Hamsters are lovely pets to have in the house. They are perfect for someone who doesn’t like dogs or cats. Unfortunately, hamsters are exceptional escape artists. When set inside the cage, they will always find ways to get out, and you now have a missing hamster. So, we advise you to be cautious with this pet.
Why Do Hamsters Try To Escape?
While a few hamsters get used to their cage, some do not. But, in all cases, these creatures try to run away when they’re uncomfortable, feel disturbed, or it seems like they are not given enough room or when tormented all the time by other animals or kids.
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Hamsters get intimidated easily; they can start to feel uncomfortable in their homes. Ensure that other pets in the cage do not disturb the hamster. If the kids are constantly playing with the pet when it is supposed to rest, caution them. This creature needs to be given his or her own freedom away from the children.
How Long Can A Lost Hamster Survive?
A lost hamster can live around 3 to 4 days since they last ate food or drank water. Never let your hamster go without water or food longer than 3 to 4 days because they can start to develop health problems. Other factors that could determine how long a lost hamster can survive include: how well you’ve taken care of the pet, how old the hamster is, how healthy the pet is, the room’s temperature, and many more.
How Long Can A Hamster Live Without Food?
While it may look like your hamster ate everything you put in his or her little bowl, you will notice that they still have some food remaining when you clean the cage. Hamsters can live 3-4 days without food.
How Long Can Hamsters Go Without Water?
Hamsters are capable of living for a few days in the absence of water. Though every hamster differs, various factors can influence how they can live without water. Among these factors are their age, general wellbeing, and the area in which they grow up.
Sick hamsters or those still very small are very prone to go sick if they can’t find water. The hotter the weather, the quicker your pet will become thirsty.
If your hamster escaped from the cage and is wandering somewhere, know that he or she can find and drink condensation from pipes. Although it’s not good for their health, he can easily find them in a worst-case scenario.
What To Do When Your Hamster Escapes
Hamsters are clever animals and good at escaping. Just when you think it is time to go and sleep for the night, you realize that your hamster is no more inside the cage. Don’t panic when your hamster runs away. You will usually spot a hamster hanging around a spot near the cage. If this isn’t the case, you have to organize a search for your missing animal by following the tips below:
- Inform Your Neighbor
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You don’t want anyone to step on your hamster mistakenly. It’s best to inform everyone around you about the missing pet if you live in an apartment building. Hamsters are incredible at finding spaces you never believe existed. It is not likely your hamster will end up in a neighbor’s rooms, but you never know.
- Entice Your Pet
If there are other big pets in your house, try to put them in one room you think the hamster couldn’t be hidden. After, make your home an inviting place for your hamster to reappear. Next, place the hamster’s cage on the floor. Open the door and put its favorite snacks and water right outside the cage door. At some point, your hamster will get thirsty, hungry, or tired.
Where Would A Hamster Go If It Escaped?
Hamster likes to roll up on small surfaces, hide beneath materials, but the ideal spots for these tiny creatures are:
- Closets: Check behind the closet doors using torchlight if possible.
- Shoes: If you have any shoes outside your home, they are likely to crawl inside.
- Boxes: If there are shoe boxes or other boxes in your apartment, your pet is likely to crawl inside.
- Blankets: Hamsters like going beneath blankets because it’s warm.
- Furniture: Hamsters love hiding beneath futons, beds, couches, entertainment centers, dressers, and many more.
- Basements: Despite that basements are scary; hamsters are not worried about the dark. If there is a basement in your house, make sure you check it out.
- Bathrooms: A few hamsters are fascinated with bathrooms if there’s plenty of pleasant perfumes and shower gels there.
- Heaters: If there is a heater in your home, your pet can easily crawl inside, and if it’s not of an excessively high temperature, there is the possibility your animal is there.
Tips For Finding A Lost Hamster
Like we said earlier, hamsters at escaping. At times, you might not see them when playing outside the cage and could even run away from the pen and go missing. When your hamster got missing, the first thing you should do is intense research, which includes checking a few of your small animal’s choice hiding spots. Remember that your lost pet is likely afraid and will find a safe hiding area.
- Start at the center: Begin your search for your pet close to the cage and move right from there.
- Be intense: Check at the back and underneath furniture and also below the chairs, under cushions, and many more. Look into drawers, shelves, cabinets, and bookcases: Remember to check at the back, within, and beneath items kept in these areas. Look beneath furniture and beds if there are holes through which your pet could go inside.
- Find spaces or holes beneath cupboards or outlets that might lead to other walls: Do this if you still can’t find your hamster after the processes above.
In Summary
It’s therefore advisable to do everything in your power to ensure your hamster does not get lost. But if your pet does go missing, don’t panic. Your cute companion can still survive a few days before you find him.