11 replies to this topic

[SignedLancer]

Hey everyone! I really need to rant about my hamster-hating parents. Please let me know if any of you guys have also experienced something like this?

 

First off I want to preface this by saying I am an adult and I do not live with my parents. After a ton of deliberation, I decided that now is a good time in my life to get my first pet and, after months of research, I decided a hamster is the right pet for me. I don't actually have a hamster yet, but I plan to adopt one soon now that I know my roommate is cool with it.

 

So, when I shared all of this with my parents, they both started throwing huge tantrums about it. Apparently they both hate hamsters??? Extremely??? They are under the impression that a single, tiny hamster will be so noisy that it'll keep me up all night (despite the fact that its cage is not going to be in any bedroom), and that it'll be so smelly that it'll somehow stink up an entire house so badly that I'll have to pay for damages. Then, one of them is under the impression that I'll "grow bored" of the hamster because they "aren't cuddly".

 

Of course, they tried to do the whole "we're your parents and you must listen to us" thing but I'm an adult and we don't live under the same roof so I can do whatever I want lol. Now, they're desperately trying to convince me to get a different animal instead of a hamster. I really don't want a different animal, though. I've done so much research on hamsters and their care. I don't support impulse buying animals because they're cute or would seem cool to have.

 

It sucks that they don't support me getting my first pet just because it's gonna be a hamster. I've been so excited about this but they really take every opportunity to be as negative and rude about it as possible. It's no wonder our relationship is very distant now that I'm living away from them. :/

 

Does anyone else have hamster-hating parents or people in their life? Feel free to share your experiences as well as how you cope with it. Thanks for reading 

[Lillias]

You live elsewhere, so unless you are financially dependent on them or something like that, it's none of their business.

 

However, it seems like their concerns largely stem from out-dated methods of hamster care (like small cages, metal wheels). The old setups could be smelly because there wasn't enough bedding to absorb urine properly. Wire cages also can lead to bedding being chucked out of the cage. Most hamsters aren't terribly cuddly, but that's fine as long as you accept that fact.

 

Hopefully, your parents will warm up (or at least chill out) when they see how low-odor a nice large cage is and how quiet some of the modern wheel brands are.

[Brownie~s♥️buddy]

Agreed with first response, this definitely sounds like stigmatization from outdated "care standards" at the very least, and may also be some personal dislike of a "rodent" pet (we have a few of those relatives, lol)

 

I would personally take the opportunity to show/educate them with a big modern habitat setup and a "happy" quiet hamster! (happy = meaning healthy)

 

Some hamsters are hands-on, some are hands-off... but almost every "pet" species has that in common!! Dogs, Cats, Birds, etc!

[SignedLancer]

However, it seems like their concerns largely stem from out-dated methods of hamster care (like small cages, metal wheels). The old setups could be smelly because there wasn't enough bedding to absorb urine properly. Wire cages also can lead to bedding being chucked out of the cage. Most hamsters aren't terribly cuddly, but that's fine as long as you accept that fact.

 

Hopefully, your parents will warm up (or at least chill out) when they see how low-odor a nice large cage is and how quiet some of the modern wheel brands are.

 

I absolutely agree! My mom actually impulse bought hamsters when I was too young to remember, but I'm guessing that they're basing their opinions on hamsters off of that experience. Obviously, she did no research on them and crammed 2 hamsters into a single tinytales cage with hardly any bedding and a noisy wire wheel. Of course, the hamsters constantly fought each other and eventually my parents surrendered them back to a pet store. When I point out that it was improper care, my parents just don't want to admit they made a mistake. It's easier for them to think that that's just the way hamsters are... 

 

I still hope they come around eventually, though!

 

 

Agreed with first response, this definitely sounds like stigmatization from outdated "care standards" at the very least, and may also be some personal dislike of a "rodent" pet (we have a few of those relatives, lol)

 

I would personally take the opportunity to show/educate them with a big modern habitat setup and a "happy" quiet hamster! (happy = meaning healthy)

 

Some hamsters are hands-on, some are hands-off... but almost every "pet" species has that in common!! Dogs, Cats, Birds, etc!

 

Yeah! It's definitely based on outdated standards and their own negative past experiences.

 

Actually, most of the animals I've been around in my life are hands-off, so having a hamster that's not cuddly is completely okay with me. It's fine that my parents have their own preferences but, like you said, it's usually up to the animal's individual personality if they're super affectionate or not!

Edited by Archy, 16 December 2021 - 02:20 PM.

