From Vet Clinics to Chewed-Up Baseboards: My Journey

Back in my pre-mom life, I worked as a veterinarian at a busy pet clinic. Think 60-hour weeks stitching up parakeets, deworming puppies, and once—memorably—helping a Great Dane with a sock addiction. But my real passion? Rodents. Specifically, hamsters.

During nights and weekends, I moonlighted as a hamster breeder. Not the sketchy, backyard kind—think ethical breeding focused on health and temperament. I’d geek out over genetics, track lineage like a hamster ancestry.com, and obsess over creating the coziest birthing nests. (Pro tip: Toilet paper tubes are gold for nesting material.)

Then, three years ago, my son Ben brought home a classroom hamster he’d “accidentally” won during a school auction. “Mom, his name is Fluffy, and he needs us!” Cue the eye-roll… and the start of our hamster empire.

Why Hamster101.com? Blame the Internet (and My Kids)

After Fluffy joined the family, I realized most online hamster advice was either outdated (“Just use a fish tank!”) or downright dangerous (“They love chocolate!”). Meanwhile, my DMs blew up with panicked questions from new hamster parents:

“Emma, why is my hamster eating her wheel?”
“Help—my Robo’s doing parkour off the curtains!”
“Is this poop normal??” (Spoiler: It usually is.)

So in 2021, I launched Hamster101.com—a judgment-free zone where I trauma-dump a decade of hamster knowledge. Think of it as your 2 a.m. hamster 911, but with less panic and more memes.

What You’ll Find on Hamster101

  • Uncensored Care Guides: Like “How to Hamster-Proof Your House When You Have a Toddler (and a Dog)”
  • DIY Hacks: Turn IKEA shelves into hamster mansions for under $20.
  • Health Deep Dives: From wet tail survival guides to decoding weird hamster noises. (Spoiler: That chirping? They’re not part bird.)
  • Breed Spotlights: Why Syrians are the golden retrievers of hamsters, and why Roborovskis are basically furry ninjas.
  • Kid-Friendly Tips: How to make your hamster tolerate your 6-year-old’s tea parties.

Oh, and about 30% of the content? That’s my 16-year-old son Tim—our resident “Hamster TikToker.” He’s the master behind “10 Signs Your Hamster is Judging You” and “Unboxing the World’s Tiniest Hamster Wheel.” (Yes, it’s as chaotic as it sounds.)

Our Family’s Hamster Hall of Fame

  • Sir Nibbles: Our moody Syrian who hates kale but loves Beyoncé.
  • Houdini: The escape artist dwarf who once lived inside our couch for 3 days.
  • Pancake: The Robo who sleeps in a literal pancake pose.
  • Gizmo: Tim’s hamster, who “helps” with homework by eating it.

Why Trust Me?

  • Vet Cred: 10+ years of treating everything from hamster abscesses to guinea pig dental drama.
  • Breeder Blunders: I’ve made every mistake so you don’t have to. (RIP, the Great Yogurt Drop Incident of 2018.)
  • Real-Life Chaos: Juggling hamsters, kids, and a husband who still doesn’t get why we need 7 cages.

When I’m Not Hamster-Wrangling…

  • Baking Disasters: My cinnamon rolls could double as hockey pucks.
  • Thrifting: 80% of our hamster gear is repurposed Tupperware and dollhouse furniture.
  • Survival Mode: Parenting a tween daughter who’s convinced she’s a TikTok influencer.

Join the Chaos!

Whether you’re here because your kid smuggled home a classroom pet or you’re a fellow rodent enthusiast, welcome to the family! Drop a comment, share your hamster horror stories, or just vibe with our cage setup inspo.

And remember: No question is too weird. (Yes, I’ve Googled “Can hamsters get existential dread?” Spoiler: Probably.)

🐹 Stay spry, stay curious, and always check your pockets for stashed sunflower seeds.

—Emma (and the gang)