Posts tagged "hamster"

"Those guys from Daily Squee are looking for me, but they'll never find me as long as I stay underneath this bedding. ...Right?"

What do hamsters dream of?

- Treat sticks (of course)
- Toilet-paper rolls
- Fresh bedding
- The wheel
- Running around the house in a giant plastic ball
- Lettuce

Did we forget anything?

Who needs a Roomba, am I right? A hungry hamster is going to do the job just as well, if not better. Just look at this little guy zero in on those grains. Admittedly, there is a significant design flaw here in that a hamster will not consume inedible material, and you know you're dropping more than just table scraps on the floor, you slob. But when Skynet makes its big move and there's all-out war between man and machines, you and your hamster sure will be happy for your filthy, robotless hovel.

It's 3 o'clock. You had a heavy lunch, and now you're getting that drowsy feeling at your desk that you feel every day around this time. You're putting more work into keeping your eyes from closing and your head from nodding than you're putting into your actual work.

Just be thankful that your desk isn't several feet off the ground. Then those afternoon drowsies could suddenly become a matter of life and death, or at least a matter of injury.

Sometimes the public finds a use for a product other than the one intended. Kleenex tissues, for example, were originally meant for ladies to use in makeup removal, but they became widely popular as disposable nose-blowers. When that happens, it may behoove a company to adjust the marketing of their product to reflect the popular usage.

Let's reconsider the hamster ball. It's not that hamster owners don't use them, but maybe there's a lot more to them than the obvious. These kittens seems to have some fresh ideas. They're putting a fun new spin on a cat's love of hiding inside a container. More than one kitten in the mix, and there's a really playful party going on. Maybe the hamster-ball company should think about a re-branding of their product.

Name: Migotka

Age: 1 year

Breed: Syrian hamster

Favorite Treat: Cheese.

Likes: To sleep (everywhere, even in the most unusual places).

Dislikes: Exercise and excessive exertion.

Fun Fact: Her owner claims that Migotka is is is the world's grumpiest hamster.

Weird Quirk: She is happy only when she's sleeping in a big cardboard box in the kitchen (her second home; she dreams of moving in there for good).

Congratulations to our submitter, Pyza*. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

More Cute Pets

It's not often that you hear of innovation from the not-so-wide world of toilet-roll paper manufacturing. There's only two elements involved: a cardboard tube, and tissue paper wrapped around it. That's why last month's announcement of a forthcoming tubeless roll was so newsworthy. I e-mailed my old roommate. "Isn't this exciting? It's the greenest toilet paper ever!" Her response froze me: "So many hamsters will mourn this day," she said.

It hadn't occurred to me to think of the hamsters, but it's so obvious. "17 billion tubes are tossed each year," trumpets the Scott paper company's website. Not true. At least 15 billion of those tubes are given as toys to pet hamsters. (Look it up! We didn't.) And what toys they make. Has anything ever made a hamster happier? Certainly not this hamster from Daily Squee. People, before you buy that environmentally conscious product, please think of the hamsters.


More from AOL Lifestyle: Wall art made out of toilet paper rolls at Shelterpop

Who, us? Are you winking at us? Tee hee! You're gonna make us blush. Why, thank you; you're pretty cute yourself. Adorable, even. What's your name? Mr. Hamster, that's a cute name. So where are you from, Mr. Hamster? Daily Squee, you say? Yes, we know them quite well. They told you all about us? Aw, that's very nice of them to say. What's that you've got there? Those heart candies are for us? Oh, aren't you sweet!

Proper hamster care should include frequent handling to keep hamsters friendly and to provide them with opportunities to socialize outside of their cages. Hamsters must be handled gently, with care taken to ensure that they do not escape and become lost in the owner's home. Children should handle tame hamsters with parental supervision only.

How to Pick Up a Hamster
The safest way to pick up a hamster is to lower a container into the hamster's cage and encourage the hamster to climb in. Most hamsters will readily climb into a small carton or box. If the hamster is reluctant, it can be gently scooted along with one hand while the other hand holds the container. This method is the least stressful for the hamster and is unlikely to result in biting. Once the hamster is inside the box or carton, it can be lifted out of the cage.

Tame hamsters accustomed to handling can be picked up by using two cupped hands slid under the hamster's belly like a scoop to lift it out of the cage. When carrying the hamster outside its cage, hold it in the palm of one hand and cup the other hand over its back to prevent it from jumping away.

What Hamsters Like
Most hamsters learn to enjoy handling, especially if playtime comes around the same time every day. Talking, singing or whistling to your hamster will teach it to recognize the sound of your voice and expect treats or play when it hears you. Hamsters will enjoy handling more if they receive small treats during playtime or immediately after returning to their cages. Unsalted popcorn and fresh kale are favorites of many hamsters.

