241 replies to this topic

[Hammy<3]

This is how I managed to convince my parents to let me get a hamster:
First of all I just asked. When they said no I said why?
They said oh they smell we haven't got time for one.
Then I came up with answers for these problems.
If they still say no leave it for a while and just occasionally bring up the topic (showing cute pics of hamsters etc)
Sometimes a hamster just isn't right for you, so before nagging your parents to get you one you have to think, will I have time to feed it every day clean it out once a week play with it every day, afford to keep up with bedding and food etc
Hope that was helpful!

[yamaha0300]

AHH YES! ive been doing this ask my parents for a hamster thing about in may or march. i starting liking them cuz i went to petsmart with my mom and saw how cute they where and wanted one. ive researched on and on about them until november 23 I FINALLY GOT ONE! this is a tip of how i got mine.

 

1. i wrote like a 5 page persuasive essay/ convincing letter

2. i wrote a sad letter of how i needed one

3. i made tons of shopping lists of supplies i needed

4. i planned the budget out

5.watched tons of chocolatecoors26

6. say youre gonna hve to pay for everything

 

your basicly gonna be on your own your gonna have to gget your own money to get food and bedding monthly or when needed

 

so my mom never got me one but on november 23 my neighbor gave me his syrian hamster and i tried to hide it from my mom but after like 4 days my mom was ok with it i lied said neighbor let me take care of it but now shes ok with it cuz im taking care of it on my own and gonna give it its neccesary suplies. so as soon as you say im gonna pay for it on your own you are gonna have to its only for my about 20 dollars a month? i buy aspen bedding for about 3.75 at walamrt its 500 cubic inches but it expands

[rhianna]

This is such a good thread! You all have some great tips! I'm (probably) getting my hamster in the next week or two, and it didn't take much convincing, but it did the first time. When I was 13 I decided that I wanted a hamster very badly. I didn't ask my parents yet, I just started doing things like helping out around the house, keeping my room clean, etc. I also researched a lot and learned the basics of caring for small animals. I finally brought up the idea about a month later. I didn't "ask" right away, exactly. I said, " hey mom, how would you feel if I got a hamster?" of course her initial response was just flat-out "no way, we already have too many pets" etc. So the next step was to respond understandingly and then create an awkward silence. After about a minute, she says "what the h&;@ do you want with a hamster anyways?" so I explained to her exactly why I wanted one. Your answer will vary, of course, but mine was an explanation of how I was lonely and bored all day (I had pulled out of school). My mom then said "so why do you need a hamster when we have other pets who can keep you company? You know that I'll just end up taking care of it." It's important not to argue at this point, that'll just make her angry. I simply said "well, I guess I'll let you think about it" and then walked away.

 

A few days later I asked her for a betta fish. "They're not expensive at all and it'll be a good way to prove my responsibility," I said. She agreed to let me get the fish, probably just to shut me up. I got Sargeant and he lived in a nice flat-sided fish bowl with rainbow colored ornaments on my night stand. After about 6 months, I had turned 14 by then and still loved my fish to death. I spent a lot of my money (from babysitting; I didn't get an allowance) buying new fish bowl decorations and fishy treats. I brought up the idea again one day about getting a hamster. At this point my mom said "I'll think about it," which always means yes with her. The next day she told me yes and I was super excited. I got a ten gallon tank, bedding, food, toys, etc. all set up for him, but then I went to the pet store to get hammy and they were all out of robos! I wanted a robo at the time and I was extremely disappointed. But they had gerbils there, and they were so darn cute, I couldn't stop thinking about them after that. We went home and said we'd be back next week when they got in a new litter of robos. But during that week I researched a lot about gerbils and learned that they make much better starter pets than hamsters due to their temperament, so when we went back to the pet shop I picked up three gerbils instead. After nearly 2 years of spoiling these gerbils to the tips of their tails, I'd never regret getting them. I do still want a hamster, though, which is why I'll be getting one soon. Just about 2 years late 

 

Looking back there are some things that I'd change/you could do better. For example, the main reason I had decided on getting a robo was because my friend had one and I thought they were the cutest breed. But by now I've learned through research that they're actually the most difficult to tame and often very skittish/aggressive. I'm glad I didn't get a robo then, honestly, because I'd probably have gotten a bad first impression of hamsters. I definitely suggest researching your breeds before picking which one you want. I've learned now that my best match would probably be a syrian.

 

Also don't do the whole thing with getting a fish first if you're not going to care for the fish anymore when you finally get the hamster. This is often the case with a lot of kids. Though often the hamster is in the place of my fish and a "serious" animal, such as dog or cat, is in the place of my would-have-been hamster. 

 

I also should've done a bit more research before suddenly getting gerbils. Needless to say I didn't know too much about them for about the first 8 months of having them. Luckily by this point I've racked up tons of knowledge and they are happy and healthy.

