Have You Ever Seen a Senior Hamster? Internet Obsessed With 'Grandma Bambi'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A woman online has introduced the world to a unique pet.
Her recent TikTok video has challenged the common perception of how long hamsters live by introducing the world to "grandma Bambi," a senior hamster who, despite her age, was living a life full of love.
The clip quickly went viral with more than 4.8 million likes, prompting a conversation about caring for elderly hamsters and the deep bonds they share with their owners.
"Never seen an old hamster? Well, here you go, one minute of grandma Bambi..,she's trying, bless her," the creator captioned the video. The clip shows Bambi's slow movements due to her advanced age.
Stock image: A hamster eats out of its bowl.
Stock image: A hamster eats out of its bowl.The Reality of an Aging Hamster
While many people are familiar with hamsters only in their energetic youth, the viral video shed light on the reality of caring for an aging pet.
A number of commenters shared their own experiences with senior hamsters, offering a glimpse into the dedicated care these animals often need in their golden years.
One user recalled their own Syrian hamster, who lived to 3.5 years old. They described the hamster's health changes, writing, "he was balding, would regularly spill water on himself so would need to be dried to avoid mold, and I had to syringe feed him a powdered food you mix with water cause his little teefies weren't strong enough anymore."
Another commenter shared a similar story of their hamster who "lived for over three years, he literally turned gray and could hardly walk." They also spoke to the harsh judgment some pet owners face online, adding: "every time I would post him, people would slide up telling me to let him die."
For many viewers, seeing a hamster reach such a senior age was a rare and beautiful sight.
"It's nice to see someone have a hamster that lives longer than six months," they wrote. "She is so cute, take good care of her."
A Final Farewell to Bambi
In a touching and somber update, the creator of the video confirmed that Bambi had died after living for three years.
In one video caption, the owner wrote: "What do you mean she's gonna pass away in my arms 10 minutes after I take this video? We'll never forget you, baldy."
In another, the owner confirmed the sad news, writing: "She enjoyed her month of fame, now she's retiring … she's passed, thank you everyone for loving her."
Bambi's story, from her rise to internet fame as a "grandma" hamster to her peaceful passing, has left an impression on viewers, highlighting the love and dedication that many owners have for their small pets.
Newsweek reached out to @angelinasanhz for comment via TikTok.
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