Oh my gosh. Yukimo, you're a boy?!

"Yuki-Sleeping"

About four months ago, only a week or two after I wrote about Yukimo becoming sick, I was completely caught off guard by a crazy discovery.

Yukimo *gulp* is a boy. Yuki is not a girl like I had thought for over a year and a half. No, Yukimo decided to play the trick of all tricks on me by changing sexes (er, genders?). Oh Yukimo, what will you do next?

Here's what happened. While I continued to worry about the "womanly bleeding" (chuckle, chuckle) that Yuki was going through, I noticed that her slower movements were changing into what she used to be like when I first bought her; she started running around her cage and in her wheel with the energy of a young, baby hammy. I'll admit that I was really happy that Yukimo was finally coming around and turning into her old self. I had my doubts for a while though-- usually little happy moments like this don't last for long. I figured that she was just getting a second wind or something. I was wrong though.

One day, while holding Yuki and checking to see if she was still bleeding down there, I noticed something extremely odd about her lower "womanly parts." Something else was there instead-- something manly. At first, I became worried and thought her intestines might be falling out (seriously, hammies are too unpredictable for that not to happen), but on a closer look I realized that Yukimo was, indeed, a boy.

Tucked Under

When thinking back, I'm positive that Yukimo was once a girl. Not only was she in the girl hammy cage at the pet store (where workers at pet stores often make mistakes with this kind of thing), but I made sure to check a lot over the months she was with me. I had mistaken other boy hammies for girls when I was younger, but the reality of the situation always became evident after just a few weeks of them living with me. Yukimo was with me for too long for me to not notice. I just know she used to be a girl; it's a feeling.

Here are my thoughts on this unexpected discovery: the old Yukimo must have passed on (er, died) and this version of Yukimo was reborn. Back when she was sick, Beth kept telling me that I should probably start to think about letting go of Yuki. She exhibited too many signs of old age and sickness to think otherwise. We've experienced the loss of small pets before and it's better to come to terms with death instead of ignore it. I started to think about it more but I had to stop when I realized that Yuki was suddenly full of life again.

Yuki: Like a Baby

Yukimo must have gone through some sort of reincarnation in her sickness. Either that happened, or she's a hermaphrodite hamster (meaning she has both male and female parts). I wouldn't put this odd happening past Yukimo. She's a crazy trickster who loves to mess with peoples' minds!

Since Yukimo's rebirth, she's been just as lively as when she was a baby-- even at the old age of over a year and a half. Also, the bleeding has completely stopped. (Yay!) I really do think there's a connection between the discovery and the bleeding, but I can't quite pinpoint what happened. I'd like to talk with a hammy specialist sometime. 

I'm still in shock over this whole thing. Every time I see Yukimo running her little heart out in her wheel, or jumping up on the bars because she wants attention, I can't help but be grateful for this huge extra amount of time that I'm being given to spend with her. I had hammies when I was little and none of them ever lived such a long, happy life. Not like Yukimo.

I've decided that even though Yukimo has revealed this secret, I'm still going to refer to her as a girl. I tried replacing all my uses of "hims" and "hers" and "he's" and "she's" but it was too difficult to break the habit of referring to Yuki as a girl. I figure that I'm at least acknowledging this discovery by telling people about it (and how amused I am by the whole thing), but for now, Yukimo will remain a "she" when I'm talking about her. ^__^

She's the best hamster I could have ever hoped for-- and definitely the trickiest!

Comments

[Lauren]

Yeah, I think you're right, Jamie. My feelings for Yuki never changed when I found out she was actually a he. If anything, I think the whole thing strengthened my feelings of love for her. ^__^

I like what you said about an "Indian summer in life." That's really sweet of you to say, and I like that idea. I hope this period in her life lasts forever, too. It's always nice to have such hopeful, happy thoughts.

And yes, I do need my challenges!

Aw, I would have loved to see Itchie sleep on his back! *cuddles* I just fall in love every time I see Yuki or another hammy in such a cute and comfortable position. I've seen Yuki sleeping on her back before, but I think she prefers her side. ^___~ Hammies are so good with knowing how to make us love them even more by doing small things like sleeping, heh.

[Brandy]

That's interesting! Maybe she changed her parts so Yuki could live with you longer! A fun thought to entertain like you said. :D

[Lauren]

Haha, anything is a possibility right now. O__O Life is ca-razy sometimes.

[Autumnchilde]

Behold the amazing Yuki! what a beautiful hamster he is

[Lauren]

Oh, I completely and totally agree! BEHOLD.

(Tee hee.)

[asa_chan]

A wonderful tricky hammy, I understand why you love him/her  so much!!! Oh yes life is really crazy!

