What pet to get?

[Kismet]

Hi all,

I am considering getting a pet hamster. It'll be a first for me. Anyone here who keeps hamsters? Any advise/tips?

I need something that's low maintenance, as no one's home till evening. So a dog is totally our of the picture though I'd really love a dog!!!

Birds and fish are also in my list of possibilities ...

Please share your opinions!

Kismet

[MarkCWQ]

I just got a pet rabbit last Sunday night. Cutiest thing ever. You're right about dogs being high maintenance, not only financially but time wise. That was one of the reasons I decided to get a rabbit with my girlfriend. If you really like dogs and how affectionate and attached they can be to their owners, hamsters will not provide the same affection. IMHO, hamsters are good as viewing pets just like fishes, they'll never cuddle next to you, needless to say get attached to you. At the end of the day, you got to weigh your options. A pet that you're able to play and build a bond with, or just view through the cage, vs time and money spent, vs how much you actually like the species etc. Don't buy for the sake of buying or just owning a pet. Make sure it's really something you want and can sacrifice time for. My girlfriend and I love the affection and emotional attachment you get from a dog, a rabbit provides similar attachments but downsized. However I had to weigh off my time management of bringing the dog out for walks etc. thus the rabbit.

[Kismet]

Hi Bro,

Thanks for the reply! Your rabbit looks adorable!!! How old is it, and what breed? What have you named him/her?

My last pet was a doggie, Boy-Boy. He passed away last year. I had him since he was 10 days old (at that time there was no regulation that dogs cannot be sold before 3 weeks old). We had 13 happy years together.

What's the breed and temperament of your pet rabbit? My family used to have two rabbits for a short while when I was young. However, my parents gave them away one day when I and my sis were at school!!! Reasons: 1) They were biting all the wires and my mom got "electrocuted" when she switched on the tv (my parents never put them in the cage)! 2) Also, my mom used to get scratched when bathing them. 3) However, my parents gave the rabbits away when an aunt from Malaysia came and commented its bad luck to keep rabbits at home! My parents are damn superstitious! Grrrr!!!

But I recall my rabbit recognized me and always jumped onto my lap when I came home from school and stuff. It was all black with 1 white paw. I was too young to know what breed it was and all ... Sigh~

What's the life span of a rabbit like, and what are the things to take note if I decide to get one?

[MarkCWQ]

My girlfriend did have a pet poodle for roughly 3 years and one day, it ran out of the house and never came back.

Mine is an Angora, I don't know which specific Angora it is as there are many types of sub species of Angoras. It's currently 3 months old. Her name is Toffy!

At the shop, there were many rabbits to choose from each with different temperament and relation to humans. The first one I picked would tremble as soon as you pick it up. Feel quite lucky with what I ended up with. I usually let her out of her pen when I'm home and let her roam around my room. She hops all over the place and onto my bed sometimes, even cuddles itself under the blanket. I would say, its very affectionate and does jump onto me too. The first night I brought it home, it was already roaming around the room like it was her house. She has a very nice temperament and never tries to bite or nibble my fingers no matter what I do to it.

I was told by the shop that the lifespan is roughly 8 years. Wasn't much to prepare actually, got a cage, food, bedding, water bottle, some hay. I'd say the preparation process is similar to any other small pets. Not much adjustment to my lifestyle as the rabbit isn't as needy as a dog. But it still requires more time compared to a hamster or a fish.

Mine bites too. To prevent it, I bought some wooden sticks for the rabbit to bite from the pet shop. It's nails are quite long but so long as you've a strong bond with your rabbit and it's comfortable with you holding it, the rabbit shouldn't try to run away thus preventing you from being scratched.

I'm not a guru at owning pets, had two dogs many many many years back and I've only had my rabbit for 4 days but I hope the experience I had from the last couple of days helps!

[Kismet]

Toffy sounds very much like the pet I'm looking for ...!!!

Now all I got to do is convince my hubby!!!

Where did you get Toffy, or do you know what pet shops have more choices for rabbits?

I think my hubby wouldn't mind a hamster so much as compared to a rabbit. He didn't let me keep my dog with us, and he (my dog) had to stay at my parent's place when we got married. But in any case, that was still the better option since my mom is a housewife and he wouldn't get lonely when we're at work.

Anyone had a chinchilla before? What's it like ...? Is it true you need to keep it in an aircon room all the time or it'll get heatstroke???

[Berrie]

I will kidnap your Toffy tmr!

[MarkCWQ]

Toffy sounds very much like the pet I'm looking for ...!!!

Now all I got to do is convince my hubby!!!

Where did you get Toffy, or do you know what pet shops have more choices for rabbits?

I think my hubby wouldn't mind a hamster so much as compared to a rabbit. He didn't let me keep my dog with us, and he (my dog) had to stay at my parent's place when we got married. But in any case, that was still the better option since my mom is a housewife and he wouldn't get lonely when we're at work.

Anyone had a chinchilla before? What's it like ...? Is it true you need to keep it in an aircon room all the time or it'll get heatstroke???

I bought mine from Pet Lovers Centre. Their bigger branches like Vivo and Nex has three to four breeds for you to choose from, plus you can get all the accessories and food you need to keep your pet happy! There are a few neighborhood shops around Serangoon and Yishun that sells. The rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs etc. all come in batches from the supplier. Your luck, perseverance, and patience is needed to really find one that suits you.

I will kidnap your Toffy tmr!

Lol! As long as you don't BBQ it! Toffy is staying far far away from BM!