Lost Hamster

[massie777]

my hamster lives in my room in a cage. about 3 days ago I came home and looked in his cage, i wanted to take him out to play, but he was not there. i think he may have sqeezed between the bars of his cage. we put a bowl of food on the floor with a ramp and also his wheel, because he is obsessed with it. but i have not heard or seen of him for 3 days and i am getting worried. what can i do to find him? do you think since it is so cold in my room that he could be hybernating somewhere? please if you have any info let me know, i have only had him for about 2 months now and this is the first time he has escaped. thanks
mandy

[KOKKINIKLOSTI]

Is it really so cold in your room? If he hibernates i do not know anything that can help you! But you could try this anyway: First of all place the cage on the floor in a dark spot of the room with plenty of food and water, with the door open. Another thing you could try is to take small boxes, about 10 cm deep, place in them his favourite treat (you could try some sesame or sunflower seeds, some egg, or if he likes it some fruit) place a ramp so that he can get in and he will be trapped, as he will not be able to get out.And place all this thing in all the corners and secret dark spots of the room! another thing you could try is to cover the room with any scratcy paper so that you can hear him if he steps on it, or even spread some chalk dust, or anything dusty on spots that he may pass by, so that you can see his footsteps and follow his trail! Anyway i thing that he is going to be thirsty after all these days out, so put some extra water bowls in your room if you can! Good luck!

[HappyLouiseD]

You could always see if you can buy a humane mouse trap in which your Hamsters favourite treat is put inside and when he goes to get the food the door closes behind him. You could set it up during the night and check on it in the morning. Best of Luck!

[rodentparadise]

I have never lost a small animal before but Kokkiniklosti's ideas are FANTASTIC...the scratchy paper, the chalk...great ideas! I hope I never have to use them, but nonetheless, great ideas!!!

Is it really so cold in your room? If he hibernates i do not know anything that can help you! But you could try this anyway: First of all place the cage on the floor in a dark spot of the room with plenty of food and water, with the door open. Another thing you could try is to take small boxes, about 10 cm deep, place in them his favourite treat (you could try some sesame or sunflower seeds, some egg, or if he likes it some fruit) place a ramp so that he can get in and he will be trapped, as he will not be able to get out.And place all this thing in all the corners and secret dark spots of the room! another thing you could try is to cover the room with any scratcy paper so that you can hear him if he steps on it, or even spread some chalk dust, or anything dusty on spots that he may pass by, so that you can see his footsteps and follow his trail! Anyway i thing that he is going to be thirsty after all these days out, so put some extra water bowls in your room if you can! Good luck!

[Iloveduke4ever]

Good luck finding your ham! Ive lost many in my old house, always ended up in our heater system. It was the old kind,that ran along the walls.Sounds like good ideas from K. We always left out some food, and they came out. Unless my cat got em first.Sometimes she did. Well anyways, im sure hammy will come back.

My dad just said rodents always go for places that have water. Like a tub or a sink. Just an idea to check out.

[pixibubbles]

i keep syrians so most of my hammies have done good escape jobs every so often.

this is a bit gross but often works... empty dirty bedding on floor... it smells and hammie knows smell so comes out.

turn off everything noisy in the house and just move quietly from room to room listening for noise... do this when your ham would usually be most active

if your worried about hibernation w the heating up. (after checking hammie not asleep aroudn boiler / rads) look around for holes and see where hammie could have wriggled down. chew marks in carpet are a good indication.

places i;ve found escapees in past: inside couch / chairs... it's soft and warm and they wriggle down cushion backs

under the sink

round the bin

usually kitchen or bathroom.. when your hammie is out which room does he always head for? the one where you tell him no and bring him back. check all round there.

best one was meg... she popped her critter trail apart (escape proof my butt) and went down under the floor boards... up the inside of the wall through insulation and ended up in the space under my upstairs floor boards. it took me 5 days to find her and another 2 to get her out. apart from very dusty and in a LOT of trouble she was fine.

if you live in a flat / terraced house ask your neighbours if they have heard any scratchy noises.

if you have any other animals that usually follow hammie see if they can smell where been. it sounds dumb but meg used to escape fairly often and herc (other hammie) would just run around the room and usually find her by scent. the only trick was grabbing them both before they fought or bred lol

good luck!

[Orbett]

Check any tight spots in your room, like down the back of dressers etc. and sprinkle some food down them. When my Syrian escapes she always head for the same spot so I've left some food there and taken to checking there every night before I go to bed, even when I've just been holding her. You never know with Biscuit, the little rascal = )