Hamster fear......

[angeleyes]

please someone help me, dp bought dd1 a Hamster yesterday.....she wanted a bunny, but she chose a hamster instead........well anyway i have a little bit of a phobia when it comes to little things like that......

I think dp said the hamster is only about 8/9 weeks old, its so tiny and cute, as long as it stays in the cage..thing is, is that Leah wants to hold it, which means i have to get it out of the cage for her (when dp is not here)...and i dont think i can do that, but i dont want to act all scared in front of Leah, coz it might rub off on her, and she might get all panicky iykwim, she wanted to get it out earlier..luckily it was asleep, so i told her to leave it as they need there sleep.......

I just really dont think i can bring myself to touch it...but dp says that they need to be picked up so they get used to being handled... what shall i do???

[moomin]

You're right about the handling thing. We were discussing this at work today as one of the girls rabbits(also need to be handled at first) has turned into psycho-bunny through lack of being touched etc.. They can't go near it now as it bites them and growls (didn't know rabbits growled :wacko: ).
It must be difficult for you, but maybe if you do handle it some, then you will get used to it and overcome your fear? Do you think? It may be worth a try!
Good luck, hope it goes ok for you.

x

[bikemad]

O heck not good!!!

Does it have an excercise ball?Could you maybe stick the hole by the door of the cage so the hammie crawls in then maybe try to just touch it for a second then put lid on and maybe try that to see if you can get used to it just enough to get it n pass it to ya dd?

Not sure what to suggest tbh.

[Ravenfire]

What is it about the hamster, is it the size of it, its fur?

[angeleyes]

no..i am worried it may bite me....i know it sounds really silly...and because it is so small, it is hard to grab..

How do you get it to pick it up, do you just go in the cage and grab it, or do you put your hand in the cage and let it come to you (like you would a dog)....i just dont want to scare it and then it bite ....itms...

[bikemad]

I dont pick ds's up I just put the open bit of his excercise ball by the open door on the cage and he walks in then i put the ball on my lap n he kinda stays half in n half out but he is nervous.

Sd's hammie i open the door and put my hands next to each other slightly cupped itms and it walks on to them then I sit down and it kinda sits in my lap but goes round in circles like a cat or dog trying to find a comfy spot itms.When we 1st had them I was scared to pick them up in case they bit so I just started by strokeing them inside the cage with my hand in thru the door and got used to them that way 1st then progressed from there.

[Azzi]

ok so your scared it will bite you, invest in a pair of gardening gloves to get it out the cage with cup it firmly but gently in your hand so it feels secure and make sure you make a fuss of it everytime it comes out the cage till you both get used to each other if it doesn't try to bite after the first few weeks it probally won't so you should be able to ditch the glove

Oh and practise while everyones out so you can get used to it and remember its more scared of you than you are of it , if it does go to bite this is the reason not because it wants to hurt you but the gloves should protect your fingers

[Katiequiggle]

Azzi is quite right about the gardening gloves, this works very well. I belong to a pets forum and someone with a similar problem suggested using a ladle (wash the soup of first though or the hamster gets all sticky) that way you can scoop the hamster up and your dd can take him out of the ladle or put him in an excersise ball etc.

Good luck, we have 2 hams and 3 mice and they are all absolutely gorgeous.

Love Kate

[Macaroni]

Great suggestion about the gardening gloves.

My DD's now deceased Hamster was terrified when it first came home and made a really horrid noise for the first few days when we went near it. I handled it the most, and yes I got a bite from it, but it got to be a lovely little thing that would climb out of its open door onto my hand

[Headbanging Vonnie]

I'm not sure how you're going to take this, but maybe you'd be better off with rats. :smiley-fa Our girls wanted pets of their own and we looked at hammies but after deliberation and advice we decided rats would be better. They are not as quick as hammies and are more cuddly which was what the girls wanted. Also they are highly intelligent and once they settle in and get to know you you don't need to catch them, they will come and greet you when you walk in the room.

When we got them I wasn't scared, but I had no idea how to handle them, I'd never had any small pets (my mum has the worst phobia) but as I said once they know you, they come to you and love being cuddled!

I hope you have fun with your new pets, let us know how you get on. :)