 

By the way, I didn't just cast aside the fish when I got the gerbils. He lived for about another year, still very loved and happy, then passed away naturally    also   to Theodore, one of the gerbils, who passed suddenly on October 14 2013 

Edited by rhianna, 19 December 2013 - 02:20 PM.

[yamaha0300]

AHH YESSSSSSZ!!!!!!!!!!!1 MY FAVORITE TOPIC first off i have wanted a hamster since like may and finally got one on nomeber 23rd i have GREAT TIPS!!!!! yes you guys all hear those really BORING tips says "oh prove you can take care of it" and "help with stuff" etc. WELLLL THEY NEVER WORK!!!.5.

 

i have some GREAT TIPS!

 

1. write a persuasive essay on why hamsters are good pets (yes i have done this it failed)

2. say im using my own money on all of this

3. if they says oh hamsters smell bad or oh hamsters are mice and etc. just tell them why they arent and etc.

4. blackmail

5. make aggrements for ex: "if lets say if my bunny dies can i get a hamster?) but dont purposley kill ur pet plz

 6. make ur parents PROMISE TO U that they will sometime in the future or after somethign happens they will

  

 

AND I SAED THE BEST FOR LAST!!!!!!!!!!!

 

7. i used this method and it helped me a ton so the story is my neighbor got a hamster on october 1st 2013. i knew he only got it to make me jelous. so 2 months later..... he tells me I HATE HAMSTERS! SO MESSY! so i asked my mom if i can take it for free! (i lied rehoming fee was 25 dollars) she says no. so a few days later... when mom is out me and neighbor go to store get some hamster supplies then i adopt his hamster. tried to hide it from mom caught me but NOW SHES OK WITH IT!!!!!!1 so the point is buy a hamster on your own money without telling ur parents and if ur parents never go into your room hide it in your room or if they catch u and make u give it away say NO! i bought with my own money. if ur neighbors friends or family hae no hamster to give away just get one for OVERNIGHT DILEVER NO MORE than OVERNIGHT. or go to your nearest pet store and get one although may need parents signature to get one no PROBLEM get ur older sibbling or friends parents or family members BESIDCES DAD OR MOM. so yea the end. HOPE THIS HELPS

[nebit]

AHH YESSSSSSZ!!!!!!!!!!!1 MY FAVORITE TOPIC first off i have wanted a hamster since like may and finally got one on nomeber 23rd i have GREAT TIPS!!!!! yes you guys all hear those really BORING tips says "oh prove you can take care of it" and "help with stuff" etc. WELLLL THEY NEVER WORK!!!.5.

 

i have some GREAT TIPS!

 

1. write a persuasive essay on why hamsters are good pets (yes i have done this it failed)

2. say im using my own money on all of this

3. if they says oh hamsters smell bad or oh hamsters are mice and etc. just tell them why they arent and etc.

4. blackmail

5. make aggrements for ex: "if lets say if my bunny dies can i get a hamster?) but dont purposley kill ur pet plz

 6. make ur parents PROMISE TO U that they will sometime in the future or after somethign happens they will

  

 

AND I SAED THE BEST FOR LAST!!!!!!!!!!!

 

7. i used this method and it helped me a ton so the story is my neighbor got a hamster on october 1st 2013. i knew he only got it to make me jelous. so 2 months later..... he tells me I HATE HAMSTERS! SO MESSY! so i asked my mom if i can take it for free! (i lied rehoming fee was 25 dollars) she says no. so a few days later... when mom is out me and neighbor go to store get some hamster supplies then i adopt his hamster. tried to hide it from mom caught me but NOW SHES OK WITH IT!!!!!!1 so the point is buy a hamster on your own money without telling ur parents and if ur parents never go into your room hide it in your room or if they catch u and make u give it away say NO! i bought with my own money. if ur neighbors friends or family hae no hamster to give away just get one for OVERNIGHT DILEVER NO MORE than OVERNIGHT. or go to your nearest pet store and get one although may need parents signature to get one no PROBLEM get ur older sibbling or friends parents or family members BESIDCES DAD OR MOM. so yea the end. HOPE THIS HELPS

Getting a pet a hiding it without the agreement of your parents is NOT a recommended strategy. It's not fair to the hamster, or to your family.

[Hammy<3]

Does anyone have any tips on how to perusal your parents to let you get another hamster? I really want another one and I don't know how to persuade them

[yamaha0300]

Does anyone have any tips on how to perusal your parents to let you get another hamster? I really want another one and I don't know how to persuade them

yes write a persuasive essya or beg or say i will take caare of it and make sure ur taking care of ur other hammy atm or hide the pet in ur room like me

Getting a pet a hiding it without the agreement of your parents is NOT a recommended strategy. It's not fair to the hamster, or to your family.

it was a fair  to me due to the care my neighboor gae him he housed him in a crittertrail 360 cage, used pine and maginzes, no chew toys , no wheel ,poor diet, no toys and etc. now the care i give it is way better he has a very large cage now and aspen bedding but the point is ur paretns might hate the pet when u talk about it but as soon as u get it they will be ok with it seeing u take care of ur pet without help

