It is viewed as comedic when a hamster is cast as a mean and vicious villain in a child's horror story, or when, as occur in the immortal comic strip "Calvin & Hobbes", a precocious six year old pleads with his harried dad to read him his favorite book, one with a protagonist that just happens to be a hamster, for the umpteen hundredth time.

A hamster? What could be so interesting, so captivating about hamster? The very existence of such questions is precisely where the humor lies. Hamster enthusiasts know that there is plenty to be interested in and captivated by this humble, unassuming animal, and that her role as clever villain and fascinating children hero is not only pleasantly unexpected, but downright deserved. Get to know the hamster, and you will discover a quite fascinating creature that has mastered the super heroic habits of a small animal forced to survive in treacherous wild environs - an animal that is equally adept at adapting those characteristics to life in captivity.

As with all animals that leave come to occupy a domestic niche, the hamster's physical and behavioral characteristic have been molded through the ages by her native home, the desert. Understand the link between the hamster;s home territory and the appearance, behavior and character of the contemporary pet hamster within your home, and you will be better equipped to enjoy your pet. You will also be better equipped to enjoy your pet. You will also be better prepared to offer her the optimum care required to keep a hamster spry and healthy until the ripe old age of two or three.