Yesterday, I received the news from my dad that my one of my hamsters just died. I’m not one to take this kind of loss lightly, but thank goodness I didn’t cry upon reading his text. I guess I kinda had it coming. Jingles was acting weird the past few days. Her fur had been shedding, leaving a bald spot near her tail. She was old, it was just her time to go.

Even so, last night was a very sentimental time for us. Now that Belle, my other hamster, is alone, I feel the need to play with her once in a while so she doesn’t feel lonely. Before going to sleep last night, I took her cage up to my room and put it on the table beside my bed so we can just be with each other. She didn’t make the usual ruckus she and Jingles used to make, she just quietly sat in one corner. Then when I woke up this morning she was frantic inside her cage, desperate to get out. I placed her in my hand to stroke her fur when I realized she was making this faint, but very distinct sound that I’ve never heard before. It’s like she was crying!

My hammies have stuck by me since July 2006. Since then, we have moved apartments and I have transferred from one job to another three times. When I first found out that the life span of hamsters is just, more or less, three years, I got terrified for my little ones. I dreaded the day they would die of old age. And now the end is near…

Funnily enough, when I got my hamsters at the pet store two years ago, I thought they were male and female. It was only last year when Riz, after peeking under there, told me that both of them are actually a she! That put the mystery of why they don’t mate to rest. I took it as a relief because I didn’t want to have a bunch of hamsters multiplying every few months or so. I’ve been told that hamsters tend to commit suicide when their mate is gone. Since Jingles was not so much a mate as she is a “companion” to Belle (as they are both females), I’m hoping the suicidal tendency theory doesn’t pan out for her.

I was talking over a cup of coffee with Sarah this morning about our emo hamsters. Like everyone else, she has had her share of losing beloved pets. She had a hamster and a rabbit who killed themselves after their mates died, she had a turtle who ate her two smaller turtles (imagine that!), she had a dog who got inflicted by some kind of disease, and another dog who they had to put under euthanasia. She even had a crocodile! It was supposed to be a sad talk but we kept laughing at how silly we get when we are affected by our pets’ passing. At least I’m not alone in this.

I just wish that Belle would not get too lonely now that she’s all by herself. Farewell, Jingles…

Belle and Jingles

Belle and Jingles

Past posts about Belle and Jingles:

Update (9/7/2008): Belle passed away sometime in the morning. :’(

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