Hamster

What you're getting

Hamsters originally hail from the desert regions of east Asia — you've probably heard of the Syrian hamster or the Russian dwarf variety. In the wild, they're basically professional diggers and foragers, spending their days burrowing and hunting for food. These days they're popular household pets, and your average hamster will stick around for about 2 or 3 years. They're often considered a decent first pet for children, thanks to their quiet nature, compact size, and generally calm temperament.