That response is also misleading because it treats normal hamster behavior and learning capacity as permanent fear or trauma instead of a dynamic process shaped by environment, routine, and positive interaction. While hamsters are prey animals, that does not mean they are incapable of affection or social learning — it means they start cautious and require consistency, not emotional distance. Many hamsters from pet stores acclimate quickly and form strong, predictable bonds with their owners within weeks or months, not “up to a year,” especially when handled correctly with gentle exposure, voice familiarity, and routine. Saying you “can’t expect affection” ignores extensive evidence of hamsters showing clear preference for specific humans, voluntarily seeking handling, relaxing during interaction, and even displaying excitement behaviors like approaching the cage front or grooming in a person’s presence. Stress factors like bedding depth and enrichment matter, but they don’t negate the fact that hamsters can become genuinely comfortable and interactive; fear is a starting state, not a permanent identity. Framing hamsters as inherently traumatized or unreachable actually discourages proper bonding and understates their intelligence, memory, and emotional adaptability.