RIP Hammie

[lyn]

It was probably about 6 months ago when Hammie died. Just a regular night running around in his ball and having a great time. I was doing a hobby of mine when I heard a disturbance coming from the kitchen. I thought it was my cat chasing the bug that we saw earlier, but it wasn't. Somehow the ball opened up and the cat had him. Well, I went running and as I pushed the cat away I picked Hammie up and held him against my chest. The little guy was traumatized and his breathing was very shallow. When I took him away from my chest to get a better look he was bleeding from his chest. I can't discribe the sorrow that I felt over this. In the 21 years that i've had my kitty ,he has never broke my heart until then. I never told my daughter the truth because I didn't want her hating the cat. I took me awhile to forgive him, but that is the first and only time he ever did anything like that.
Hammie lived a very short life, but he was such a wonderful pet. We never had to tame him,he loved to be played with and held, and most of all he loved running in his ball. No hamster gets in a ball without it being taped! It may have just been a fluke but I don't think I could live through that again. My heart still breaks over the way he died.
RIP my sweet Hammie. I will never forget the love and happiness you gave to us. We miss you always.

[Die Fledermaus]

Sorry. You should never have let the poor thing run around unsupervised with a cat loose even in a ball, even if now taped.

I have made some mistakes too in my time--or more accurately, I underestimated my cats once, their strength and intelligence and determination. They have never done that again as now I know how smart they are.

[Andrea]

What an aweful experiance.

I one found my cat INSIDE the gerbil tank, he had fallen through the temporary lid, trying to hid from children in the house. Poor cat was so scared, while the gerbils crawled all over him.
I've let my animals in the balls run unsupervised before, like when I used to clean the cage and Whizzer would follow them around.
bad things happen, but we can only learn from them.

I'm sorry for your loss, rest in peace little Hammie.

[lyn]

The last thing I expected or needed was a scolding about a tragedy I constantly feel guilt over. I never underestimated my cat, I underestimated the ball structure. I am blown away. And to Andrea, thank you for your post. Sharing means alot to me.

[Hamsters82]

Aw, I'm so sorry Lyn. May Hammie rest in peace. I know it's hard and anyone would be mad at their pet, but it's really not the cat's fault as that is their instinct, but you probably know that.

Anyway I'm really sorry. *hugs*

[pinky]

A sad story, indeed. Thank you for sharing, though--others have been through things similar and can relate. I've never suffered a hamster tragedy but I've come close, close enough that I still shudder at the thought.

Rest peacefully, Hammie boy.

[gerbilgal]

So sorry hear about Hammie. He was a good hamster. Accidents happen. I have come close to a gerbil tragedy but thank goodness Bud was alright.

[Die Fledermaus]

If you want, lyn, I can tell you more in a PM. But as I said, I have made mistakes, or been out thought, on occasion. We do what we can, and we try to make it up to other animals with extra rescues. I have.

[Andrea]

DM, I think it's nop that Lyn wants to know other experiances, she just wants to get this tragedy off her chest, and have people understand and care how she is feeling. No one needs or wants a lecture when they are hurting, it's Obvious this was a mistake and not something that would be repeated.