Mistreatment of Small Mammals

Andie Kiener '25 ~ October 2021

I am not claiming to be a perfect pet owner. I am far from it. I have been in situations when I did not do my research and harmed my hamster when I was young and even now. The biggest point, though, is to learn from mistakes! Together, we can make a better world for pets.

Small mammals, including but not limited to hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, and chinchillas are usually overlooked in the pet community. When one is adopted, however, it is usually cared for the wrong way.

The most common mistake I see is people trusting the big chain stores that sell the pets themselves. Employees usually do not take the time to research what small mammals need, and the cages sold at places such as PetSmart and Pet Supplies Plus are much too small for a hamster to live in. My first hamster, Zezu, lived in one of these cages; we did not even have her for a year before she passed away. Our new hamster has already lasted longer than she has, because he is in a bigger, better cage.

Another chain store mistake is the food hamsters need. The food that pet stores feed hamsters and other small mammals are high in timothy hay. Some small pets, such as guinea pigs, need this hay in their diet; others, such as hamsters, do not. Yet, the food you are advised to buy is low in nutrients because of this hay. We fed both my hamsters this food before we knew it was unhealthy, and now that we feed our hamster a variety, he barely touches his hay.

There are many other factors, including wheel design, wheel size, and types of toys. Even “hamster balls” can be dangerous, as not all small mammals can run around in balls without breaking their backs. The fact that hamsters and other small pets are seen as “starter pets” is a shame, as they need as much care and attention as cats and dogs do.

This issue extends to turtles, tortoises, lizards, birds, and all of the other underestimated animals that are not properly taken care of. Please, do your research before buying a new, “exotic” pet!

Title Photo: “Running hamster in a wheel” by Marco Verch Professional Photographer, Flickr, CC BY 2.0