighbourhood to worry him.
Bart
(with just a Siamese style cat (Lapinou's former bud)and a half-blind
(cataract) non pedigree idiot poodle left, the latter who got all wound
up in the wires hanging down from the back of my computer, not just once
but a number of times, like "What an idiot! Poodles are supposed to be
smart!" and then stands there mute like an idiot, unable to move.
I guess he did learn cause the third time he tried to free himself chewing
through the cable that goes from the CPU to the monitor, which is a b _
_ _ _ to fix) Doggone it, anyway!
aworthen wrote:
I need some advice here. I had hamsters when I was young, but I must admit was pretty niave about them and their care. Then right before my husband and I got married we got one and surprise! three days later it had babies. I held on to them (or at least the ones the mom didn't eat) for 5 weeks then brought the whole litter and mom and cage to the pet store, put ti downa and walked out. Part of me felt bad, but I really felt that I had fufilled my obligation and we we're leaving for our honeymoon. O.K., now that I've made a short story long.. my 7 yo dd now wants a hamster, so now that I'm older and more responsible (sometimes), I'm doing my homework. My 2 biggest concerns are determining the sex of the hamster before we buy it (especially making sure if it's pg or not) and what to do about our dog and cats. We're already planning on keeping them in her room, but I'm worried they might sneak in. Any suggestions or advice appreciated.ThanksAmy
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Bart and Lia HOEN
Dear Amy,
I hate hamsters. My sister had one that bit me.
Buy it and feed it to the cat. The cat will get a lot more enjoyment out of it and that way he will be spared a lifetime of useless wheel turning that will keep you awake during the night, in addition to the mindless cage cleaning, if you don't want your child's room to stink to high heaven.
Gerbils are less smelly, and run faster, more animated. More of a challenge for the cat, too.
We had a "dwarf " rabbit called Lapinou for TEN years, I hate caged animals so we finally opted for the San Diego zoo no-bars format, just a big box on a table with low side walls, he just sat there coolly on the back porch watching the world go by. No agressive cats in the neighbourhood to worry him.
I hate hamsters. My sister had one that bit me.
Buy it and feed it to the cat. The cat will get a lot more enjoyment out of it and that way he will be spared a lifetime of useless wheel turning that will keep you awake during the night, in addition to the mindless cage cleaning, if you don't want your child's room to stink to high heaven.
Gerbils are less smelly, and run faster, more animated. More of a challenge for the cat, too.
We had a "dwarf " rabbit called Lapinou for TEN years, I hate caged animals so we finally opted for the San Diego zoo no-bars format, just a big box on a table with low side walls, he just sat there coolly on the back porch watching the world go by. No agressive cats in the neighbourhood to worry him.
Bart
(with just a Siamese style cat (Lapinou's former bud)and a half-blind
(cataract) non pedigree idiot poodle left, the latter who got all wound
up in the wires hanging down from the back of my computer, not just once
but a number of times, like "What an idiot! Poodles are supposed to be
smart!" and then stands there mute like an idiot, unable to move.
I guess he did learn cause the third time he tried to free himself chewing
through the cable that goes from the CPU to the monitor, which is a b _
_ _ _ to fix) Doggone it, anyway!
aworthen wrote:
I need some advice here. I had hamsters when I was young, but I must admit was pretty niave about them and their care. Then right before my husband and I got married we got one and surprise! three days later it had babies. I held on to them (or at least the ones the mom didn't eat) for 5 weeks then brought the whole litter and mom and cage to the pet store, put ti downa and walked out. Part of me felt bad, but I really felt that I had fufilled my obligation and we we're leaving for our honeymoon. O.K., now that I've made a short story long.. my 7 yo dd now wants a hamster, so now that I'm older and more responsible (sometimes), I'm doing my homework. My 2 biggest concerns are determining the sex of the hamster before we buy it (especially making sure if it's pg or not) and what to do about our dog and cats. We're already planning on keeping them in her room, but I'm worried they might sneak in. Any suggestions or advice appreciated.ThanksAmy
Mom to Samantha, Dana, and CaseyMessage boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
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aworthen
----- Original Message -----From: Bart and Lia HOENSent: Friday, August 11, 2000 5:20 PMSubject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "hamsters are for eating" MimiDear Amy,
I hate hamsters. My sister had one that bit me.
