;)
A Biting Problem
Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 9:02PM Recently, my life never seems to have a dull moment. In the midst of flu recovery, "phantoming" the neighbor children, and preparing for another women's rally this weekend, BigGuy's hamster has started biting.
Now, you may not think a hamster, much less a "robo" dwarf hamster, could chomp through an almost forty-year old's calloused, dry hands.
Let me reassure you.
HE CAN!
Perry the hamster, after all, is a rodent - a fellow member of the mice, rat, and all other chewing animal family. Their teeth continue to grow ya'll. That's why rodent owners buy chew sticks and hard food, such as dried corn and super-vitamin packed large pellets.
In an attempt to remedy our small problem, I spent time looking on the internet for answers to why a once very friendly hamster is now attempting to bite the very hand that feeds it and cleans its abode.
I read through various articles. Nothing made sense until I read the words "dwarf hamsters may begin biting when they sense a new threat in their environment."
Then it hit me!!
For the past week we have been lax about closing the door to the guest room where Perry is placed at night. (Yes, I realize we do strange things all in the name of a good night's sleep. And yes, we have been a little preoccupied.)
In the meantime, Perry the hamster has had a new friend visiting him up close and personal while he sleeps. More than once, we have found Henry the cat sitting right next to Perry's cage meowing and attempting to place a small paw through the spaces between the cage wires.
Oh! I guess I would get a little defensive too if a huge predator stood at my door and attempted to come through my window!
Everything is making sense now.
So, let's just say over the next week or two, we are going to start keeping a better eye on the guest room door and a better sense of where each critter is in the house.
Hopefully, with increased security and better boundaries, our little rodent will become our little, kind friend again. And I can quit wearing the only band-aids available in our house - the ones with the green camoflauge covering.
Blessings on your weekend everyone!
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (3)
Prayers on your rally this weekend, and for your fingers!!! You are so brave to own a hamster. :)
Poor Perry! He's in the guest room? Wonder how he'll react when grandparents come to stay in that room? I, personally, promise not to stick my fingers into the cage. Marcia
Thanks for the chuckles. Praying for your finger!!