So our first step toward understanding the hamster the way he would like us to understand him is to explore his extended family, his roots: the family of rodents. Frankly, that fact alone deserves our respect. But to leap to such unsavory conclusions is to underestimate what is, in truth, a fascinating, even amazing, branch of the animal kingdom that has lived closely with humans throughout much of our history. We don’t tend to think of a soft, cuddly companion sharing our children’s bedrooms. When we think rodent, we think of mice in the kitchen cupboard munching the Cheerios or rats in the garbage can scavenging for Thanksgiving leftovers. Many a would-be hamster owner may not be all that pleased to hear that answer. The most logical answer to the question What is a hamster?, you see, also happens to be the simplest answer. But here, too, some misunderstandings might arise. The first step toward increasing our understanding of hamsters is to explore their family tree. Perhaps then, even though he enjoys immense popularity, he might earn a little more respect as well.
He would be the first to tell us that although living with humans is a fine fate for his kind, he would be even more comfortable if people would take a little time to get to know him before welcoming him into their homes. Not much to it.īut if he had the voice and the language skills, the hamster would be the first to tell us that he is far too often misunderstood-even underestimated-by the two-legged creatures who call themselves his caretakers. They’re pretty easy to take care of, and they like to run on those wheels. After all, what is there to know? They’re just those little animals that you put in a cage and keep in the kids’ room. Many among us believe we know what hamsters are. And when you gather together all his special characteristics, you can’t help but see that there is far more to him than meets our human eyes. The little friend of whom we speak is, of course, the hamster. Much to his benefit, as we will see, he also doesn’t happen to have much of a tail. Though a homebody at heart, he can also be an inquisitive guy with a desire to explore the world beyond his cage door. He’s fundamentally a vegetarian (though he might say yes to a bite of meat now and again, if it’s offered) who demands a clean home and regular exercise, yet he tends to be a bit too susceptible to stress.
A gentle soul, he is most content among those who respect his quiet nature, his diminutive size, and his unique view of the world. Imagine a friend who is soft and warm and fits in the palm of your hand.
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