A doting dad who bought a hamster for his daughter was stunned when the little mammal started behaving like a dog – and the pair became TikTok sensations with 11 million views.
Nurse Chris Davies decided to buy his daughter Lily, then aged eight, a hamster as a present and they named the new addition to the family, Popcorn.
Mr Davies, 39, from Cardiff, said seeing Lily had done her research into caring for a pet meant he was happy to see how the relationship developed between the youngster and hamster.
But what Mr Davies was not expecting was for Popcorn to form such a close bond with him, a friendship that ended up making both social media sensations.
The pair shared bananas and enjoyed 30-minute snoozes on the sofa. Popcorn would even respond to his name and commands just like a dog.
Mr Davies started sharing videos of his adorable new unusual animal friend on TikTok and gained more than 150,000 followers and 11 million likes.
Such was the inspiration Popcorn gave the Davies family, he has now been immortalised in a new Children’s book called “Popcorn: The Unlikeliest of Friends”.
Mr Davies said Popcorn passed away aged two-and-a-half but his legacy lives on, adding: “What made Popcorn so unusual is that he would respond to his name. He would actively seek out human interaction.
“He loved being in the company of his chosen people which was me and my daughter. He would snuggle in and nap by our side. He would follow us around. He was very social which is incredibly rare for these animals.”
Popcorn’s favourite activities included having a “cuddle” with Mr Davies on the sofa, but he also liked being an everyday hamster enjoying his wheel and own company.
Mr Davies added: “I loved bonding with him it was so unusual and unexpected as I was quick to dismiss him as my daughter’s first pet.
“Watching him actively trying to engage with me and showing the world what these animals can be capable of, whilst following my daughter’s advice on the best care for them was a good feeling as I realised they are often overlooked and underappreciated.
“He brought me and my daughter closer than ever and actually reduced my anxiety after a stressful day at the hospital.”
Popcorn’s favourite food included fruit and vegetables, but he also enjoyed the occasional chicken nugget as hamsters are omnivores.
Mr Davies said: “I don’t think Lily expected me to love him as much as I did. I didn’t expect to like hamsters or for this to happen to be honest.
“I bought him because Lily has demonstrated an incredible amount of research and had shown she was more than capable of caring for a hamster.
“She absolutely loved how he won me over and enjoyed watching our friendship blossom beside hers with Popcorn too.
“We were a team, me, Lily and Popcorn. I am absolutely an animal person and always have been. I always wanted a dog but I never thought a hamster would be that micro dog. They didn’t enter my head as a companion animal.”
Mr Davies said he was cautious at first to show Popcorn to the world being a “grown man in a relationship with a hamster” but he was overwhelmed by the response.
He said: “When I first showed family and friends what he was like they were truly bemused. They adored him, so judging from that I took the plunge to TikTok.
“It soon became surreal as he gained nearly 150k followers and over 11 million likes, more than some celebrities.
“We had messages from around the world. People didn’t know these animals could behave in such a way.
“Companies asked us to promote safe hamster products and we promoted better care, that included bigger enclosures and better enrichment. These are all things that my daughter knew.
“She was the boss. She was the brains behind it. She’s mature beyond her years and she was so happy having this responsibility of improving the lives of these animals. I threw my weight into supporting her and the message she was trying to get across.”
Although Popcorn is sadly no longer with us, he is buried in a giant plant pot with a lily flower the same colour as his fur, Mr Davies said – the little hamster legend would live on.
He continued: “He absolutely has a legacy. These animals are capable of so much more if they are cared for properly and their needs are met.
“He was one in a million who taught me so much about how love can bring a family closer together and make me focus on the moment rather than worrying about things you can’t control.
“He showed me that size has no impact on the difference you can make in people’s lives. I hope people can learn that you can make a difference and impact no matter your size. It’s important not to overlook and dismiss something before giving it a chance.”