This afternoon, I became the very unwilling *parent* of 2 baby albino
dwarf hamsters. Basic story, person didn't want them & was going to sell
them as snake bait. I didn't agree with the actions and took them of his
hands.

Anyways... they *will* be going to a good home as my friends daughter is
9 next week and I'm going up to Leeds for her birthday party. Her mom
and I have agreed that they will be a wonderful present for her as she
has wanted a hamster for about 3 years and wasn't considered old enough
to be responsible for her own pet before, although the family has had
dogs all their life. In the meantime, I have to look after the d*mn
things.

I have them here in Cardiff in a fish tank (safer than a cage with HRFL
about) and they have been named Itchy and Scratchy by me. Within about
30 seconds of me walking through the door, the jungle grapevine had got
about that mommy had new and improved interactive cat toys.

Tiger greeted me at the door, clocked the hamsters and shot upstairs
where there was much meowing. Then within about 30 seconds 3 cats shot
down the stairs with eyes as wide as saucers. Pandora started dancing a
little jig around my feet, and I have never seen Cleo (my fat pudding
cat) move so fast.

If I had known that hamsters would ocupy the cats time so well, I'd have
bought them years ago. For the last 3 hours all 3 cats have been sitting
like statues in a semi-circle at the base of the bookcase the hamsters
are on. Occasionally, one will get up, walk over to the book case, have
a good look and then go back to where they were sitting. They are
plotting how to get the "juicy snack". I can tell. ;o)

I've told my friend that as well as getting all the fancy cages, food,
water bottles etc, she also needs to get a course of treatments with a
therapist. The hamsters will need it. ;o)

Helen M