Hamsters are a classic childhood pet. But why are parents so keen to buy them? Probably because they don’t last long, having a life expectancy of up to two years.
They don’t just die gracefully though – most hamsters are quite unlucky when it comes to meeting unfortunate fates. Here are some of the strangest we’ve heard (warning – they can be quite grizzly).
- Ran into the fireplace
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wr8bvzga04zy.jpg)
2. Had a picture taken with the flash on
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/original.jpg)
3. Chewed some TV wires and got electrocuted
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mj17l6f7id511-768x1024.jpg)
4. Got scared by a human sneeze
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Female_Sneezing_1200x628-facebook-1024x536.jpg)
5. Disappeared behind the fridge, emerged without hair and died on the spot
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/raychan-8IW8f37QAYA-unsplash-1024x684.jpg)
6. Got accidentally sucked into the vacuum cleaner
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Screenshot-2022-01-07-at-13.53.37.png)
7. Got poked with a Capri Sun straw
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Look-no-mold-Capri-Sun-s-clear-pouch_wrbm_large.jpg)
8. Drowned in the dog’s water bowl
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/chris-benson-b5YQQbMSWhQ-unsplash-1024x684.jpg)
9. Got fed too many doritos
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/lhjgff5bdt241-1024x713.jpg)
10. Had a tooth grow out of its nose
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/frightened_hamster_ready_to_bite.jpg)
11. Got his head stuck between the cage bars
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/GettyImages-147918612-3c947ba718574a938de29de77fe39d75-1024x576.jpg)
12. Buried alive whilst hibernating (they thought it was dead)
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/GettyImages-667718828-d9a54a8c4581489ab7b6ece647ff5e9a-1024x576.jpg)
13. Fell out of owner’s pocket whilst they were riding a bike and got run over
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/fda7344b1b4202a03655382aa336f00c.jpg)
14. Was put in the oven because he felt cold
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2bBk1t_0a4OnnXM00.jpeg)
15. Jumped in the frying pan whilst making pancakes
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/qivvaj4eob351.jpg)
16. Heard a balloon pop
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/a28e79649f8028113ce8fe0870c5c95e.jpg)
17. Fell down the stairs in a hamster ball
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Hamster_In_A_Ball_4055106363-1024x768.jpg)
18. Had a seizure which looked like a dance show
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/tiny-hamster-tiny-bbq-today-tease-150629-1024x576.jpg)
19. Jumped into a fan
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/av566g1bvdc41.jpg)
20. Ran outside in the snow
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/49171a170877c545b92f2521c965ac77-1024x768.jpg)
21. Got scared of his own fart
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/finn-e-kFh7PHBKWd0-unsplash-1024x683.jpg)
22. Someone said “boo!”
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/carol-lee-clvPewyTnAg-unsplash-768x1024.jpg)
23. Got dropped during Lion King ‘Circle of Life’ moment
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Hey-Pandas-Photoshop-this-photo-of-Rafiki-holding-Simba-60a7e025122ad-1024x576.jpg)
24. A book fell on him
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Hamster-5-650x425-1.jpg)
25. Exploded after eating a carrot
![](https://socialjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/hamster-eating-carrot_365982584_0.jpg)
If you’d prefer some lighter pet content, have a look at these destructive pets with no regrets.