Where did our hamsters go? Another update (possibly the end) Final update #183

[Grumpy's Gal]

check the inside of your house slippers. they like to nuzzle and curl up somewhere cozy.

 

[SFD998]

When I was a kid we had one that escaped and found him under the sink behind the toe kick. We have no idea how it got there, because we had to cut a hole to get to it. When my wife and I moved in together she had a hamster that escaped several times. It was kept on the second floor and the first time we found him running around on the first floor. The second time we tried everything and never did find him. We know he was in the walls, but never were able to catch him when he would come out and eat. The house at that time was over 100 years old and left him with plenty of open space to move about as he saw fit. We figure he escaped the house and is living happily with other feral hamsters.

 

[pixeegrl]

We figure he escaped the house and is living happily with other feral hamsters.

I can picture a gang of hamsters hiding out and only coming out at night! Anyways, ours escaped a couple of times and every time we found him it was in the evening. Unfortunately he recently passed and it was very traumatic for my little one since it stayed in his room. Hope you find them!

 

[DawnM]

I may have heard something in the laundry room!

Unfortunately, I am NOT even close to good at keeping that room clean. I will work on it this afternoon though.

Dawn

 

[thebeesknees]

I may have heard something in the laundry room!

Unfortunately, I am NOT even close to good at keeping that room clean. I will work on it this afternoon though.

Dawn

Sounds promising! Hope they turn up soon!

 

[lukenick1]

I may have heard something in the laundry room!

Unfortunately, I am NOT even close to good at keeping that room clean. I will work on it this afternoon though.

Dawn

Put the cage in there then and I bet you will capture it!

 

[mtblujeans]

Seriously? Your pet is lost in your house and you're giving up and wondering if they'll "just die after a few days?" Perhaps pet ownership is not for you.

How do you get THAT out of her post??

I've never had these little critters as pets but it is very interesting reading the experiences posted.

 

[VeganCupcake]

this worked every time my hamsters would get out- I would make a "stair case" of about 4-5 larger books with hamster food going up it and then put some hamster food at the bottom of a deep tupperware container so they would eat their way up the book stairs and gently tumble into the tupperware you just have to do one in every room if your home is bigger. good luck!

 

[Pembo]

Look for them late at night. Ours got out the night before we put up the Xmas decorations. We had our living room torn apart the next day looking for them and putting up the tree etc. That night, while watching tv, I saw it running from behind the entertainment center to under the tree.

I think a hamster/gerbil's entire purpose in life is to procreate and escape.

 

[DawnM]

Thanks all.

So far no luck. We put out food, apple slices, cheese, a cage, and a live trap. There is no sign of them having touched any of them.

Dawn

 

[eh24fan]

My best friend had 2 gerbils or hamsters when we were in high school. They were escape artists as well. They found one of them behind the dishwasher once...it wasn't a good ending.

 

[bobwords]

i once had a hamster and I also had a cat.... sad ending

 

[tyniknate]

The tupperware thing really works. I used a small bucket and put a ramp up to the top, with food all along the ramp. Then put peanut butter or something that really will catch their sense of smell in the bottom of the bucket. Little guys would eat their way to the top and not be able to resist the special treat at the bottom. Would tumble in and not be able to get back out. Worked several times.....until the cat found him first.

 

[CinRell]

My former dwarf hamster always ended up under the stove. The other was a panda bear hamster (very friendly breed) so would just come up to me and look at me when he got out.

I read to put YUMMY food in one area and put flour around it. You will see prints of where they're going. This will happen at night...

I hope you find the poor things! Good job on keeping the babies alive without their mama!!! Maybe mommy and daddy are having um... vacation time.. you might end up with more babies

 

[SarahKate]

He probably got (or fell) to where he could not climb back to the open duct.
He probably starved to death.

REALLY? Is it really necessary for you to point this out???? OMG, Disers are ruthless sometimes. The OP is hoping that her hamsters are going to be found, not for YOU to post a lame response to someone else's story.

 

[SarahKate]

When I was a kid, we had a boatload of hamsters. There was one who got loose. About a month later, we were in the basement. We had a rabbit at the time and there was a section of a room just for him - his bed, food, water, newspapers, etc.

As we were cleaning the rabbit's area, we noticed something flash by. THought it was a mouse. Looked behind the rabbit's bed, and lo and behold - Samson was there!

He managed somehow to get to the basement and lived with the rabbit. They aren't the brightest animals but can get resourceful!

Sounds like you are doing what you can to find them. Keep up the good work. Keep an eye around warm places, areas where there could be food sources, and places that would be good for them to burrow in. And be CAREFUL when you put shoes on!!!!

 

[Dax]

They probably ran off together to make more babies....

 

[RangerPooh]

When I was a kid my bes friend had one and it pulled the escape act once. They found him two days later in the sofa cushions. Some how he had managed to climb the couch and burrowed into the cushions. Have you checked there yet?

 

[Tina]

How do you get THAT out of her post??

I've never had these little critters as pets but it is very interesting reading the experiences posted.

Gee, I don't know. Perhaps it was THIS line in the OP:

"Silly question, but our hamsters got out of their cages (long story).

We are new to hamsters and honestly, I am thinking of just giving up on them."

Saying you are giving up, pretty much says it all as far as I'm concerned. Of course she has come back and clarified that's not the case, but that IS what was originally posted. So 4 pages later, what's your beef?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The ones I had growing up used to escape now and then (I can still remember how they used to lift the metal door of the cage with their noses back then, lol) but they'd always turn up a day or two later in my room, usually in the nearby closet. (The only thing I ever had go missing and not show up ever again was a turtle. I still have no idea what happened to it.)

My current hamster (in signature, little Gus, a black teddy bear ) got out once but we found him the next day - well, next night, actually. We were watching TV and I saw him scooting along the wall out of the corner of my eye. He'd apparently been holed up in a storage room we have off the family room, probably behind the fridge where it was warm.

Since then he hasn't gotten out. We did buy him a bigger cage and then we attached two cages together with tubing, so he's got quite the little resort there. We also let him run around for about an hour or more each night after he wakes up, either in his ball or along the screened porch or sunroom where he can't get into any trouble. He seems to like the exercise, and I think he likes returning to his cage (and fresh munchies) to settle in there for the night. We sometimes give him the option of going in or staying out and he happily goes back to his cage after his being out for a while. I think he feels safe and comfortable there.

BTW he also comes when we call him now. Also my German Shepherd likes him as well and even lets him crawl on her (although I admit that took some conditioning and we're never far away when she's around, just in case). We just love the little guy and have become very attached. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. Such a good little hammie!

Dawn, I hope you find your hamsters soon. You've gotten some great ideas here. They are probably somewhere warm and cozy (to them). Taking notes myself for future reference. I'm shocked to hear you can still find these guys after several months, very good to know.

Maybe mommy and daddy are having um... vacation time.. you might end up with more babies