cute but not so good for children (Hamsters)

Member Name: judith_jamieson

Product:	Hamsters
Date:	19/06/09 (9 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheaper than a dog

Disadvantages: bites and escapes often

I have owned 2 hamsters and feel i am in the position to give some vital advise to those considering buying one. These wee furries are very cute but i woulnt say necessarily the best pet for a small child. They have sharp teeth and move very quickly and are great escape artists so if yours does escape you may be in for more tears than it is worth. My first hamster escaped and never returned - i was devestated and tried everything from peanut butter to tempt it back without any luck - the next hamster lived for under a year and had a stroke and cost us a weekend vets bill of £50 and again lots of tears from me so im afrai cute as they are i cant put myself through the agony they give you for what is essentially a furry mouse!The other thing to bear in mind with young children is the way they do stay up all night and make some noise going round even the silent wheel and drinking from their water bottle so if you have a young child who struggles to sleep at the best of times a hamster may not be the best option of pet for you. Also they are most active at night so your child may not really see much of their pet when they are awake.

Summary: cute but can cause tears if they escape and they dont live too long