Hamster Care?

Question

I recently got a hamster and today I tried to handle her for the first time. She was fine until she leaped from my hand and started scurrying round the room. In the rush to catch her me and my mum were frantically trying to grab here. I am really worried about my little Tilly and do you think I petrified her.

Thanks

Megan

x

P.S. How long should I leave her before handling her again (bear in mind that i am going to France in a week)

P.S.S. Is she now prone to wet-tail?

Answer 1

Leave her a day, like the others said.

Put your hand in her cage with her for a while, dont touch her just leave it there so shes used to your smell. After a while put a few treats in your hand and wait for her to come out and get them. If she doenst then leave her for a while and try again the next day. Do this for a few days until she gets really used to you.

Then put your hand next to the cage door with a treat. (I assum its a door she can get out of?) If she comes out to get it then it shows shes getting more trusting. Dont rush things. I know how hard it is because you must really want her to trust you and be able to be handled straight away but the key is to take it slow.

After a few weeks of this you should be able to handle her easily and that will be worth the wait.

If youre going away I wouldnt take her out straight away when you get back. Repeat the procces of getting her to trust you again. It will probably be quicker the second time because she will remember your smell.

You should also get your mother to do the same occasionally, so if you ever have to go away Tilly will be with someone she can trust.

I hope Iv helped!

Answer 2

Im sure she is very scared after that goose chase. I would leave her about 2 days to settle. You can try to soothe her without touching her. You can feed her treats or other goodies to calm her down. Wet tail is caused by stress mostly and any hamster is prone. She just got out of your reach for a few minutes. She will be totally fine with a little bit of time to calm down. Try not to worry about her to much. Before you leave make sure to let her know that you love her. Probably just stroke her fur before you leave. Try to avoid handling for a little bit.

Hope I helped!! Good luck with Tilly. ^^

Answer 3

Usually you should leave a new pet in the cage for 24 hours and then instead of taking her fully out of the cage after that you just pet her and hold her inside the cage for a day or so. It gets her used to your touch and smell. Hamsters in general can be pretty jumpy. If you want her to be able to walk around on the floor there are also these little playpens for rodents that she won't be able to get out of if you're watching her. That might be some nice exercise.

Answer 4

Hamsters can take from a day to a week to get used to their new cage and surroundings, so you would have to be very patient with them.

If you think she is prone to Wet Tail becoz of her running around, it is completely wrong. Wet tail is a bacterial infection that happens when young hamsters are weaned from their mother too quickly or when hamsters have been in the company of another hamster having the same condition. Stress can only aggravates an already existing condition and cannot cause it.. As long as she is eating, sleeping and pooping properly and her p**p comes as tight pellets and not watery, then you do not have to bother about anything.

I have attached my guide to taming hamsters, hope it helps you in making Tilly your friend too.

Guide to taming hamsters -

Taming your hamster can be a long process, don't expect your hamster to suddenly like be handled over night. It can take weeks or even months depending on the hamster. Here the the steps to handling a hamster -

STEP 1 - When you first get your hamster leave it alone for the first 2 - 3 days to let it get used to it's new cage and surroundings. If you pick him up on the first day itself, he will definitely bite you since you are a stranger to him.

STEP 2 - Once the hammy seems comfortable in his new cage, start talking to him softly and hang around his cage enough for him to get used to your voice and smell. After this time feed your hamster some treats from your hand so he get used to seeing your hand. This might take a few days to happen but be patient. If you feel that the hamster still bites you, you can use gloves initially.

PRECAUTION - always interact with the hamster only when he is active. If you touch him or disturb him when he is sleeping, he can get angry and bite viciously.

STEP 3 - Once your hamster seems confident with taking treats out of your hand you can try to start handling your hamster. Before you handle your hamster make sure you have washed your hands well. Hamsters have a strong sense of smell. If they smell something on your hand they may mistake it for food and decide to bite!

Get a cup or something similar and place it into the hamster's cage. He should come to investigate and crawl inside. Take the hamster and cup out of the cage and let him walk out onto your hand. While you do this make sure you're sat down or sat close to the floor incase your hamster decides to jump. Let him walk from hand to hand. Be careful you don't grab or wrap your hands around your hamster until he is fully tame as this may scare him and he will jump out of your hand.

STEP 4 - Once your hamster is more confident with you, you can start to pick up your hamster straight from it's cage. Just make sure your hamster is aware that you are there, if not you may suddenly scare the hamster and it may turn around and bite you.

Best way to hold hamsters is to make them climb into one hand and cupping the other hand softly over the body so that his head pokes out from the gap between your two hands. Remember, do not apply any pressure on his body, he will get scared and snap at you.

Answer 5

She might be very scared now.  You should leave her in her cage for at least 24 hours.  Yes she is now prone to wet-tail since it is caused by stress.  I hope this helps.

Answer 6

You could have really scared her. So, give her a treat and a fruit or veggie then talk to her. Slowly pet her, then she will gradully let you hold her. But don't try holding her till next 24 hrs.

Answer 7

You could have really scared her, yes.

And I would leave at least 24 hours before handling her; she needs time to settle back in and feel reassured in her home.

She could be more prone to wet tail now as it is caused by stressed, but it's impossible to say HOW prone.

Answer 8

Your hamster is new, and unfamiliar with handling. You have to make sure you're holding her correctly. You have to cup your hamster tightly, but not uncomfortably, in your hands to make sure she doesnt jump out. Just hold her like you would cup a bug, but let her head peak out of your hands, but really cup her body. Your hamster likes feeling secure when its being handled. I dont think you petrified her, but make sure shes not hurt or anything from jumping too the floor which sometimes can be a long jump for a hamster. The best times to handle your hamster are at night, when they are wide awake. Since they are nocturnal they sleep all day and are up all night. She just needs to calm down. Let her get some rest, and some food in her belly, then try again tonight. Remember to cup your hamster. If you are going to France in a week, I hope you're taking your hamster. Your hamster won't be able to survive on its own without someone giving them fresh food and water everyday. Maybe you can leave the hamster with an aunt or uncle who you trust will change the food and water. They dont even have to take it out if they dont want to.

And your hamster is not prone to wet-tail. Wet tail usually comes from if your hamster gets sick, like a cold, and you dont take care of it. I hope I helped. =)

Answer 9

you said you where going to france but before you do that you need to make sure shes got plenty of water ,food and if you have any other animals make sure they cant get to it to try to eat it