Buy it and feed it to the cat.Well..umm...can't do that. I won't even kill a bug. I carry them outside and set them free. I guess you didn't know that I'm a vegan and don't even drink milk because of how poorly cows are treated for their milk. (ok- that and the fact that I'm lactose intolerant) :) Thanks for the advice about the gerbils, but their long tails freak me out. Oh well. Lots of people have suggested rats, but I don't know about that. (hey, just cuz I don't condone cruelty to animals doesn't mean I have to love em all, right)?Amy
Mom to Samantha, Dana, and Casey
Vicki A. Dennis
Rats have long naked tails so if gerbils bother
you.........
Have you considered Guinea
Pigs? I think they are far less nippy than hamsters and
in my experience also less prone to escape.
If handled from birth, are also more "cuddly" and social
than hamsters.
Vicki----Did breeding experiment with hamsters in high
school and thus had lots and lots.
They are smelly, aggressive with other hamsters, and
draw blood when they bite!!
-----Original Message-----
From: aworthen <aworthen@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, August 11, 2000 4:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "hamsters are for eating" MimiThanks for the advice about the gerbils, but their long tails freak me out. Oh well. Lots of people have suggested rats, but I don't know about that.
aworthen
----- Original Message -----From: Vicki A. DennisSent: Friday, August 11, 2000 5:49 PMSubject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "hamsters are for eating" MimiHave you considered Guinea Pigs?Yes, but I heard they are the smelliest of all rodents
Did breeding experiment with hamsters in high school...they are aggressive with other hamsters,I know that from watching the one mother we had eat her babiesand draw blood when they bite!!I've never had that experience. I had 2 in a row (about 5 1/2 years total) the second one never bit and the first one bit a couple of times, but never drew blood. Of course, as someone pointed out hamsters are very highly bred these days and may not be the hamsters I remember of 20+ years ago.Amy
Mom to Samantha, Dana, and CaseyRats have long naked tails so if gerbils bother you.........I think they are far less nippy than hamsters andin my experience also less prone to escape. If handled from birth, are also more "cuddly" and social than hamsters.Vicki----and thus had lots and lots.They are smelly,Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!-----Original Message-----
From: aworthen <aworthen@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, August 11, 2000 4:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "hamsters are for eating" MimiThanks for the advice about the gerbils, but their long tails freak me out. Oh well. Lots of people have suggested rats, but I don't know about that.
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In a message dated 8/11/00 2:44:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
aworthen@... writes:
<< Thanks for the advice about the gerbils, but their long tails freak me
out. Oh well. Lots of people have suggested rats, but I don't know about
that. (hey, just cuz I don't condone cruelty to animals doesn't mean I have
to love em all, right)? >>
Some folks are repulsed by the rat's tail but it never bothered me. Would
you need to handle them or would the kids be able to do that? Kids are
seldom bothered by our adult kinds of bias. I've talked to many people who
let their rats roam the house like a cat or dog and are trained to use a
litter box. Most of the time our rats were on a platform with the cage open,
until the cat moved in too.
Kris
aworthen@... writes:
<< Thanks for the advice about the gerbils, but their long tails freak me
out. Oh well. Lots of people have suggested rats, but I don't know about
that. (hey, just cuz I don't condone cruelty to animals doesn't mean I have
to love em all, right)? >>
Some folks are repulsed by the rat's tail but it never bothered me. Would
you need to handle them or would the kids be able to do that? Kids are
seldom bothered by our adult kinds of bias. I've talked to many people who
let their rats roam the house like a cat or dog and are trained to use a
litter box. Most of the time our rats were on a platform with the cage open,
until the cat moved in too.
Kris