[nebit]

yes write a persuasive essya or beg or say i will take caare of it and make sure ur taking care of ur other hammy atm or hide the pet in ur room like me

it was a fair  to me due to the care my neighboor gae him he housed him in a crittertrail 360 cage, used pine and maginzes, no chew toys , no wheel ,poor diet, no toys and etc. now the care i give it is way better he has a very large cage now and aspen bedding but the point is ur paretns might hate the pet when u talk about it but as soon as u get it they will be ok with it seeing u take care of ur pet without help

I'm glad it worked out for you, but it's still a highly irresponsible way to get a pet. Many people's parents actually would make them take the hamster back or get rid of it, and that helps no one. Bringing a pet into a home where it is not wanted is NEVER a good strategy.

[yamaha0300]

I'm glad it worked out for you, but it's still a highly irresponsible way to get a pet. Many people's parents actually would make them take the hamster back or get rid of it, and that helps no one. Bringing a pet into a home where it is not wanted is NEVER a good strategy.

never that of it but i would make sure ur parents arent rodent haters first also jsut say I SPENT MY MONEY ON THIS!

[Hammy<3]

I agree with nebit I don't think it's right to hide a hamster in your room.......what would happen if you never found the right time to show your parents and you ran out of Money for food and bedding? Also to hide it in your room it must have had a pretty small cage:/ I would never be able to hide maltesers cage in my room........
If I did get a hamster without my parents knowing they would make me take it back and that just shows that you can't be trusted and that you don't listen to them. Doing that means that they would never let me get a hamster because I couldn't be trusted....that's just my opinion

Edited by Hammy<3, 24 December 2013 - 04:11 PM.

[MontBlanc]

My parents actually got me my first hamster when I was 3 as my first pet...then when he died 1 1/2 years later they seen how upset I was and a month later we went to get another one!

[DoctorPepper9]

This is how I got mine:
 -Reaserched

- Powerpoint on the breed,cost etc..

-I asked my mum

- She said no

- I Helped out around the house even more

- Asked her again 3 weeks later

-She said no

-I asked why 

- She said because there boring pets

- Then I explained how great pets they could be

- She said she would think about it

-Then 3 months later I got one as an early birthday present

 

 

 

 

[Furryfriends77]

I don't know if I can top all those tips!!! But here is what I did:
First you will most definitely want to research, research, research!!!! Obviously this forum is a perfect place to look but also go on Youtube! I recommend people like: ChocolateColors26, Hopping Hammy, FuzzyPolkaDot, The Hamster Ninja, etc.

Next try kindly asking your parents for a hamster. Avoid whining, getting angry, or yelling at them. If they are a little skeptical start explaining the benefits of owning a hamster like they teach you responsibility, they are simple to care for, cheaper than most pets, they're adorable, and can become your best friend!

If they say not try getting them on their good side by doing chores around the house and taking care of other pets you might have to show responsibility and good ownership.

If they still won't budge you can approach the way I did, with a presentation. Include supplies, housing, cost, facts about hamsters, etc. I also recommend lots of pictures because cuteness helps! Also be confident with your presentation show good posture and enthusiasm! At the end of your presentation try asking them "Any questions?" This statement proves you know what you're talking about and you love talking about it!

In no time you will have your little furry friend! if not, try again in a few months. But the key is to NOT GIVE UP! Good lucky my friend!

[♥Winter♥]

I really want a second hamster
But my mom wont let me have one because 1 hamster is messy but 2 is double trouble
So how do I convice her

[krazykelly]

You should ALWAYS ask first before getting and bringing any pet home. It's a sign of respect and automatically shows your parents that you are mature and responsible enough to at least have the courtesy to ask first. I asked my parents for permission just recently, even though I am of adult age but I live in their house so I have to respect that.

If they say no, don't sweat it. There's plenty of ways to win them over. You know your parents better than anyone here on the forum or elsewhere so you should decide which method will work best. For me, writing a note or email would not work because my parents would rather talk. So that's what I did.
However I do suggest always approaching your parents with the hamster subject when they are in a good mood. Try what you think will work best and be persistent yet respectful. Don't annoy them. Never try to "blackmail" them or cry or whine. It may take days, weeks, months, or even years to convince parents to let you have a hamster. But if you really want one you will be up for the challenge. And it will be worth it

I'd also like to add that there will be some parents that cannot ever be swayed. Absolutely do not under any circumstances ever bring home a hamster or any pet without permission! This will only make things worse and also will make you look immature. Why go through the trouble of asking and persuading just to do whatever you want anyway? Sure it may work for some people but that is rare and you will still end up losing your parents' trust. If they say no, don't get mad or resent them, it's just who they are. And someday you will be able to make the rules of your house and will probably have kids of your own asking for things you don't want them to have ;)

Edited by krazykelly, 29 December 2013 - 11:50 PM.