Hamsters are active and very curious animals, eager to escape their cages, even the most comfortable ones, at the first opportunity. To avoid this, regularly check the cage for damage—hamsters are so small they can squeeze through even the smallest hole in a bent cage. When feeding or cleaning your hamster's home, keep a close eye on your pet and never let them out of sight.
A good option would be to purchase a special walking ball and place your hamster in it while you manipulate its cage.If he has already escaped, you should start searching as soon as you notice the loss, without hoping that the animal will return to the cage on its own, because the hamster may be harmed by other pets, get stuck somewhere and harm itself.
Where and how to look for a hamster
You should begin your search in the same room where the cage is located. If the hamster recently escaped, it's unlikely it managed to get very far. These animals generally don't like to climb high, so search primarily ground-level hiding places—under and behind furniture, drawers, shoes, bags, and openings in appliances. When moving furniture, be careful not to crush the pet or frighten it further.
Gradually explore the entire apartment in this manner. If you still can't find your pet's hiding place, you can try tracking it down. Hamsters are nocturnal, so when darkness falls, make sure the apartment is completely quiet, stand still, and wait. Sooner or later, you'll hear your pet emerge from its hiding place for a nighttime stroll.
Another option for tracking a hamster is to place treats in different rooms and sprinkle flour around them. The hamster will hide in the room where you see paw prints in the flour in the morning.
How to lure your pet out of hiding
If you've already tracked down the fugitive but can't catch him, the following tricks will help:
- The easiest way is to try to lure it out with a treat or a favorite toy. But if your pet isn't used to being handled or is frightened, this may not help.
- To avoid frightening the baby with your presence, you can create a trail of treats leading from its hiding place to the cage, or even just to an open area, and then step away. If it crawls out of its hole, attracted by the food, carefully cover it with a box or some cloth and return it to the cage.
- If none of the above works, you can set a trap for the cunning hamster. Take a bucket, jar, or plastic bottle with the top cut off and cover it with a sheet of paper. Sprinkle some sunflower seeds or other treats on the paper and make a makeshift ladder using a ruler. Don't forget to line the inside of the trap with soft cloths to protect the little one from injury. Now you can go about your business and wait for your hamster to fall into the trap. However, if you choose a cardboard box as a hamster trap, check the trap frequently to prevent it from chewing through.
