In recent times people in the UK are increasingly going for the smaller categories of pets, like rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs, and moving away from larger conventional pets like cats and dogs. Of all these options hamsters seem to be the most popular and this is not without reasons. A hamster is a small furry rodent with a round body, short legs, adorable popping eyes and a tail that is shorter than its body. There are five kinds of hamster species commonly kept here in the UK namely: Syrian, Chinese, Roborovski, Dwarf Russian Winter White and Dwarf Russian Campbell. Apart from its cute bodily appearance that is more appealing than those of other small rodents, there are a lot of other benefits that come with keeping these amazing rodents.
1. Cheap To Purchase
You don’t need to break the bank in order to buy one of these amazing rodents. In general, you can expect to part with five to fifteen pounds for a hamster depending on its type and the kind of business. While it’s easy to get a hamster from a pet shop, they can also be found in the many small animal shelters across the UK.
2. Hamsters Are Nocturnal
Being nocturnal animals, hamsters sleep during the day and are most active during the evening and night. This trait is ideal for people who are away from home during the day and only return in the evenings; which is the case with most working and school attending individuals here in the UK.
3. Hamsters Are Hygienic
Hamsters have such hygienic tendencies as cleaning their own fur and using one corner of the cage as a toilet that can help save the owner precious time and money that could be used to sanitise them. Due to this their cages are easier to clean than those of other rodents.
4. Require Limited Space
Due to their small size hamsters do not need a large space to thrive. All you need is a cage that is big enough for them along with adequate space for them to play and you are good to go. This means that you can keep a hamster regardless of the size of your residence and still keep it happy and stress-free.
5. Hamsters are Solitary Creatures
Hamsters like living a solitary life and would normally fight bloody battles in cases where they are kept in one cage without the proper introduction. This phenomenon, therefore, makes it desirable to raise only a single hamster as a pet as compared to multiple. In such a case the owner gets an easy time in raising, cleaning and feeding a hamster and does not have the burden of raising many, making it a desirable pet.
6. Their Short Lifespan
Another benefit of keeping a hamster as a pet is their relatively short lifespan which averages about 2 to 3 years depending on the kind of hamster. These short life spans make them desirable to people who don’t want to make a long term commitment in raising pets over a long period of time.
7. Easy To Tame And Handle
Hamsters are easy to tame and handle due to their mild temperament and can be brought under control in no time as compared to other pets. This characteristic, combined with their small size makes them a good option for your child’s first pet. This is essential in teaching your child responsibility and empathy towards living things, qualities which will shape their adult lives.
8. Easy To Look After
Hamsters are small animals which don’t feed much, don’t require constant medical attention and don’t need to be taken out for walks. First this means that a small amount of food can feed your hamster for a long period of time, saving you money. Second, because the hamster does not require frequent medical attention the owner can save money that would have been used for check-ups and medical services. Lastly, the fact that hamsters don’t need walks in the park and would be happy when provided with a running wheel in their cage to keep fit, helps the owner relax especially after a long day at work.