I stumbled across this node just today, I wish someone had brought it to my attention sooner, but I suppose I'll find all of the hamster'y nodes eventually.
First things first, hamsters really aren't very
domesticated.. you might be able to make them friendlier towards you by giving them
food and playing with them, but good luck trying to lead your hamster around on a
leash, or picking it up when it really doesn't want to be. These little guys are their own
creatures.. though, I do feel the same way. The only thing I suggest for anyone who worries about the tiny little space their poor
hamsty lives in, is to get a bigger one. Also, it can be fun to take them outside when it's nice and warm and set them beneath the cage top or let them crawl around by your legs. They are generally pretty
overwhelmed and won't take off, but it's a nice introduction to a
natural environment.
There are many creatures that should have never been domesticated..
horses, in some instances it isn't so bad, but I've experienced firsthand just how
stupid people can be in regards to "
lame" or sick horses. Ah well.. what am I trying to say here?
Keeping a hamster caged up is pretty
cruel, but not much more so than
setting it free outside where it would just be killed right away, due to lack of
experience. So, if you've a hamster.. instead of trying to figure out ways to "set it free",
accomodate, get it a bigger place to live, make it more comfortable. The reason they chew on bars is because
they love to chew. Of course, they're also chewing to try and get out, but they would chew whether they wanted to get out or not.. they're
nibbly creatures.
I am a not a hamster myself, but rather a female
rodent smoking device. I can identify with these little guys.. I'm quite trapped in the
universe, in this house.. in my life. I know how it feels, and that's why I'm packing up and moving me and my
hamster joel'y out to the countryside this summer for some
freedom.
It doesn't really matter where you go, you're
contained, you've
limitations, things you can't control. The hamsters have even less control than you.. so keep in mind, they are kept in pretty tiny cages, and there are things you can do to make their
existence a little
less bleak. So do them.
Also of note, what on earth type of cages have you been keeping your hamster's in
Chester darling? They really shouldn't be able to
chew through the top! Maybe push the top open if they're really
diligent.. but chewing through it seems
a bit much. They're more likely to
squeeze through the bars of a cage then chew through it.. a good one, any way.
You're quite a lovely text producer yourself, by the way. ;)