Who Domesticated Hamsters and Why Did They Become Popular Pets?

Fluffy, friendly and irresistibly cute, pet hamsters seem destined to be the perfect pocket-sized pals. But less than a century ago, hamsters existed only as solitary burrowers in the wild.

So how exactly did these reclusive rodents indigenous to deserts go from untouchable wildlife to America’s favorite furry companion?

In this article, we’ll unravel the curious tale of hamster domestication. We’ll explore:

• The ancestral origins of hamsters
• Pioneering domestication experiments
• Global spread as pets in the 1940s-50s
• Mass breeding innovations and coat color explosions
• Reasons for their meteoric rise in popularity
• Ongoing new varieties and ownership stats

Let’s dig into the remarkable history that transformed wild hamsters into the beloved housemates we know and adore today.

Ancestral Origins: Evolution of Hamsters Through the Millennia

To trace the domestication story, we first need to look back on where hamsters come from. You might be surprised to learn these compact pets have existed for eons!

The earliest known hamster-like creatures emerged in the Miocene era between 23-5.3 million years ago. They belonged to the expansive Cricetidae family within the vast rodent order, which today contains over 2,050 species including mice, rats, voles, lemmings, and of course, hamsters.

These primitive ancestral hamsters foraged for seeds and vegetation across Eurasian and North African landscapes. Over millions of years of evolution, the Cricetidae family diversified into 24 genera with varied habitats and physical attributes.

The earliest direct ancestors of the hamsters we know appeared around 5 million years ago. Fast forward to the Pleistocene epoch 2.5 million years ago, and the first members of the recognizable Mesocricetus genus emerged in the Middle East.

This genus encompasses the iconic Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) that originally inhabited arid areas of Syria, Turkey, Greece, Romania and Russia. Syrian hamsters emerged as a distinct species around 2 million years ago.

In the wild, solitary Syrian hamsters burrowed extensively underground. But a pivotal discovery in 1930 would unexpectedly pull these reclusive rodents out of their burrows and into our homes as pets.

The Search for a Research Subject: Early Domestication Experiments

In the early 1930s, a young zoologist named Israel Aharoni was searching for a suitable small mammal to study. His quest led him to the golden hamster of the Syrian desert.

In 1930, Aharoni captured several breeding pairs of wild hamsters in Aleppo, Syria and brought them to Jerusalem where he worked at Hebrew University. He intended to observe their mating habits, gestation periods, litter sizes and behavior in captivity.

Unfortunately, most of the original wild hamsters quickly died in captivity. But miraculously, after a brief escape, two managed to breed. Their captive-born offspring were remarkably more docile and cooperative compared to previous wild generations.

Aharoni realized something extraordinary was occurring – the hamsters were becoming tamer after just a single generation of captive breeding. He began experimenting through selective breeding to try intentionally domesticating and taming wild hamsters.

From the most docile hamsters, Aharoni selectively bred the calmest, least aggressive individuals over successive generations. In just 3-4 generations, the resulting hamsters were comfortable with regular gentle handling.

By the mid-1930s, Aharoni had successfully demonstrated that wild Syrian hamsters could be selectively bred into friendly, domesticated creatures in just years rather than centuries. This pioneering work laid the foundations for hamster domestication.

Wartime Distraction: Spread of Hamsters as Novel Pets in Europe

In 1938, Aharoni collaborated with the Institute for Animal Physiology in Rome to export several pairs of his domesticated hamsters to colleagues across Europe. This move would prove seminal.

European zoologists were enthralled by the amiable and pliant nature of these creatures compared to wild hamsters. Hamsters subsequently spread across European zoos and universities over the next few years through networks of researchers interested in the species.

By the late 1930s, hamsters had arrived in France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and Great Britain. But the general public remained unaware of their existence until World War II, when civilian pet keeping offered morale-boosting distraction from wartime stresses.

During WWII, European households sought pets to divert attention from rationing and hardship. Food shortages limited dogs and cats, but small pets like rodents surged in popularity.

By the late 1940s, hamster breeding and sales emerged across parts of Europe through rodent fancier circles. In the UK, advertisements show golden hamsters being commercially sold by 1949.

