Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Original poster

Hamster won't come out of cage?

20 replies

doeshelovemeofcoursenot · 06/01/2021 12:24

I'm looking after a friends hamster.
I've had him two days and today I've tried getting him out the cage to clean it and put him in his exercise ball.
I sat down and talked to him for a while.
I put my hand in so slowly and he just ran in the tubes.
No he is hiding in the tube.
I really want to clean his cage?
What can I do ?
He is terrified of me

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 06/01/2021 12:28

Has he been handled by his owner much? What sort of cage is it? Can you remove the tube that he's in and put it in a box or other container while you clean the rest?

sandieshaw · 06/01/2021 12:31

You could spot clean it with him in there if the above suggestion doesn't work.
Just pick/scoop out the worst of the soiled sawdust and bedding and replace with fresh.

Eckhart · 06/01/2021 12:34

Put yourself in his shoes. If he has shoes.

A creature he's never seen or smelt before, about 500 times bigger than him, is trying to get hold of him and pick him up. Poor little mite.

Put a kitchen roll tube in, with some of his favourite food right in the middle. When he goes in, lift the tube out and put it somewhere he can't escape from. Clean out his cage as quick as you can and get him back in it gently and quickly. He feels safe there.

Give him food every day and expect nothing. Affection/curiosity might come after a few weeks, if you have him that long.

Original poster
doeshelovemeofcoursenot · 06/01/2021 12:36

It is a one where all the bits come off (if that makes sense ) so if I remove a bit of tube it could escape
I've just spot cleaned it there and changed water and food etc
I cleaned his when whilst he was in the tube and that's gonna have to do.
I have him for two weeks
Will hun not getting in his exercise ball affect his health ?

OP posts:
Original poster
doeshelovemeofcoursenot · 06/01/2021 12:37

*his wheel

OP posts:
TheSandman · 06/01/2021 12:38

Hamsters are nocturnal.

PainterInPeril · 06/01/2021 12:39

Poor little hamster! I've kept hamsters in the past. Have you offered him sunflower seeds? Put a couple on the palm of your hand, keeping it as flat as possible. Be prepared to wait for quite a while. Let him run on your hand, and eat the seeds. Try doing this a few times before stroking him. Hopefully in a day or two he might feel more comfortable with you. It does sound as though he hasn't been handled much sadly. Please come back and let us know how it goes. Smile

growinggreyer · 06/01/2021 12:39

What do you mean by exercise ball? They are not supposed to go in those clear ones, it is bad for their spines. He should have access to a wheel in his cage at all times. They are nocturnal so like to play on the wheel in the middle of the night.

dementedpixie · 06/01/2021 12:40

They sleep during the day and are more active at night. Does he have a wheel in the cage?

TheSandman · 06/01/2021 12:41

Ok not quite nocturnal but they are more active at dusk and dawn and avoid full daytime exposure where they would be more easily spotted and eaten by predators.

Original poster
doeshelovemeofcoursenot · 06/01/2021 12:41

Yes he has a wheel in his cage and the cage has tubes so he can walk around.
My friend gave me a round clear ball and told me to put him in every day ..
At the minute I can't get him in

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 06/01/2021 12:41

Do you know anything about hamsters?

dementedpixie · 06/01/2021 12:41

He doesn't need the ball every day

dementedpixie · 06/01/2021 12:42

Can you take a picture of the cage?

Original poster
doeshelovemeofcoursenot · 06/01/2021 12:42

@dementedpixie I know absolutely nothing but she had nobody to ask.
I'm currently watching YouTube tutorials and ordered a book of Amazon and now on here asking for any advice I can get.

OP posts:
Original poster
doeshelovemeofcoursenot · 06/01/2021 12:43

I have tried uploading a pic but it says I can't as I'm a new user

OP posts:
growinggreyer · 06/01/2021 12:43

Don't use that ball. It is not necessary, he will exercise to his heart's content on his wheel. Try the suggestions above to tame him and get to know him. They are lovely animals and quite clever. Also they are escape artists so make sure he is secure every time you close the cage.

Angel2702 · 06/01/2021 12:44

The balls are no longer advised as they are dangerous and stressful. They need a large cage with deep bedding to burrow in. They need an exercise wheel in their cage of the correct size, I believe the ones that usually come with the cages are usually too small.

dementedpixie · 06/01/2021 12:44

He will be fine without the ball. I found the best way to lift a hamster was to use both hands and scoop them up by cupping your hands round underneath them.

AngelicPP · 14/01/2021 03:55

If you do manage to fully clean the cage I'd recommend leaving a small amount of the old bedding so it still has his smell in his home at least a little bit. Otherwise he may stress out especially as he's in unfamiliar place atm already and with someone he doesn't know and he doesn't know the smells and sounds etc so keeping some bedding with his scent still on will help settle him and make him feel safer knowing it's familiar to him. Also if you cleaned it too well and didn't leave any scent he would likely run around stressing and putting his scent all over the cage anyway and he'd prob make it smell worse than before you cleaned it! If it were me I would prob not bother trying to hard to make him come out for handling because some just don't like it and some take a long time to get used to new people...you also risk him jumping off you if you manage to get him out as they can be jumpy when nervous and you wouldn't want to hurt him. It's only 2wks he will be just fine as he is (unless of course he starts to warm to you and appears to want to be handled then of course go ahead!) you could still talk to him and gently try and get him used to you stroking him in his cage with your hand in there but obviously if he doesn't like it just leave him be. If you want to make sure he's not bored because he's not coming out like he's used to at home you could make him some enrichment toys which is really simple...just things like making little parcels with food or treats inside and hiding them around his cage, scatter feeding so he has to go foraging for his food rather than just filling up at a bowl, give him a dog biscuit that he can have a good chew on, see if he would like digging about and foraging for treats in a container full of organic potting soil. There's loads more you could do just do a google search for home made toys and games for hamsters. You sound like you are being a really good petsitter for your friend and it's lovely you are taking the time to research and look for ways to make him happy while you have him. Have fun with him while you have him with you! My lovely boy Pip who was a pure white Syrian hamster passed away recently and I really miss his lovely little face 😩he was around 2yrs old...we don't get to have them anywhere near long enough sadly 🥺

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.