[Hamustars]

My parents thought this when I first said I wanted a hamster. Since I went from wanting a Rabbit to wanting a Hamster (It was a like 2 year change lol) they were already set up with the word "no" But, I was smarter. I created a 25 slide Powerpoint with information gathered from Victoria Rachel on Youtube. I gave it to them while explaining as I went. A little under a year later, I got a hamster. And I love him! Thought I'm still living with my parents so it's a bit different for me. I would say, "SignedLancer, YOU ARE A ADULT. And if you were still living parents this would be different. But your not! Your parents are not going to come over long enough to even HEAR a hamster. Because I'm guessing they won't come in the middle of the night. Both my parents had a rabbit and to them Rabbits and Hamsters are the same. I would show them Victoria Rachel's video called "Why you should get a hamster" and "Why you shouldn't get a hamster" I did this and to my parents it proved that I was even weighing the negatives. 

[DraculaTheHamster]

My mom used to be like this (not as extreme though! sorry you're dealing with that,) but after my first hamster she's adopted two! Lol. I hope they chill out after you get yours..

[remote]

It's strange how people have these strong opinions.  My mom was disgusted when I had mice and rats for pets, but when I told her I was getting a hamster she surprised me by saying how cute they are and that she would be happy to watch a hamster if I went on vacation.  For some reason she thinks certain rodents are frightening and disease-ridden, while hamsters (still rodents) are clean and cuddly.  She didn't mind guinea pigs either, but had a negative opinion about rabbits.  

[SignedLancer]

My parents thought this when I first said I wanted a hamster. Since I went from wanting a Rabbit to wanting a Hamster (It was a like 2 year change lol) they were already set up with the word "no" But, I was smarter. I created a 25 slide Powerpoint with information gathered from Victoria Rachel on Youtube. I gave it to them while explaining as I went. A little under a year later, I got a hamster. And I love him! Thought I'm still living with my parents so it's a bit different for me. I would say, "SignedLancer, YOU ARE A ADULT. And if you were still living parents this would be different. But your not! Your parents are not going to come over long enough to even HEAR a hamster. Because I'm guessing they won't come in the middle of the night. Both my parents had a rabbit and to them Rabbits and Hamsters are the same. I would show them Victoria Rachel's video called "Why you should get a hamster" and "Why you shouldn't get a hamster" I did this and to my parents it proved that I was even weighing the negatives. 

 

Yeah, it's really none of their business but I still wish they'd be happy for me. TwT I'm glad you were able to change your parents minds about hamsters, though! Hopefully I can do that too.

 

 

My mom used to be like this (not as extreme though! sorry you're dealing with that,) but after my first hamster she's adopted two! Lol. I hope they chill out after you get yours..

 

Lol that's amazing! I'll let you guys know if they chill out after I adopt my hammy

 

 

It's strange how people have these strong opinions.  My mom was disgusted when I had mice and rats for pets, but when I told her I was getting a hamster she surprised me by saying how cute they are and that she would be happy to watch a hamster if I went on vacation.  For some reason she thinks certain rodents are frightening and disease-ridden, while hamsters (still rodents) are clean and cuddly.  She didn't mind guinea pigs either, but had a negative opinion about rabbits.  

 

It's so strange how people are like this when it comes to rodents! When my parents were trying to convince me to get a different animal instead of a hamster, they actually suggested some different rodents lol! I'm guessing it just has to do with their own past experiences or things people have told them in the past. It's such a shame. I'm sorry your mom had this same reaction to some of your pets!

[Kikya]

After talking to a lot of people about my hamsters, I figured out most people don't consider hamsters to be "real pets". They don't even realize they have personalities, etc.

 

Even my hubby was like, really? a hamster? Now he holds them and feeds them seeds and everything lol

[Lillias]

I do understand the correlation between rodents and disease because wild rodents can be carriers of hanta virus, the bubonic plague, etc. However, there's no particular reason that a hamster born and raised in captivity would have these diseases.

 

My mother was reluctant about me keeping rodents (back when I was a young teen), but she let me have gerbils and hamsters (not mice and rats). Now she's kind of tsundere about hamsters - calls them rats, but feeds them treats.

[remote]

Someone at my work said, "That's great how you're an adult and talk about having a hamster and you're not ashamed."  Ashamed?  This is an animal, and everyone talks about having puppies and kittens.  Yet somehow hamsters are seen as pets for children and not adults.  How sad.  Especially since adults can stay up all night if they want, and play with their hamster!

[hamsteradmirer]

My parents have very strong opinions about getting another pet... I'm happy you will at least get one!