That’s right-hamsters can be quite the little escape artists. If your hamster has pulled a “Houdini” and escaped, here are some tips on finding him:
- First, leave his cage open. Hamsters will sometimes return to their cages on their own. In the meantime, check everywhere you think your hamster could have set up a hiding place. Look behind and under furniture, bookcases, beds and appliances; include cabinets, drawers, and shelves in your search. Check any open boxes, including tissue boxes, and look in backpacks, shoes, and bags as well.
- Hamsters are nocturnal, so they’ll most likely be active overnight. You can track your hamster’s movements by placing a small, pre-counted pile of seeds on the floor of each room, and then check to see which piles have seeds missing to determine your hamster’s location. Sprinkling a small amount of cornstarch or flour around the seeds can also help you follow the footprints to where your hamster may be hiding. Once you’ve narrowed it down, then you may have to set a trap in order to catch him. Place his open cage (with fresh food and water) on the floor close to where you think he may be; hamsters are usually happy to be home, but you may have to stay up a little late in order to close the door on the cage once he’s returned.
Hamsters can manage quite well for a few days, so be patient-he’ll most likely show up on his own. Pet Supermarket has a large selection of small animal supplies, including cages, seeds, waterers, toys, and exercisers. Visit us today to create a habitat that your hamster will (hopefully) never want to leave!
