Last night I went to feed my hamster like I always do and he was dead. My boyfriend told me that it was probably my fault because I had his cage on the floor where the cat could reach. He said Scooter (the hamster) probably got stressed and had a heart attack. If I had put the hamster higher, the cat could still jump up to him. No matter where I would have put Scooter, Jack (the cat) would still have access. I don't know what to do. I am so depressed now because I allowed a helpless animal in a cage get stressed. I allowed Scooter to die. He doesn't even look peacefull. He looks like something (jack) scared him. He looked normal till I opened the cage. He was in his sleep position, I opened the cage, and he usually wakes up, but he didn't move, then i looked, and his eyes were opened. I touched him and he was stiff. I couldn't stop crying. Its all my fault Scooter is dead. I had no idea that he could get stressed like that from the cat. This is so horrible, Is it my fault??
2006-09-13 05:50:32 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I just want to say thank you to all of y'all. I know my boyfriend should have been more supportive, but he didn't want the hamster in the first place. Scooter was a gift from my best friend. But he is going to help with burial. He saw how upset I was and then he got a little nicer. He cuddled me till I stopped crying. So he wasn't all that mean about Scooters death. And I really don't think Jack stressed him because I would let Scooter play in a small area where I would keep my eye on him and Jack would watch, but he never tried to hurt Scooter. Well, thank you all for your help. And I am not going to get another hamster till I have a different place to live. There are no doors in my apartment so I cannot put the hamster in a different room. The stairs go straight up to our one bedroom. Downstairs is everything else. So no doors, and no safe room for a little hamster. And thank you again, I really feel much better now after reading your answers. Thank you so much everybody!!!! :-)
2006-09-13 07:18:50 · update #1
Hamsters do have short lives, but they can also die of stress. I don't believe it's 100% your fault but maybe you shouldn't get another one since your cat wouldn't leave him alone.
I'm sorry for your loss. I have a Guinea Pig and because of his size, my cats see him as a playmate and he loves it when they come over and put their paws in his cage. When he's running around, he loves to dart right under them!
2006-09-13 06:22:33 · answer #1 · answered by KL 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your boyfriend is an idiot! He should have given you a hug and told you it wasn't your fault and helped you see there was nothing you could do. Little animals like hampsters dont live long lives and I am sorry you had to find him that way. I highly doubt it was stress from the cat, but for your own peace of mind if you get another small pet keep it in a room that is off limits to the cat.
2006-09-13 13:34:44 · answer #2 · answered by K C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not your fault. I have had many hamsters and they just do not live very long. I always kept my hamsers cage on a dresser and our cats would sit right next to the cage and watch them all the time. They were fine.
There was even a time when one of my hamsters got loose, my Rottwelier had found it and was licking it. If anything would have caused it stress...that would have been it. But it was fine.
Your b/f needs to be a bit more supportive. My hubby would never tell me it was my fault something died (even if it was)
2006-09-13 13:06:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry, it's most likely not your fault. Hammies only live for a couple of years at best, and it's hard to tell how old he was when you got him. And if the cat stressed him to the point of having a heart attack, his heart was probably weak anyway, and he probably wouldn't have lasted much longer anyway. It's okay, cry a little, and then move on, that's all you can do.
2006-09-13 13:10:08 · answer #4 · answered by Carpet Shark Luver 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its not a mystery! Your boyfriend was jealous of the hamster. I would be too. This little furry thing sitting on your lap as you whisper sweet nothings in his little ear. And we know that if your boyfriend was the hamsters size that the hamster will be more endowed. That may be the case now. But anyhow your hamster did not die it was MURDERED by the jealous Boyfriend!
He needs to fess up so you dont blame yourself any longer.
I had a hamster (Hamilton) who lived 10 years so noone can say they have short lives.
2006-09-13 17:02:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It proabaly wasn't your fault. Hasters usaully only live a few short years. He proabaly died quickly and thats why he didn't look peaceful. Not to make your life worse but your boyfriend isn't all that great from what you said. If your hamster looked normal until you opened the cage I bet the died in his sleep. As in with no pain. Even though his eyes where open. I doubt the cat would bother him that much. It wasn't your fault.
2006-09-13 13:08:18 · answer #6 · answered by iluvmihorse12 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
no it wasnt your fault....if you knew that you would have done the next thing...as you had said jack would probably find an access.death always comes when you least expect it.advice your bf not to blame you coz you never liked what had happened.if only your bf told you earlier not to put Scooter's cage on the floor things would have been avoided...dont feel bad.Scooter is in good hands.wherever he is...
2006-09-13 12:59:28 · answer #7 · answered by eDraLiN 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Did your b/f warn you that it could happen? Did he tell you how to avoid the problem? If not, it was as much his fault as yours. But really, without an autopsy, there is no way of knowing if there is even any blame to place. But you might want to question whether your b/f has the qualities you really want in a man.
2006-09-13 13:15:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I doubt the cat had anything to do with it, especially if he was in his sleeping position. I know your sad but I'm certain it wasn't your fault, and your boyfriend was very insensitive to blame you, especially right then... That was uncalled for. Hamsters have fairly short life expectancies, and you may never know what it was that killed him. I'm sorry for your loss:-(
2006-09-13 13:04:59 · answer #9 · answered by snake_girl85 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sorry about Scooter. Everyone I know who had a hampster said the little guys died too soon, just like him. You should think about a new b/f. The man should be consoling you.
2006-09-13 13:04:30 · answer #10 · answered by Ren Hoek 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