Goodnight, Maurice

Little Maurice left this world on Thursday, April 5th, 2025. He was likely about 2 1/2 years old, which isn’t bad for a rescue, dwarf hamster.

Maurice was my first mid-west hamster. The amazing, Mel from Mel’s Neighborhood Rodents delivered him to me in February of 2023. He was tiny, soft, and unbelievably cute. He remained unbelievably cute for the remainder of his life.

Maurice liked to burrow and hide deep into the corner of his size L Niteangel Vista. If he had a vet appointment, I had to allot a fair amount of time to try to locate him prior to the appointment. Even at that, I had a few times that I was significantly late thanks to his amazing hide-and-seek skills. It didn’t help that he was white, burrowed in white, paper bedding either.

Maurice wasn’t the kind of hamster who came out looking for attention. In fact, he often tried to evade my glances as he slipped from one burrow to another. But, once in a while, I would see him out during the day and offer him a treat to join me in the playpen.

By the end of Maurice’s life, he was mostly eating baby food and had to get twice, daily eye drops. I love him, and was happy to provide this care for him. Taking care of elderly hamsters can be hard and emotional. I often find myself moving them to smaller bins to accommodate an illness or issue they are having. I’ll think to myself, “oh, they’ll go back in their big cage as soon as this eye infection is over…” But, they rarely move back. Its funny that after all this time, I still have an element of hope - that time will go backwards, that in a few weeks, they’ll be the way they were when they were just a young, eager little thing, with bright eyes and an appetite for all the seed sprays. Alas, time just seems to move in one direction.

Maurice, you were loved, and you will be missed. I wish I could have held you more, but I know you liked being cozy and alone, deep in the corner of your vista. Until we meet again, little friend.