Chances are, you know someone that owns a pet hamster, or perhaps you own one yourself. According to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers from 2003-2004, three out of 10 households own a pet hamster in the United States. Imagine, out of ten families that you know, three of them have hamsters! How accurate is this study in your life?
Furthermore, pet hamsters have become even more popular in recent years in various countries, but not all governments are pleased with this fact. For instance, pet hamsters were banned in Vietnam since 2008, and anyone who broke this law would be fined 30 million Vietnamese dong, equivalent to roughly twice the amount of the average yearly income. The reason for this banning is because Vietnamese authorities deemed that there was a lack of control of their importation, which could potentially lead to disease.
Hamsters originally came from Northern and Eastern Asia and the Middle East. The first hamster to arrive in the United States came from Syria, hence why the most popular type of pet hamster are Syrian hamsters. Hamsters may appear to have swollen cheeks, but that is due to them storing their food there to consume later. Hamsters are actually nocturnal creatures, so if you see a hamster lazing about during the day, it’s because they are trying to take a nice nap.
For more interesting information about hamsters, such as how to select the best cages for them and take care of them, check out hamsterhelper.com.