Do a little research before getting hamster

Dear Readers: A hamster is a perfect pet for an apartment, because hamsters don't require a large yard or a lot of space. But before getting or buying a hamster, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:
Whoever wants the hamster needs to know that it is a responsibility. Hamsters are pretty self-sufficient, but they do need food and water daily, as well as a weekly (at least) cage cleaning.
Before buying a hamster, be sure to find out how much the initial cost is for the cage, dishes, exercise wheel and ball, and any other incidentals.
Hamsters don't have a long life span, so keep this in mind when buying one.
Some caution needs to be taken with hamsters, too. They are voracious chewers, so when you buy a cage, exercise wheel, etc., be sure it is metal so it will have maximum life.
Hamsters are experts at escaping! Be sure the cage is properly closed each day, and check the cage for areas where the hamster might have chewed, etc.
It's also a good idea to buy a book on hamsters. One important hint is that it can sometimes be impossible to keep more than one hamster in a single cage together. They can be quite territorial and can harm each other. So, do a little research first. Heloise
Dear Heloise: We recently got an Australian shepherd foster dog that had an injured foot, which needed to stay dry. Since we were in the rainy season, I used the plastic bag that came on our newspaper and a rubber band to keep his foot covered and dry on our trips outside.
Thanks for all the great hints and information you have in your newspaper column! I copy and paste many of them into a Word document and save it on my computer for future reference. Liz in Brazil, Ind.
Liz, hope your Aussie friend is better now. For others, please use care when putting a rubber band on any animal. Heloise
Dear Readers: Barbara Hickman of Midland, Mich., sent in a photo of her cat, Bandit, sitting in a plant pot hanging from a macram & eacute; hanger. She said Bandit used this planter as a swing after destroying the beautiful grape ivy that was in it.
Go to my Web site, Heloise.com, and view Bandit there. Just click on Pet of the Week. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I had a similar experience with my Chihuahua as you did with your Cabbie. You wrote that Cabbie was at the vet and wouldn't enter her crate until her pillow and towel were added.
My Brandon was staying overnight at the vet's for surgery and wouldn't eat until I stopped to check on him during the afternoon. I told him he needed to eat his food (it had medicine in it) and handed the little bowl to him, and he gobbled it right up! The staff was amazed that he obeyed his mommy so quickly! Sarah Kate, via e-mail
Send a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate