Lost the hamster

[HopefulFor2020]

We got DS a hamster last week after he had done months of research on how to look after them etc etc and now I've bloody lost it!!

He only had it 2 days before he went to his dad's for the weekend and was looking forward to starting to 'train' it over half term now that it's had a few days to settle in. I went out this morning and when I got back it was gone. I think I left part of its cage not quite closed (although it was still loosely close when I got home so must've closed behind him) when I went out.

I've searched the house with no sign and now left the cage on the floor so he can get back in easily with some treats just inside. Anyone know what else I can possibly do? DS is back tomorrow and is going to be utterly devastated when I tell him. I've been crying all evening because I feel like a terrible parent and awful pet owner! Massively hormonal at the moment and keep thinking of this poor little creature alone, lost and hungry 😢

You say you're in a flat which could be a help in finding him, as I'm assuming obviously no stairs or loads of bedrooms? Correct me if I'm wrong

I'd take the opportunity to have a good sort out and clean in each room and keep all doors shut. You'll hopefully come across him! Check wash baskets and any piles of clothing

I used to catch ours by balancing a Tupperware box on a pencil, with cheese tied to a piece of string and the pencil. When the little blighter starts to nibble the cheese the box falls and you have him! 😎

@FelicityFeather 3 bedroom maisonette so yep, stairs.

Definitely heard something in the wall last night but looking at the hole in the skirting today I'm sure a smaller hamster could get through but not a Syrian even though I know they can squeeze down a lot.

I've got 3 hours until DS gets home so madly, but gently, tidying

Cook a fish finger. Leave it on a plate in the middle of the room. That's how we've always found escaped hamsters...

My friend's hamster went missing for a week and they found it living quite happily in a big bag of potatoes in the cupboard. Good luck!

Right so I've got a tiny amount of peanut butter out (won't make a habit of that if he does appear), a small piece of cheese, carrot which I know he likes and I'll get some fish fingers later. Anything else they particularly like? I really hope I don't lose any of my bait and find it in six weeks time!

The bucket trap works
Read about it here
www.thesprucepets.com/finding-a-lost-hamster-1238925

My old hamster was an escape artist. We brought a humane trap from a pet shop. We'd set it up before bed, fill it with food and the little fatty would be in it asleep by the morning.

Walnuts. Ours was like a possessed thing with a sniff of one of those !

Just crack the shell slightly so it can get a grip.

It will turn up eventually

Hamsters are such cunts for this.

However, they do turn up.

My mate's hamster went missing and when he emptied his pouches they were full od woodlice. Who knew?

He's be in a cosy warm corner. Under a bed. In a sofa.

He won't go outside. It's too cold.

@hopefulfor2020 does the cage look like this?
If so the top bit is a nightmare and it actually has to click to be fully closed and hamster proof, as I learnt when I was hamster sitting my nieces hamster. The hamster scaled the full height of the house and was chilling in my bedroom.

Hopefully yours turns up soon.
My friends hammy managed to get under the washing machine 😬 and another time under the upstairs floorboards 🤔

@Theonewiththecat the top bit is similar and yep, I didn't close it fully. DP managed to do it last night and I realised just how tricky it is and that I definitely hadn't been closing it properly

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon It's pretty cold in the flat (not quite heating on cold but extra jumper cold) so I'm worried that he's curled up asleep somewhere I can't get to. They hibernate if it's too cold don't they? Pretty sure we thought one was dead when I was a kid but it was just very deeply sleeping.

Feeling much better hearing all the stories of them turning up days later! Fingers crossed he does! Pregnant and hormonal me is taking this very hard!

Got an airing cuboard? Boiler?

Follow the warmth. You may find Hammy.

Tumble drier?

No tumble drier, no airing cupboard and have thoroughly checked and now blocked off the boiler. Currently working through the piles of clean clothes that have been begging to be put away for ages. Gently unfolding and refolding everything and checking drawers before anything goes in them

Stupid hamster probably just knew I needed to tidy up! He'll appear all by himself once I'm done won't he!

Could you try a humane mouse trap with some peanut butter??? Hope he turns up soon!!!

@bluetue I've ordered one to arrive tomorrow. I'm hoping Sod's law means that as soon as its dispatched Hammy will turn up

I really hope you find the hamster! I've had lots in my time, so know how easy it is to lose track of them sometimes!

Please keep us updated, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

The humane trap is definitely a good idea :).

Mine never ventured downstairs. He roams around upstairs and always ends up in my room or my other sons. I always find him. Good Luck!

Ours used to go through the back corner of the sofa cushions and through a gap in the lining, so they were right inside the sofa- we cut a little hole in the bottom lining, right in the corner, and had to tip the sofa to gently to make the hamsters go that way. Buggers. They were dwarf hamsters too so really tiny.

Good luck. We always found ours eventually!

I wouldn’t get freaked if it hasn’t appeared when your DC arrive home. Turn it into a let’s find the hamster game. When it’s found remember where it went as it is likely to go back to that spot if it escapes again

I've lost mine twice, the first time he had literally stayed within a foot of his cage but it took me AGES to find him bc he had chewed a tiny hole in a big paper bag of recycling that was waiting to go in the outside bin and was hiding in amongst the paper and cardboard in it!! So pleased I checked inside there on bin day!

The second time I found him under the oven eating all kinds of disgustingness in there.

I also previously lost a BABY DWARF hamster and, amazingly, my dp HEARD IT walking around under the bed wher eour two dogs were sitting, completely unaware of its presence.

Your hamster is not lost forever! Don't worry!

As a child my hamster escaped and made its home in a roller boot under my bed, just look everywhere that could make a home. It will be frightened so don't try and coax it out but leave bits of hamster food out and you might hear it munching at night or if you have a hamster ball you could put some treats in it and it might get in but not be able to get out?