Feeding my hamster when I'm away?

Question

My husband and I are going on vacation for 10 days and have a hamster. We have no one that can really look after our hamster or feed it while we're away. There is my husband's grandma but she lives a half hour away and I can't ask her to drive all that way to feed our hamster. I'm worried if we take our hamster over to her that our hamster will not be able to handle the long car ride journey. Do you think it's ok if I left my hamster a big bowl of food while I'm away? Or should I also get one of those treat sticks that has food on a stick? My hamster doesn't need company or attention because it mostly sleeps all the time. It doesn't like people very much because it bites everyone. I also thought about setting a timer on one or our portable radiators so that way the hamster doesn't get too cold. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated! Thanks :)

Answer 1

You CANNOT leave your Hamster for 10 days!!

A lot of things could happen in 10 days....

1) You might not put enough food in and your hamster could go very hungry or starve to death. Also, pet food left out for 10 days even if it is dry, could go off and become stale which will in turn lead to the growth of bacteria which could harm your hamster and make him very sick.

2) You need a lot of water for 10 days, probably even several bottles, and what happens if you don't provide enough water, or the bottles falls off? Your Hamster would then die. Also, like food, water goes off - would you like to drink 10 day old water?!

3) Hamsters are brilliant escape artists, if he chews out of his cage and escapes while you are gone then he will probably die. He could get lost in your house, and be unable to get back to his food and water or chew through some cables and be electrocuted.

4) I would hope that you give your hamsters cage a furore clean out once a week. I also hope that you take out soiled patches and faeces and mop up urine every day or a couple of times a week. If you leave him for 10 days, your hamster is going to go without that weekly clean for an extra 2 days which is not ideal because he's also going to have to deal with the fact that he's not been having any of his mess removed as well. Depending on the size of your hamsters cage, the ammonia could become unbearable and make him sick or even worse burn his skin - which does happen.

There has to be SOMEBODY who would look after your hamster for 10 days, a neighbor, friend, family member? Which pet shop did you get your Hamster from? Many good pet stores offer a fostering service for people going on holiday - your local rescue centre might offer this service too. Hamster cages are not large, I'm sure you could find somebody willing to care for your pet for the week or at least visit your home every day to change the food, water and do a quick clean.

Please do not leave your hamster alone for 10 days! A lot of things could happen in that space of time and he could get seriously ill or even die - I'm not threatening you but I work as an RSPCA volunteer for small animals and when somebody leaves their pet alone for 10 days, we call that neglect, collect the animal, rehome it and charge the owner! I'm sure you care about your Hamsters welfare or you wouldn't have asked this question - but seriously, when you buy a pet, no matter how small it is, you should take into account holidays and only buy it if you know you can find a place for it to stay when you are away.

There MUST be somebody who can look after your pet for 10 days - please don't leave it!

I'm sure if you put him in a secure carry case and held it on your lap, your Hamster would be fine for a half hour journey - it's either risk the journey or risk neglecting and killing him. I would personally go with the journey....

Answer 2

a half hour car ride will not harm your hamster all all. it would be best to drive the hamster over to your husbands grandma's house so she can feed it and give it water if needed. leaving a big bowl of food isnt a great idea to do for your hamster.

i watched my friends hamster and she lives about an hour away from me and the hamster was perfectly fine with the car ride.  

Answer 3

You could give a neighbour/friend you trust a key and ask if they wouldnt mind just once a day checking on the hamster and changing its water etc.. I dont think you should leave a hamster by its self for 10 days. x

Answer 4

THere's a few options over here.

Option one, you can let you husband's grandmother take care of it. A half an hour drive will not hurt your hamster. Hamsters don't get car sick and stuff like that. Even an hour drive will work. Trust me.

Options 2, if any of the pet shops sell eletronic foodtrays or something like that... maybe you can use that.

Option 3, of course you can bring your hamster with you. That is a dumb one though. Cuz you might not wanna secretly hide animals on planes.... okay i take this back... it's not a good one.

I hope you can find a solution. Hope this helps though it really doesn't. Lol. =]

Answer 5

>< Ermmmm.... eh.. If you adopted that hamster from an animal shelter, they might help you take care of it while you're on your vacation and it's very cheap! If you didn't, then tell one of your friends or neighbours to feed it while youre away. I'd prefer neighbour cause they live close to you :).. Hope you find a good way!