Everyone loves hamsters. They’re cute, cuddly, and evoke a sense of childlike wonder. For these reasons and more, hamsters are known to make great pets. However, hamsters and their small animal brethren don’t just make great pets, they also make great emotional support animals, or ESA for short. My sophomore year of college my hamster Mooksie was able to live with me in the dorms thanks to his ESA registration. Together, we are going to go over some of the reasons hamsters make great emotional support animals.
They’re Cute
I already touched upon it in the intro, but one of the main reasons hamsters make great ESA are their cute appearance. Hamsters are often associated as childhood pets; due to this they are great at helping people feel a sense of warmth and nostalgia. Their soft fur and little hands are great at relieving anxiety/stress and bringing smiles to people’s faces. Hamster interaction has even been shown to lower blood pressure and release endorphins!
They’re Easy to Care For
Hamsters are also great emotional support animals because they have easy care requirements. Unlike a dog which requires a lot of time, attention, and space; hamsters are easy, self-sufficient, and small. As long as a hamster is kept in an adequate cage, it will be happy being left to its own devices. Moreover, they are low maintenance, you just have to clean their cage once a week and make sure they have ample access to food and water.
They’re Inexpensive
Another reason hamsters make great ESA are their cost. Hamsters, and their needs, are relatively low cost. When over 70% of America sites their finances as a main stressor, you can take solace in the knowledge that a pet hamster won’t break the bank.
They Have a Calming Presence
In addition to the reasons mentioned thus far, hamsters are also known for their calming presence. You don’t just have to interact with your ESA to relieve anxiety, sometimes just watching them do their own thing is all you need. Seeing your hamster run on their wheel or burrow around their cage can serve as a great distraction to intrusive thoughts. On top of this, hamsters are nocturnal. If you’re having trouble sleeping, you can distract yourself with your small pet.
They’re friendly
Lastly, hamsters make great emotional support animals thanks to their friendly, curious nature. If properly handled, hamsters can quickly come to love interacting with their owner. When well cared for, hamsters make quite the interactive pet. An ESA hamster is great for comfort and companionship.
Conclusion
Hamsters are more than just great pets; they also make great emotional support animals. Their cute appearance invokes joy in their owners, they are notoriously low maintenance and low cost, their natural, inquisitive behavior provides a calming presence to those around them, and they are quite friendly. Get yourself a small pet and give yourself the life you deserve! I personally have had an emotional support hamster since Summer 2018.