Merry Hamster-Mas!

Dec 24

Written By Rachel

Merry Hamster-mas from my hamsters, to yours!

Little Tabasco peeps out at me from the Christmas play area

This is the time of year I try to spend a little time reflecting on the past year and think about my goals and aspirations for the upcoming year.

This year was a big year for me and my hams!

I lost many of my hamsters this year - pretty much my whole crew from the 2023-2024 era. Maurice, Lemonade, Dexter, Peggy, Ella all this spring & summer. Then, just recently, Stan, Fluffy and Lester. That’s the thing about hamsters that is hard, but is something I think is good for us all - to remember how precious, and short, life can be.

The hardest parts for me are seeing them in their ailing states. That sounds like a “duh!” but I do think it’s an important thing to touch on - it can be SO painful to watch someone you love struggle… struggle to climb up something they use to bound up… struggle to eat foods they used to love… struggle to be comfortable as they fight something that ultimately you know they won’t win against. It’s so hard to know when to try to keep fighting for them and when to help them pass peacefully. There’s so much guilt that floods in when I try to come to that conclusion… I wonder if I did enough for them, if I had noticed this or that sooner, would the outcome be different? This year, for me, was the year I tried to master “being strong” for them - to not fall into little pieces when they came to the end of their lives, but to try to be present, to give love that wasn’t about me - not about my guilt or my sadness or whatever else is mixed in there - but to give them a peaceful, stable, comforting love; to hold them if they want to be held, and to remind them they they are loved, and everything is going to be okay, even if “okay” means it’s the end of our time together.

My sister recently said to me (after I had posted a photo of me holding little Stan in his final hours), “I don’t know how you do it.” And there was a part of me that wanted to say “it gets easier” but that didn’t feel like quite the right response. It doesn’t get “easier” - I still cry. Cleaning up an uninhabited cage is still hard. But I have gotten stronger. I’ve gotten better at remembering the fond moments and not letting the fact that they are over, tear me apart.

And for me, this is a huge accomplishment. It feels nice to be able to “let go” a bit, not to hold on so tight and be constantly so sad about what was, but to focus on the hamsters that I have in front of me, to give them all I can give, and to share their journey with you all.

Tabasco explores a bridge to new places in the Christmas playpen

So what do I have in store for 2026?

Well, I’ve already adopted quite a few more friends to keep me company - Chet, June Bug, Tabasco, Bert & Ernie. I’ve decided to try to keep it just to them for a while. It hit me recently how much work it was to take care of EIGHT hamsters, and taking care of five now seems like a breeze.

I always say this to myself, that I’m going to try to keep my numbers down to a reasonable crew, but this time, I hope to stick to it. I do want to be able to spend more quality time with these guys, and I want to have the time to care for them as they get older.

“I know I smell something delicious in here!”

Maybe that was not the “Christmas Message” you were hoping for, but it was honest, and the thing that I am truly reflecting on this year as I look back at Christmas photos from last year - all hams who are no longer with me.

I hope you all had a lovely holiday season (hopefully a bit less somber in nature)! Please leave me a comment below, or go find me on Instagram! I would love to know what your hamster goals are for 2026!

Items shown in the Hamstermas Playpen:

*playpen is inside a Coziwow enclsoure that’s only 320 sq inches - I got it with a rescue hamster so I only use it for photos, but not long term living! Putting link below for a 40” Prolee enclosure - an enclosure I have and love! It’s great to have an extra around for holiday play-areas, or just in case!

Christmas Tree Wooden Hide: from Innodove’s store on Etsy

Christmas Trailer Wooden Hide: from Innodove’s store on Etsy

Treats and more from Happy Hamstery’s Shop!