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 😢

Ours used to head straight for DS's chest of drawers and make himself a nice nest in amongst his school uniform.

Have you now found it?

Fingers crossed for you OP!

If that picture was the cage, that's much smaller than a hamster should have. From your description it sounds like you have a hamster heaven? Mine kept escaping and I had to take the penthouse off and cable tie the wee door. A hamster heaven is only a little bigger than guidelines though, and hamsters still get bored in them. Also, they love baby food and chicken!

Still not found it. DS is distraught and keeps randomly bursting into tears. I definitely think he got into the wall but I couldn't hear anything at all last night. We've done the bucket with a ramp trick and the humane pest catcher should be coming today but I'm rapidly losing hope.

@HufflepuffBean It's not a hamster heaven, no idea what it's called. It's not the one in the picture either but it does have a similar loft type door. It's definitely bigger than the rspca guidelines but we were still going to look at getting something even bigger in a couple of months

Try putting dishes with tasty treats in and surround the dishes with flour. Then follow the footprints in the morning!

The only thing that could contain my hamster was a massive fish tank with the lid off!
No doors to sneak out of! Also the massive floor area meant I could give it a cosy bed corner and lots of environment enrichment!

Get a trip trap. Ex rodent rescuer here those things are a godsend. Put it wheverver you think hes gone with a tasty treat in and you'll have him.

Put dishes of food in every room and close the doors. At least you'll know what room it's in.

Hamsters are a PITA, ours used to escape all the time.

Oh no op what a nightmare.
I can only advise that when I was little mine turned up in clothing inside the wardrobe, no idea how it even got in there as the wardrobe had doors - so check absolutely everywhere, even places you wouldn't think possible.
I hope he turns up.

We've got a trip trap. I've put some cheese in it because it was the smelliest thing I could think of so hopefully will entice him from wherever he is.

My neighbour has a female hamster, if she came over (in the cage) for a day or so how likely is it that the smell would entice our boy hamster out? Or would that just put him off and stress her out?

Wardrobes have been emptied and checked. Every drawer has been tipped out (gently) and put back. Kickboards in the kitchen have been taken off 3 times and checked. I can't see any holes in the sofa and have checked under all cushions. I really want to tip it upside down to check the base properly but DP is away for work now and I can't do it by myself

Blessing IMO!

Have you checked laundry baskets

Just put it's normal food out otherwise it might get confused. They are daft as brushes.

Laundry baskets have been checked twice a day just in case he's sneaking around.

There's lots of normal food out as well treat type bits.

I think DS is coming to terms with it now. Maybe it's lucky that it happened so soon after getting him as he hadn't really 'bonded' with the hamster yet. I, on the other hand, am a wreck! I didn't even want a hamster, I tried to persuade DS that rats were way better

Any sign yet?

Don't forget they can climb too. My dsis hamster climbed ontop of the fridge freezer and built a nest. Made a mess of the wall climbing up and down!

He's home!!! DS is at his dad's and called me in tears this morning because he was so sad about losing the hamster. I was trying to kindly manage his expectations and say that we might not find him and as I say that I see him sitting in a box! Not one of the many traps we've laid out for him but just a random plastic box! He's been in the cage and eaten everything since last night so I think he's been stuck somewhere without food and shovelled in as much as he could and then got stuck in the box!

Yay great news!!

Yay!!!

I really wish he could talk. I want to know where he's been! Although he could bloody shout loudly this morning! I knew hamsters could squeak but the noise coming out of this tiny thing was unreal

That’s good news- I was going to post my “very helpful” advice of just buy a new hamster and maybe he won’t notice. That’s what my dad did after budgie the budgie flew off. Dad fessed up after a few years...I never noticed the difference!

Hooray!!!!!

@Paperyfish That was my first thought! This hamster was specifically chosen for his colouring (nothing special, just a brown hamster) and they didn't have any others the same. Then I worried about it having a different personality or what I'd say if it did turn up and we suddenly had 2 hamsters. We should've got a goldfish! They can last for decades (when they're replaced every other month )

Great update, put something heavy on top of the lid now!