Their pint-sized frames, low maintenance and innate cuteness made hamsters the ideal wartime pet. Children were especially enamored by their fuzziness and inquisitive nature. Families delighted in the small joy and companionship hamsters provided.

For Europeans longing for normalcy amidst the tumult of war, hamsters offered temporary respite and optimism. Little did they know this humble pet would soon take the world by storm!

Gaining Momentum: Breeding Farms Propel Hamsters Post WWII

By the late 1940s, hamsters were gaining renown across Britain as appealing and easily managed pets. But two key factors transformed them from wartime novelty to booming commercial success:

1. Increased pet spending – After WWII ended in 1945, prosperity gradually returned allowing more households to own pets.

2. Establishment of breeding farms – Specialized hamster breeding farms were established to meet demand, enabling large-scale production.

In the late 1940s, the first commercial hamster breeding enterprises emerged in England to meet growing post-war demand. Advertisements show businesses operating in Essex and elsewhere by 1949.

These mass breeding operations selectively reproduced hamsters not just for tameness, but for desirable colors, coat types, sizes and breeding efficacy. This sparked immense genetic diversity and availability, propelling hamsters to the next level as pets.

By the 1950s, hamsters were a breeding phenomenon in Britain. Their popularity quickly spread across continental Europe, then leapfrogged the Atlantic as the hot new novelty pet in America.

Conquering the US Market: Postwar Suburbanization Drives the 1950s Hamster Craze

Hamsters first arrived in America in the late 1930s as laboratory research animals. But it wasn’t until after WWII that they debuted as pets.

In the late 1940s, returning servicemen introduced hamsters as pets into the zeitgeist. Their compact size and cute nature made them the ideal urban companion.

By the 1950s, the US was seized by genuine hamster fever! Suburbanization led families to seek small, convenient pets. Hamsters’ charm and ease of care made them irresistible for baby boomer kids and adults alike. Even celebrities like Elvis owned hamsters.

To sate intense demand, specialized hamster breeding farms sprang up nationwide. Cities like Hollywood became hamster breeding capitals, mass-producing hamsters for eager retailers.

This mass production propelled new varieties, colors and coat types beyond the natural golden hue. Exciting diversity made hamsters even more enticing and fuelled their popularity.

Within just a decade, hamsters went from complete obscurity to one of America’s most ubiquitous and beloved pet companions.

Breeding Breakthroughs: The Genesis of New Hamster Varieties

In the wild, Syrian hamsters were limited to a single golden-brown coat. But selective breeding in captivity sparked an explosion of colors, patterns, lengths and types.

Key breeding milestones included:

• 1930s – Taming of original wild golden Syrian hamsters
• 1940s – Blond, cinnamon, cream coat hamsters emerge
• 1950s – Striped, spotted hamsters developed; teddy bear mutation discovered
• 1960s – Satin coat hamsters bred in England;
• 1970s – Long-haired varieties like Umbrous bred in Germany
• 1980s – Dwarf hybrid Campbell Russians and Roborovskis created
• 2000s – Fancy breeds like panda bears, calico dwarfs continue diversifying the gene pool

This drive for diversity through selective breeding is ongoing today, delivering ever-more unique looks like tortoiseshell patterns, Peachfaces and Dalmatian-spotted hamsters!

Why Did Hamsters Boom When Other Rodents Existed?

Lab mice and rats have been staples of scientific research for over a century. Fancy rats and mice were kept as Victorian era pets. Gerbils also existed as novelties in England in the late 1800s.

So why did hamsters become THE must-have small pet of the 20th century unlike these other established rodents? Several intrinsic traits made them perfectly poised for success:

Kid-Friendly Nature

• Gentle handling from birth produces docile, enjoyable pets
• Highly trainable through positive reinforcement
• Tend not to bite frequently like some rodents
• Adore human interaction and playing

Cuteness

• Perfectly petite, chubby and stubby stature
• Expressive eyes, tiny hands and teddy bear faces
• Luxuriously soft, furry coats that captivate kids

Care and Handling

• Lower maintenance needs than similarly sized rodents
• Ideal size for children to hold and interact with
• Simple housing requirements compared to other pets
• Clean, low odor makes indoor keeping pleasant

Breeding Prowess

• Reach sexual maturity rapidly around 4-5 weeks
• Litters of 5-7 pups make breeding very prolific
• Short generational interval enables rapid selective breeding
• Strong and reliable commercial reproduction ability

Hamsters’ unique blend of endearing nature, cute looks, breeding efficacy and pet suitability allowed them to rocket past other established pocket pets. Their timing arrival aligned perfectly with booming post-war demand for small urban pets.

