Feeling so Lost

I didn’t expect to be so affected by Sammie’s passing. But here I am in the office, already missing her.

During her stay with me, I had created a routine – checking her out before breakfast, after work, after dinner and before bedtime. So instead of looking fw to those times, I am oh so dreading going home today. Cos I hv to clear the cage. It's clear. Not clean. Oh, yes, I was supposed to clean the cage today too.

Can I leave the cage alone for a few days? The hygiene-freak in me said No.

Damn! It’s only 2 months yet I’ve created a strong bond with Sammie ger. Wonder if she reciprocated the feelings?

Sammie: My Castaway Ger

Sammie died during the night.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I found Sammie on 9 March 2009.

And she seemed to be flourishing.

But recently she started eating & drinking lesser than usual. Thinking that it's due to the hot weather, I let it be.

Just this week, I noticed a hump on her shoulder blades aka Hunchback of Notre Dame. Cos I can feel the bone. Last nite (6pm), I noticed that the lump was causing great discomfort to her - unable to reach up to the water bottle and walking in a drunkard manner. With this, she turned aggressive tw me whenever I tried to pick her up. But she let me hand-fed and stroked her.

Then at 12mn, I noticed that she's panting in quick breaths. And her tummy had ballooned so much. When I tried to press the tummy, she squeaked, as if telling me that it hurts. I suspected her tummy was full of gas. Mite be due to her appetites loss. With this, I told myself if she's still alive the next day, will take urgent leave to bring her to the vet. Yes, I had a feeling she won't last the nite.

This morning, at 6am, I found her carcass in the sand box.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

9 March - 7 May 2009

RIP, Sammie ger.

I am glad that I found you cos you hv introduced me to the joy of having a lil furry pet.

++++++++++++++++++++

Bad News

Bringing Sammie to the vet this weekend.

A Newcomer?

My mum said she spotted a hamster in one of her workplaces. And it’s placed along the corridor in the condominium.

And if the lil one is still there next week, she’ll bring it home.

* smack forehead *

It ain’t cheap keeping hamsters! So if this lil one joins Sammie, mummy dearest gonna help share the financial burden.

And the first “burden” will be another new cage for it. Kekekeee!!!

LIVE from MSN Writer

A Test Proven Correct

Wanting to be sure that the lil princess is indeed fussy-eater, I gave her a pinch-full of sunflower & melon seeds for dinner last night.

This morning, all are gone. *smack forehead*

So now I'm thinking ... shud I feed her stuff she likes NOW so as to fatten her? Thereafter then "force" her to eat the usual hamster food. But if I do that, at the end of it, she'll "slim" down.

ARGHHHHH!!!!!!!

Feeding a hamster is worse than feeding a dog. At least with the latter, you can feed raw and/or home cooked. But with hamster, it's either fresh or hamster food.

Being Cold-Hearted

As the saying goes “Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child.” Guess I hv to be cold-hearted where Sammie’s diet is concerned. Cos she didn’t eat finish the dry food. Not even the yogurt & Vit C drop.

So from today onwards, I’m gonna leave the food there until it’s finished. No treats and fresh foods until it registered into her pea-brain to FINISH UP the dry food FIRST.

Altho it seems a tad cruel to do this, with her being underweight. Yet again, the food will be there for her at all times. So if she wanna starve herself by being fussy. So be it.

* Humbug *

Left Over

This is what's left from last night.


It seemed like she did eat some of the hamster food, nibbled on the yogurt drop. But the mealworms are left untouched. Likewise with the chew.

Maybe next time, I'll fed her the mealworm to see her reactions to it.

I'm gonna leave it there and see how much is left at the end of the day.

All Brand New

So as to speak ie.

New Food: half teaspoon Prestige Hamster Food, 2pcs mealworm, 2pcs melon seeds, 1pc cashew nut, 1pc peanut-flavour chew, 1pc yogurt drop & 1pc Vit C drop.

New layout which sent the princess scurrying everywhere. Not sure if she's trying to get her bearings on the layout or marking her scent on it.

And she ended up in the ham head. Instead of the food dish. I think she's acting dead. To take revenge on me for the extra time I put her in the ball. Guess I took a tad too long to clean the cage. *cheesy grin*

Too Impatient

I just cannot wait for Sammie to adapt to the dry food. If it's not tempting to her, she'll avoid it for as long as she can before succumbing to hunger.

So I went and bought one of the branded food stuffs recommended by SHC - Prestige. Plus a few extras.


Yes, that is mealworm. It's been known to be a good source of protein and a fav of the hamsters too.

I just hope that these new foods are tempting enough for her. *roll eyes*

Getting Comfy

Are her nails long enough to be trimmed? Or shud I have it done by the vet? Since I have the intention to get her a physical check-up.

Fresh Foods

I read from online that in order to spice up the hamster's diet, you shud alternate the dry & fresh food. Yet on another site, it was suggested to provide both types at the same time. The latter is also one of the ways to fatten the hamster.


Maybe Sammie was not fed well by the ex-owner, so she doesn't take to fresh food easily. Likewise with the dry food. The latter can be left untouched for two days. With this, I am very tempted to get another brand of dry food.

Earlier today, upon serving her fresh food, she rushed to it earnestly. But it was a 3-min thingy. Cos after taking a few bites on the fresh food, she just scampered into her new corner to sleep away.

New Furnishing

Means new layout

Grooming

And housekeeping

Nothing Fancy

Just more sleeping pictures


Buried deep in Hamheads


In weird sleeping positions


And cute ones too

Hamster Ball

Today's the second time Sammie's been into the hamster ball. And she seems to like it. Cos she didn't poo in it immediately like the first time.

But after I've accidentally knocked into it, she pooed 4x in it. LOL!!!! Guess she just went into shock and vented it out.

I will TRY to remember to take a pic of her in it.

It's Good

To Eat
And Sleep
When you wanna put on weight

Miss Sleepyhead

This young lady was still sleeping snugly at 9pm.


Making up for the lost sleep during the heavy downpour (aka thunder & lightning) over the last few days.

Hamhead Heaven

Exploring the New Home

And getting comfortable with it.

New Home

With the impromptu visit from the two SHC members, one of them had gotten me a PROPER hamster cage.


A few days later, I managed to furnish it PROPERLY too.

It is a super BIG difference from the cage that c/w Sammie.

It's been 2 weeks

And I'm starting to fall in love with lil one. Esp when two experts from the Singapore Hamster Club had affirmed it's gender to be a ger.


Yes, two senior members of the forum dropped by earlier. To make sure that the lil one is in good hands. And also that I am well-prepared & equipped to look after her. With that, one of them help to check on the gender.


Speaking of SHC, I am having so much fun browsing thru it. Looking thru the many hammies' pics and learning more abt the species.


I hv a BIG feeling that hamsters will be the-pet-to-have when my ger passes on.