this is a rat
This is a hamster
This is a gerbil
Hope that clears things up for you OU. Also I have had cats, dogs, fish as well as hammies as pets. They are all pets. It is not up to you what people keep as pets (we had a snake once) same as it is not up to you what pets people post on the pet thread. Boris will be making a come back on the thread when I get some decent pics of him.
Simple solution, you know there will be rodents on the thread (I have not heard you moan about the cavies on the thread but they are still rodents) if you do not want to see them don't click on the thread.