The Prolific Progress of Hamster Breeding & Ownership

• 1930s – Just two dozen tame hamsters exist globally, confined to a couple zoos and labs.
• 1940s – Hamsters imported to UK from Europe as novel wartime distraction pets.
• 1950s – US gripped by hamster fever. Specialty breeding farms spring up to meet intense demand.
• 1960s – Estimated 400,000 pet hamsters in the UK alone. Long-haired breeds start emerging.
• 1970s – Over 3 million pet hamsters in the UK. First dwarf hybrids created.
• 1980s – New breeds like fancy teddy bears and roborovskis expand diversity further.
• Today – Estimated 24+ million pet hamsters just in the US!

From just a few dozen domesticated hamsters in the 1930s, these captivating rodents have exploded into tens of millions of beloved pets globally. Nine decades later, their popularity continues going strong!

Ongoing Hamster Breeding Innovations & Discoveries

Selective hamster breeding never slowed after initial domestication. Exciting new breeds, colors and coat types continue emerging today thanks to dedicated hamster fanciers globally.

Key modern breeding milestones include:

• 2000s – Blaze of unique new color morphs like Dark Grey, Orange, Tortoiseshell etc
• 2010s – Increasing focus on breeding for health and temperament
• 2020s – Gene sequencing enables targeted breeding. Genome of popular Campbell’s dwarf hamster sequenced in 2021.
• 2020s – CRISPR gene editing theoretically makes possible creation of new breeds via introduced mutations. Controversial ethically.
• 2020s – Rising popularity of cross-continental breeding to reduce inbreeding and isolation in regional gene pools.

Advances in genetics, reproductive technology and global connectivity will undoubtedly bring even more wondrous hamster colors, body types and personality traits in the future!

Final Thoughts

It’s a bit mind-blowing to think that hamsters, once wild critters of the desert, are now rummaging through bedding in cozy homes around the world. My journey with these furballs has only deepened my appreciation for their transformation from the wild. They’re not just cute; they’re a testament to how nurturing human curiosity can be.

Watching my hamsters navigate their mini-mazes and exercise wheels, I see a snapshot of nature adapting right in my living room. It’s a daily reminder of how simple care can lead to the flourishing of such unique personalities in such tiny creatures.

The work of Aharoni and his contemporaries laid a path I feel privileged to tread. Every day, these little guys offer a playful respite from my tech-heavy world, reinforcing their worth as companions. Their ongoing popularity isn’t just a craze—it’s a chapter in our shared history with animals. And it’s one that I’m glad to keep writing with every hamster I care for.

FAQs About Hamster History

How long have hamsters been kept as pets?

Hamsters were first domesticated in the 1930s, but didn’t gain mass popularity until the 1940s-50s. So they’ve been common household pets for around 70 years now.

What was the first type of hamster bred as pets?

Syrian hamsters were the first hamster species domesticated, starting with wild specimens from Syria in the 1930s.

How many different species of hamster are kept as pets today?

There are 5 main species kept as pets – Syrian, Dwarf Campbell’s, Winter White Russian, Chinese and Roborovski. Between them there are also over 80 recognized breeds.

Which country first pioneered breeding pet hamsters?

Israel was the birthplace of early experimental hamster taming in the 1930s. But the UK spearheaded large-scale breeding of hamsters as nationwide pets starting in the 1940s.

Why do pet hamsters come in so many coat colors and types now?

Through decades of selective breeding, hamster fanciers have developed a huge variety of colors, patterns, hair lengths and coat types that go far beyond the natural golden Syrian fur.