[erin*carly]

ooooor . . .  you could have a tricky family member.  was there a time when you left someone with Yukimo alone for more than a day, back when she was sick?

not that i think someone would cover up a 'replacement' in an emergency, but still . . .  it could be a factor!

[Lauren]

*grin* It's really hard to not love Yuki. She has such a great personality-- and a crazy one, just like you said!

[Lauren]

Now that is definitely something I didn't think of! The only people I left Yuki with was my sister, Beth, and Shawn. Beth and I are too close to not tell each other about something like a pet dying, so I don't think that's it... And I know Shawn wouldn't be able to do the switch without telling me either. We're too honest. No tricky family members that I can think of right now. ^__~

Haha, but it's kind of a funny idea since I always see that kind of pet-switch happening on TV. =D Thanks for the idea, Erin!

[Jen]

I'm glad your feelings towards Yuki haven't changed since you found out she was a "he." I would have been really confused at first, but I think I would have done what you would have done -- continue calling her a "she." ^__^ 

[Lauren]

Yeah, I can't imagine anything ever really changing with the relationship I have with Yuki. ^^

I was pretty confused for a while. I can adapt pretty well with new info like this, but I was caught off guard... a lot. ^///^ Yuki is a he and a she right now, haha! Just one of her special qualities...

<3

[Kristinitis]

Lauren! Although I shouldn't be laughing -- i've experienced this before. This is really funny. I haven't personally experienced it -- but I deal with this every day with a friend of mine.

My friend Chris has a white cat. Her name is/was Angel. She's so cute! Chris got her from a family who said she was a girl and they named her Angel. he looked down at her 'parts' and yep, she was a girl! Anyway... he has had her now for about two years. One day he was playing with her, and all of a sudden... realized she has BOY parts! He thought for sure this cat he was treating as a girl, really was a girl. So we still call the cat Angel. Sometimes we let it slip and call her "Gayngel" hahaha :)

That's my funny story for the day!

Yukimo.... please let us know how you changed parts. In the meantime, you are deemd a girl, regardless of your parts. <3

[Wislander]

It's obviously a result of Alien abduction. *grin*

[Lauren]

That has to be my favorite idea yet! ^o^ Totally.

[Pixie Wildflower]

That is really, really wild!

[Lauren]

Oh, I couldn't stop laughing for the longest time-- so feel free to continue! ^__~

Your story about Chris and Angel is really cute. I've seen this whole sex misunderstanding happen a lot, but I just didn't expect it to happen with Yuki.

"Angel" is a nice name because it really can be used as a boy or girl name. I've heard of guy being named Angel before, and sometimes it's really cool with the whole feminine-sounding name for a masculine figure. ^^ I think it's funny that it happened with a bigger animal and after two years. Craziness!

[Amanda]

Hahahahahahaha! This is halarious! Makes me wonder if I have it right with Timk my lil fluffball...poop! Tink is not a boy name...!

[Lauren]

Haha, see now Yuki's trick is affecting other people and their pets! *giggle* Tink is such a cute name... I think it'd add extra personality if a boy was named that. ^____~

I lucked out because Yukimo could actually be a feminine or masculine name. Whew. Even if it couldn't go both ways, I'd keep the name just cos it'd be funny. ^^

[Amanda]

lol for sure! ;)

[little wonders]

Thats a new trick, I knew frogs could do that but not hamsters

[Lauren]

Haha, maybe Yukimo is part frog. =p That just adds to the list of weirdness!

[little wonders]

Watch out if he/she starts jumping around or ribbiting, LOL

[Steffy]

LOL that is so funny. Yukimo is not only cute but has many magical tricks up her/his little sleeve. I'm glad Yukimo is better and who cares what sex, its your baby and you love your child no matter what.
Hummm I hope my Bella doesn't do any fancy tricks like Yukimo! lol

[VaShopaholic]

[this is good] I would not have been able to tell that my hamster Peanut is a male without a few male "berries" lingering. I am glad you found out the sex of Yukimo. I was not aware that hamsters did such amazing tricks. I will have to see if Peanut can do something that amazing.

[Brittany]

Hi people

Whoops but I
am sure he/she / Yukimo doesn’t really care what you think just as long
as you give some loving when needed food when hungry and a clean cage when
dirty. Its good to see the photos and to know Yukimo is having an Indian summer
in life, I hope it lasts forever I don’t know why but I am such a sucker for
hamsters or any cute little animal! Keep on keeping her guessing Yukimo, Lauren
needs the challenges! by the way Best Online Casino its very fun

Itchie used to sleep like that but on his back and his bottom pointed into the air I think Yukimo dose it much cut