Hamsters are often seen as a “starter” fluffy friend for children — they are seen as small, quiet, and low maintenance. In reality, they are complex, fragile prey animals with specific needs.
As an ethical rescue, we do not advocate for children handling hamsters or see them to be a suitable companion animal for children to be the sole caregivers of. Below we’re going to tell you why:
Hamsters are nocturnal
Hamsters are naturally active at night and sleep a lot of the day – during the night they can be loud on their wheel, and can make lots of different noises when they are digging or chewing! This both means that they are awake when children are asleep, and if hamsters live in children’s bedrooms the noise of them playing at night is likely to keep them awake.
Hamsters are fragile
Hamsters are very small and delicate and even gentle children can accidentally drop them, hold them tightly, or accidentally scare them. They are prey animals and can move suddenly when scared, which means they are at risk of jumping out of hands or from surfaces.
Some hamsters don’t enjoy being handled at all
Many hamsters are happiest being observed, exploring their enclosure, using enrichment and foraging, they don’t often enjoy being handled. This can be frustrating for some children.
Hamsters can escape easily
Children may not always close enclosure doors properly, and hamsters can be little escape artists. If they get out of their enclosure hamsters are likely to be in danger of getting stuck, lost or at risk of being hurt by other animals.
Hamsters need specialist care
Similar to rabbits, guinea pigs and other species – when it comes to veterinary care – hamsters are considered exotic animals. This means that they need to see an exotic vet who is familiar with hamster care. Quite often, these vets are more costly due to their additional qualifications and specialist experience.
Overall, hamsters make wonderful companion animals and can provide families with so much joy, however we do not recommend them as animals solely to be cared for by children. When adopting a hamster, their responsibility falls onto you as an adult to be their main, responsible, caregiver.