Our sister site, Urlesque, generously points us to the best commercial ever made in the history of commercials. OK, so we don't remember what the product is, exactly, but that's only because we are way too busy indulging in lulz at the sight of a Dixieland band comprised entirely of hamsters!

Jazz and hamsters: The gifts that keeps on giving!

Rounding up our favorite animal stories, photos, and videos on the Web each week!

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  Helen Collar?

  This feel-good story just goes to show that being deaf and blind is way easier if you're a dog. [via Detroit Free Press]

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  Cute, Classy Cathouse

  MC Escher would have loved this place. [via Modern Cat]

• 

  Beasley's Beasts

  Jenna Fischer, who plays Pam Beasley on NBC's The Office, is more than just a pretty face; she's a kitten-adopting machine. [via People Pets]

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  Doggy Gucci

  What's better than a pet fashion show? Being able to watch it while you sit at home in your underwear. [via PetSugar]

• 

  Turtle's Crying Game

  Turns out Mary the turtle should have been named Manny. He's a man. It's understandable; he's only been at the zoo for -- wait, 50 years?![via People Pets]

Hamster Types and Habitats
Hamsters are popular pets -- cute, outgoing, and curious -- and there are several varieties, according to About.com. Syrian hamsters are the most common; they should be kept one to a cage because they generally fight if kept together. Dwarf hamsters are, as you would guess, smaller, and also more social, preferring to live in a pair or small group as long as they're introduced at a young age. Chinese hamsters are also small, but don't always get along with others. Different types of hamsters should never be housed together.

Hamster Grooming
Hamsters are self-grooming rodents -- you won't have to bathe them or clip their nails, but you should keep an eye on them. If a hamster stops grooming, it could be a sign of a serious problem, according to Dwarf Hamster Guide. You'll need to clean out their cages and change their bedding weekly.

Common Hamster Health Issues
While hamsters generally live two to three years, a healthy hamster can live a bit longer. Common hamster health issues include skin abscesses, wet tail (a contagious disease), diarrhea, and skin disease, and if you're unable to take your hamster to the vet right away, you should keep him in a warm spot and see if you can get him to eat (but don't force it), reports HowToDoThings.com. Hibernation is not uncommon, particularly if your hamster is in a cold area; warm him up and he should return to normal.

Hamster Training
Known more for their looks than their brains, hamsters aren't likely to learn a variety of tricks. The main training you'll want to focus on is teaching them to be handled without biting you or urinating, and this should be done from a very young age (although you need to give new hamsters a week or so to adjust to new surroundings, regardless of age), according to About.com. Parents are the best choice for handling a new hamster, and these sessions should be frequent, but short. Use treats (large treats, like popcorn, are easiest to give them) to earn your hamster's trust and love.

Hamsters and Children
Because they're small and agile (particularly the dwarf varieties), hamsters are not always the best option for families with small children; however, some varieties are better than others, according to Pet Web Site. But given that they don't require a great deal of room and are fairly inexpensive, many families might find hamsters to be an ideal pet.

What Hamster Owners Have to Say
Animal lover Ilona Peltz has owned two varieties of hamsters: Teddy bear hamsters (a long-haired version of the Syrian hamster) as well as dwarf hamsters. She says, "I love these little guys. They are so cute, just a chubby little ball of fluff for the palm of your hand. They have adorable little pink paws they use to hold their food -- cute! -- and wash their faces -- CUTE!" However, she's quick to point out that the training period is vital, and takes at least a couple of weeks.

The epitome of ridiculousness? Absolutely. But for those of you who think a vacation just isn't a vacation unless you get to act like a rodent, there is at long last a place for you: the hamster hotel in Nantes, France.

This unique establishment provides guests with the chance to play out their fantasies of living like a hamster, according to The (UK) Telegraph. The Hamster Villa, located in an 18th-century building, was designed by a pair of French architects to resemble a giant hamster cage. We don't get it either.

Visitors to the hotel sleep on hay bales and stretch their legs by running on -- what else? -- a giant hamster wheel. And forget snacking on baguettes and cheese during your stay in France. Guests at the Hamster Villa are given a treat of hamster grain, according to the Telegraph. Imagine, all this for just 99 Euros (about $147) per night.

The experience gives guests a chance "to become a hamster, eat seeds, change our way of life...come out of our daily routine," the villa's first guests told Reuters TV.

If this sounds like your idea of a stellar getaway, well, enjoy it. But please be a considerate hotel guest, and don't keep your neighbors awake by gnawing on your cage all night.