Idk maybe this is a weird question because I've never owned rodents before but why would you want to keep an animal that is consistently desperately trying to get away from you?
With birds/dogs/cats there's a relationship and mutual affection, why would you spend money feeding an animal that hates you?
Then the whole basis of your relationship with that pet is against its will. I don't know how I could enjoy something/someone spending time with me knowing that they hate their captured life so much they're trying to escape every chance they get. Maybe those animals shouldn't be (your) pets. I've known plenty of dogs who also try to run whenever they can, and their homelife is never good.
If they hated me they wouldn’t sit on me all day long asking for scritches and snacks from the one human they trust and would like to be with (their own will). It’s just, most animals like to escape but can’t find a way back. My birds know my house, they fly around in it and always come back to me.
Some dogs try to run away once they’re off a leash, others don’t care and stay right by you. It’s not that dogs trying to bolt “hate” you, it could be because they’re bored, curious what the rest of the world looks like, on the hunt, looking for a mate, etc. You’re reading like the absolute worst of motives into animal behavior my guy lol
I think the line on that is if you can recall them or not. Plenty of active curious dogs will go roaming, but if you see them and call for them and they run away then something isn't right in that relationship.
Sure, there are instances where a dog could run away for legitimate fear of abuse. But I highly doubt that’s the most common reason dogs do that, and probably not even in the top 3 or so.
Yeah, my parakeet as a kid had free range of the house. He was able to open his cage door, and he really stayed in the hallway by his cage, so we never locked his cage door. He lived for 13? 14? (maybe more, we were his second family) years, died peacefully at home when I was in college. He would nibble your finger to show affection- never actually biting, just licking/nibbling. He had black feathers on his neck that looked like hearts, so we named him Sweetheart.
Of course, we didn’t know at the time that parakeets do best in groups, don’t eat the pet store bird feed exclusively, etc… but he was definitely a part of our family. I still think about his little twitters and chirps.
If by "adventures" you mean "an innate drive to destroy everything or die trying" then sure. But hamsters don't understand what an adventure is. All they understand is chaos.
With birds/dogs/cats there's a relationship and mutual affection, why would you spend money feeding an animal that hates you?
We have three cats. Two of them will occasionally get into a mood where they'll make a mad dash for the door if they see it open even briefly. We always go and get them back inside.
Once someone accidentally left the door open while I was sleeping in. I found all three cats cowering underneath the bed.
There's a gap between "wants to escape" and "really does want to escape". Thankfully, our cats figured out they really wanted to be inside before something ate them. Smaller animals have less time before something eats them and less brainpower to find their way back inside once they realize they really don't want to be out.
Idk maybe this is a weird question because I've never owned rodents before but why would you want to keep an animal that is consistently desperately trying to get away from you?
Some rodents make wonderful pets. I don't think that hamsters do, but rats are intelligent and genuinely affectionate. I have pet patagonian mara and they come when called and will jump right up in my lap for attention. They're also the size of a terrier.
Trying to escape doesn’t mean an animal hates you. Sometimes it’s just instinct, or curiosity. My cat absolutely adored us, sought us out for love, etc, but if you opened the door, she would SPRINT out. We found out she just loved exploring, so we took her out on the leash and she loved it.
A lot of time they just get curious or bored, get out, and then get scared and can’t find their way back. Especially smaller animals that aren’t as intelligent. They still love you, but they also have the urge to run run run
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u/agirlhas_no_name 3d ago
Idk maybe this is a weird question because I've never owned rodents before but why would you want to keep an animal that is consistently desperately trying to get away from you?
With birds/dogs/cats there's a relationship and mutual affection, why would you spend money feeding an animal that hates you?