Why a cute creature from the rodent family could be your ideal pet
Love the sight of adorable hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, or chinchillas in a pet store? They have certainly found their way into cartoons, stories, and cute greeting cards. The story of the rabbits is reminiscent of Beatrix Potter’s literary work, especially that of the fuzzy little evil Peter who snuck into a farmer’s garden and had a feast before being chased. They are enemies of farmers, but domestic rabbits are a different story. They are equally sought after as pets as are hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, and rats, all members of the rodent family.
Still holding onto the notion that hamsters are more of a “starter pet,” given to kids looking for a cane dog, but parents want to make sure it’s up to the job of caring, so who is allowed a smaller dog? type of pet that needs less care or attention. I’ve seen more than enough classifieds with people looking to rehome a gerbil or guinea pig because the kids have gone to college and the dorm they are moving into is not pet friendly. That is a real shame. As a general rule of thumb, small rodents generally don’t live as long as cats and dogs, but they do have some life expectancy, so they end up being left behind. If you are an adult and subscribe to the mindset that pets are “just for kids”, you will miss out on the fun and enriching experience of owning rodents. Many devoted pet enthusiasts of all ages own and enjoy the company of a small furry pet mammal. There are many shows, owner’s clubs and competitions to attest to this.
As someone who once owned domestic hamsters and a white rat, I can tell you a bit about their habitat needs. Now, while hamsters and gerbils will be content to live in a well-ventilated cage packed with fun activities like tunnels and mazes, rabbits need a much bigger home than that. In fact, rabbit habitats are called “cages”, not “cages.” There has to be plenty of room to play. However, the structure of a rabbit’s habitat is very similar to that of its smaller cousins. The construction of the house should be done with certain durability in mind: rodents are notorious chewers. Most small rodent houses are made of durable plastic or wire. Rabbit houses are made in the same way. Hamsters chew cardboard (think toilet paper tubes, which I always kept) and rabbits need a constant diet of wood due to the nature of their ever-growing incisor teeth. That is a very important point.
Rodents are also herbivores, which means they subsist on a diet of vegetables and fruits. Nuts and seeds should also supplement your diet. There are some baddies here and there that you don’t want to give to your pet. Onions should not be given to hamsters and romaine is a much better bet than iceberg due to its higher nutritional content. When it comes to raw standards like broccoli, carrots, kale, or cauliflower, you can’t go wrong; but the fruit should be gradually incorporated into their diets so as not to cause diarrhea. They also need plenty of good, fresh water, which should come from a hanging cage-style bottle, not the kind of water dish that is given to your cat or dog.
Rodents also need soft bedding. Cedar chips are commonly used; although I switched to a brand of bedding from a pet store that supposedly had much better odor control. Odor control is definitely a must – these furry friends of yours will make a big poop! That’s one reason why many pet experts DO NOT recommend glass aquarium tanks with a mesh lid, as is common in reptile habitats, as they make good homes for mice, gerbils, and hamsters: ventilation is very important. They also need a “hideout” that they can sneak into for safety when threatened, as rodents have many enemies in the wild; it is part of your natural instinct to hide from perceived danger.
The smaller the pet, the shorter its lifespan may be, so ask yourself if you can prioritize your time to accompany the needs of a small creature. Hamsters, mice and gerbils can live up to five years, guinea pigs, chinchillas and rabbits can easily reach 10 years; however, these are only averages. Now to the question of having more than one: rodents like to have a friend close by, so two can be better than one, ideally of the same gender, mind you, or they will breed (like crazy!). Keep the top tips above in mind and never underestimate their importance, you should be well on your way to successful ownership of a small, furry pet. Have fun and don’t forget that you can always find other critter owners to interact with in discussion groups to share ideas, new information, or even participate in a club or contest.