Escaped hamster - how likely is it he will come back?

[bisjo]

Hamster escaped this morning. My fault and I feel terrible. Allowed ds to hold him in his bedroom and he made a bolt for freedom.

He is still in ds's bedroom and the cage is on the floor. I've heard him but he is behind or under something and hasn't come out so far. How likely is it he will come out in the night and go back to his cage (I've left food and grapes at the entrance to the tube that leads up to his cage)?

[bisjo]

Left food out last night which it ate. Found droppings in the blocked off fireplace but no idea where the bugger is now. Will set bucket trap tonight but not leave any food on the floor so he'll either have to go into the bucket or cage to get food.

Have also managed to put up gate (hamster playpen) to prevent him getting under the bed.

[MuttonCadet]

Good luck! Ours always ended up in the hamster treat drawer, every single time.

I've heard the bucket trap works a treat.

[bisjo]

Bucket trap set with pancake topped with peanut butter and grape. Have put on in the cage too in the hope that if he actually goes in there he won't go back out.

[ZingSweetApple]

ah, so hamster is alive! that's good news!

good luck tonight!

[worm77daisy]

The peanut butter will work....

[bisjo]

I've blocked off bits of the bedroom, eg the bed, as he wasn't there when I checked. Now I'm worried that if he doesn't reappear tonight he is trapped somewhere. I'm going to have to get up in the middle of the night to check if the trap has worked.

I was wondering about getting a humane mouse trap tomorrow (which catches them live). Would it be too small for a hamster?

[Franchini]

He will definitely reappear without the need for the humane mouse trap. Don't stress he will be fine. One of our escapees made a nest behind the kitchen cupboards and was there for about two weeks before he strolled across the living room one eve while we were all watching TV!

[Pregnantberry]

I used to prod mine out of its hiding place with a feather duster, which probably wasn't the most humane way to do it but I was only 7.

I love the trap idea.

[Pregnantberry]

The bucket trap, that is. I'd be scared of its feet getting caught in the mouse trap, and it wouldn't have much space to move because unless you have a dwarf hamster then mice are much smaller.

[bisjo]

No sign of hamster. Food in bucket untouched. I've left food out on the floor as I'd like to know whether he is still roaming free or whether us moving furniture yesterday has trapped him somewhere

[ZingSweetApple]

oh no

[bisjo]

Ds has a fireplace in his room but it is blocked off and the bottom is carpeted. I can't see any gaps but that us where we found food and droppings yesterday. I'm worried that somehow he's got into the chimney and can't get out. I can't see or feel any holes, even very small ones but I'm worried that he didn't put in an appearance last night. I put food and a cherry tomato on the floor at 6 when it was still dark. I'm on tenterhooks hoping that when I gt home this afternoon there will be some sign of life. I'm more upset than ds.

[ladyrainy]

If he got in the chimney he can probably get out. They can flatten their bodies to get through very small gaps. I nearly had a heart attack when one of ours climbed into the radiator. I thought he would get stuck inside as it was so narrow, but he was fine and even managed to turn himself around.
Your hamster probably took a stash of food back to his new nest last time and is fast asleep now. When everyone goes out of the house try and listen for him for a while - you may hear him rustling.

[SavoyCabbage]

Could you sleep in there tonight, torch at the ready, to see if you can spot him?

I hope you get him. The hamster strolling across the living room is hilarious!

[Jaskla]

The hamster I has as a child had 9 lives. He escaped numerous times - shop bought cages were no use as he could always find a way out.

Once he disappeared for weeks. The only reason we knew he'd returned was when the dog wouldn't stop sniffing at the cage one morning.

Once we thought he'd died after one of his escapes as he wasn't moving. My dad put him on the hearth next to the fire and he woke up ten minutes later.

So yes, they do go back to their cage of their own accord sometimes!

[Merrylegs]

You could try filling the small plastic bin or bucket with paper. When DD's hamster escaped it crawled into the bin in her room to get at the apple cores and assorted junk food and was quite comfy in there because of the waste paper which he was shredding for a nest.

[bisjo]

Hamster has been found. Hurrah! I spent a while this afternoon having a good root around ds's room and came to the conclusion he was either behind the wardrobe or in the overstairs cupboard (which is like a wardrobe).We'd left the door of the cupboard open on Saturday night but closed it on Sunday when there seemed to be no sign of him. He must have been in there when we closed the door. I only noticed today when I saw him move as he is practically the same beige as the carpet!

He is now in the plastic travel box whilst I sort out the bites he gave me and go and clean his cage.

I cannot tell you how relieved I am

[ladyrainy]

yay!

[ZingSweetApple]

Fantastic news, soooo happy for you!

and breathe!

[SavoyCabbage]

Oh that's fantastic!

[bisjo]

I can't believe how much calmer I feel compared to the last two nights. I'm not cut out to be a parent to small furry things, it's more stressful than looking after children!

[MuttonCadet]

Great news they stop biting after you've had them a while, just keep persevering.

[fluterby]

Ah great news!