I killed...

butterflygrooves

My daughters hamster.  I think I forgot to feed her...I checked her cage last night and she was curled up in a ball like she was sleeping and when I poked her, she didn't move.I haven't told my daughter yet and she hasn't noticed that the cage is gone.Bad Mommy.

amberg321

Oh no! What are you going to do???

cm92701

Aw man I'm so sorry... Have you thought about replacing it?

butterflygrooves

I'm going to tell her that she died, just trying to figure out a good way to explain death. Not going to replace her, it's easier not to have a hamster.

sv4338

Oh no Shannon Im sorry to hear that :0(

cm92701

Sorry Idk where to even start with that... I'm not much help. 

SandraRay2008

Thats really sad if the hamster died of starvation..... Its probably best not to replace it.

butterflygrooves

She did have one of those honey and seed logs in her cage and half a bottle of water...  Her regular food bowl was empty though.  You would think she would eat the honey and seed thing if she was starving, she normally demolishes them. Oh well.

Kasi80

Oh, pobresita/o!  If she had the log thing in there and didn't touch it she was probably sick.  It's not like you killed her on purpose if she did starve.  There was food in there.

SandraRay2008

No offense but those honeybars are treats.... not a meal. That would be like giving a dog a scoop of treats and expecting it to live off of that. 

Kasi80

Sandra!  You are being harsh.  It wasn't done intentionally. 

Kasi80

And although it may have not been the hamster's normal food it still was food.  If we only had chocolate to live off we'd probably survive because it's still food.  Same thing....it may be a snack but it is still food.

butterflygrooves

At least I haven't killed my cats or my kid.

Kasi80

If the hamster usually eats those things but didn't this time he/she may have been sick and died because of that. 

SandraRay2008

[img] http://tinyurl.com/6yddgt[/img]

butterflygrooves

What would people think of me if that happened?  I mean, I am THAT negligent.  First the hamster, next the cats, and finally my daughter.  Oh lord.I didn't mean to kill the hamster and IF it was my lack of feeding her than I know I am in the wrong BUT as Kasi said, she could have been sick (she wasn't skin and bones when I found her) or she could have had a heart attack (which happens quite often in hamsters).Get off your soapbox Sandra.

amberg321

Though there is no way of knowing how the hamster ACTUALLY died I think that comparing that to the death of a child is a bit extreme. I think maybe this could be a lesson for everyone, including your daughter, on the importance of caring for an animal to help prevent this from happening in the future. Our job as a pet owner is to be 100% responsible the health and well being of that animal and I think thats the most imprtant thing here.

sv4338

LMAO! you guys are crazy Yes its really sad the hamster died and yes its probably from lack of nutrients or maybe it was sick but its a good lesson for your daughter that when we have pets we have to be responsible (not that it was her fault in anyway) Its just a life lesson we all go thru it at one time or another Shannon if the cat comes up missing I'm calling CPS LMAO!!! hehehe j/k!!!!!!

Kasi80

I agree with using this experience as a lesson.

breleficent

Hamsters have very short life spans. Given the fact that she didn't eat her treat before she ate her regular food gives me the feeling that she was either sick or already dying. How long was her dish empty for?

sdkissez

I agree that this is definitely a life lesson. Everyone has things that happen and we are supposed to learn from them.  Personally, I think the best way to approach this with your daughter is to talk about how animals are a big responsibility, and if we don't take care of them then any number of things could happen.  People make mistakes, but it's how we learn from them that counts.  If you feel that you forgot to feed them, then you might want to mention it to her, to show her that you are human and make mistakes too, but are willing to take responsibility for it.  This will be a great way for her to see that you make mistakes, but aren't going to hide from them.  I know it has to be hard to "think" that you might be the reason as to why the hamster died, but I don't think I would hide it from her.  You could also mention that the hamster might have been sick and that's why it wasn't eating the honey stick, but maybe show her all the options. Death is hard to explain to a child, and sometimes we know why people/animals die, and sometimes we don't. 

butterflygrooves

Bre, I clean her cage and give her new food and water every Sunday.  I even give her fresh veggies or a slice of fruit when I put her back in the cage. This week I can't remember if I did the whole routine...  Her cage wasn't super dirty last night, it looked as if I had just cleaned it a few days ago.  All of her food was gone and her treat wasn't touched.

SandraRay2008

I'm not on a "soapbox" I wasn't lecturing you. I made 3 whole posts in this thread which this makes the 4th. The first was something I felt which its true. You stated you thought the animal starved to death. An animal doesn't starve to death in one night so I took it as being multiple days without little or no food. If that is the case then if someone cant remember to feed a living animal it shouldn't be replaced. I dont have any plants in my house because I know I will kill them! So its simple I dont have plants inside. My second post was just stating a fact yes a treat is food but a treat is something that cant be lived off of. People cant live off of treats you will lack nutrition. That Honey bar is a treat that is filled with vitamins maybe it ate to much of it and got sick. My third post was just a funny pic. All I was doing was being honest and stating my feelings. If you dont like that well then Im sorry nothing I can do about that.