half OT - Knitting for pet hamster?

[boyforpele13]

so i have a new pet hamster. why? don't have a good answer, needed a small pet like a hole in the head. first the OT part, i got it 48 hours ago, lost it already at like 5 p.m. but she's been found!!! YAY!!!!!! (thank goodness because i'm sure the cat would have found her soon enough. she got away from me when i was holding her, i didn't let her run loose on purpose or anything and i promise it won't happen again!!!!) (SIGH!)

ok, so i wasn't allowed to have hamsters as a child, but i've done my reading and i know they like bedding, read that tissues and paper towels and such are good, but NOT to use wool (like roving wool i take it) or fluffy cottons because it can clog their GI system and get stuck in their cheeks and feet... i was wanting to knit her a) a blanket and b) some kind of hamster hammock for the habitat.... does anyone know if this is just an all around bad idea or if maybe cotton yarn would be okay since it's not the fluff stuff she could easily eat or would acrylics be safe? anybody know?

thanks!

[CateKnits]

As knitters and hamster owners, my roommate and I wondered this, too. We decided it probably wasn't a good idea, since it seems like they can and will eat anything (or get their feet caught in it). I'd be interested to see if anyone comes up with anything, though!

[Lucy78green]

The hamster will eat it! My sister's hamster just ate a huge hole in her pyjamas as someone left the (clean) laundry pile beside her cage and she pulled the corner in and ate it. They rearrange their cages and sometimes never sleep where they are meant to! Our hamster has a small hamster bed and she likes chewing it, and sometimes uses it as her toilet instead. We buy purpose made hamster bedding, its actually just wood shavings/saw dust, but presumably with no chemicals or anything in it.

[AnnaT]

Hi boyforpele13,

It's a cute idea, but I think anything knitted or any kind of fibers used in knitting would probably be bad for the hamster. I have always had hamsters, and only gave them squares of toilet paper every evening so they could make their beds.

I would also suggest buying your hamster a little house. A hamster won't sleep in a hammock like a ferret. It's good to get a hamster house without a bottom because it's easier to clean. Give your hamster 10-15 toilet paper squares every evening. Lift up the house and take away any paper that looks dirty. Hamsters, like most animals, like their own smell so always leave a few pieces of the old paper so he will know it's still his bed. Be sure to separate the paper squares so that your hamster can handle the paper more easily.

The hamster will be much happier if he has a place to hide and lots of bedding to bury himself in. This is a good hamster house:

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...yID_13576.aspx


And this kind of wheel is best (because he won't catch his feet in it):
http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...lers1-_-932671


It's a lot of fun to watch him take all the squares of paper into his house and arrange them just so! One of my hamsters always carefully stuffed paper into the door of his house so he wouldn't be disturbed while he was sleeping.

If you have any more questions, I'd love to talk about hamsters with you!

[zkimom]

Petco does sell some stuff that looks a lot like wool roving for hamster bedding. I used it for my 2 before they went to hamster heaven (ok, they were my kids' hamsters!) I never looked at the fiber content on the bag -- I'm sure it wasn't wool.

They only used it for nesting materials, however, I'm sure any handknit items would be chewed up right away.

Enjoy the little rodents -- they are pretty cute and fun. Have you gotten a hamster ball yet? Those are a blast. Nothing funnier than the sight of a hamster in a plastic ball, rolling around the living room. Just watch those stairs!

Best,
Susan

[marykz]

when I had a gerbil as a child, the pet cat was also a concern.... so I crocheted a little halter for the gerbil so he could "walk" around the room, but not get away from me and into the jaws of the cat. I don't remember all the details, but it was just chainstitch, hitched together at a couple places with a long cord.......

[larudden]

Awwwwwwwwwww, hamsters are awesome! I almost adopted a guinea pig a few weeks ago but figured my husband would KILL ME! Of course, I've got 3 cats as well, so I figured the poor guy would end up as dinner.

Yeah, I agree about the chewing thing. You could always make him some of his own knitting needles out of dowels that he could chew.

What is it about the fact that we just HAVE to knit things for our animals, no matter what kind they are? I just saw a pattern for a knitted lion outfit complete with a fluffy mane that I'm thinking of trying for Nora, my puglet princess.

Have fun with that fluffy guy!

Blessings,
Leslie

PS: Hey! How about a knitted cover for his cage? Then he could be all comfy and toasty warm on cold nights!

[boyforpele13]

wow, i totally didn't expect such a response with the hamster thing, how awesome!

the habitat i got for her actually has a home in it and the whole thing is a wheel, it's pretty neat http://www.arcatapet.com/fullsize/9254.jpg

her favorite spot is that little "pod" from the tubing that sticks out on the bottom, she spends almost all of her time in there, although she was traumatized from her escape yesterday and went straight into the home when i put her back in (you can see it in the top left in that pic). i tore up some tissues after doing some more reading and put them in there for her, which seemed to make her happy and when i came home today, she had a little tissue nest inside the little pod. i like the TP idea way better than tissues, thank you!

after reading some more and from your responses, i've decided if i MUST knit something for her, i decided it will be the harness (GREAT idea!) or a cardigan or scarf that she only wears for special occasions.

[CateKnits]

About the hamster balls - Plum (our hamster) has one that glows in the dark. :D If we ever decide she needs a different one, I'm going to get her the one that's got the plastic car shape around it. Her favorite thing to do in the ball is roll into the bathroom and get stuck.

[AnnaT]

Wow! That's a wonderful habitat!

Good luck with your hamster (you didn't tell us her name). I haven't had a hamster for three years now and you are making me want to get another hamster!!!