How to Catch a Runaway Hamster

Monday night we made the new hamster purchase. And since my husband had not only caved but had CAVED, said purchase actually involved 2 brand new hamsters. He’d decided the best way to quell fighting between the girls over the hamster issue was to allow each of them to get one. Good idea, right? YES and NO. Sure, they were not fighting, except perhaps over whose hamster was superior. But now our younger daughter had full-out 24 hr access to her magical new friend. So by yesterday morning he had of course disappeared. You see, our younger daughter used to do this with dearly departed Hammie, she would take him out of his cage and bring him into the family room to watch TV with her. But a 4 yr old doesn’t understand that a hamster could care less about TV. So while she’d become engrossed with Arthur, or Cyberchase, or Clifford the Big Red Dog, the hamster – instead of sitting quietly beside her on the couch as she was imagining – was beating feet to the nearest hidey hole. We lost Hammie so many times I actually lost track. Fortunately Hammie’s golden fur worked greatly to our advantage each time he went on “vacation.” But as they were fresh out of fluffy golden hamsters at Petsmart, this new guy Cutie is a Black Bear – meaning all BLACK. He is was IS ADORABLE, but his soft black fur blends in just perfectly with our dark wood floors. Meaning we have no hope in hell of ever finding him.

We have been employing all of the usual tactics, and I have additionally read up on How to Catch a Runaway Hamster. We have secured and sealed off the room, we have left food out to entice him, we have left his bed and igloo out to entice him, we have done everything to entice him. But now that he’s tasted freedom, do you really think he’s coming back?  Fat chance.

11 thoughts on “How to Catch a Runaway Hamster

  1. 🙁 Good luck finding the little guy.

    Any chance once you find him he could be trained to run the pipes and then come and tell you where the problem is in case of future plumbing issues?

  2. He’ll come back! Eventually. When I was little my hamster escaped and lived in our cupboard under the stairs for nearly 3 months! When we found him he had a bed made from my mums balls of wool, he was three times bigger and his lovely toffee fur was more on the side of treacle toffee! Food will work…. not sure about sealing things off, what happens if you seal him out? (Am I being stupid!) Don’t get a cat to compensate the (temorary) loss will you.

  3. “He’d decided the best way to quell fighting between the girls over the hamster issue was to allow each of them to get one. ”

    LMAO! You can always tell the ‘experienced’ parents. Go dad!

  4. Curly, a leash would be wonderful, but I don’t think they make collars small enough for hamsters. If I am mistaken, PLEASE SOMEONE LET ME KNOW. The Scooby-Doo flour paws idea is awesome. Can’t believe I’ve missed that one w/ all the SD we watch here.

    OrSo, you are SO CLEVER!! I LAUGHED so hard b/c it really is such a great idea. You guys are soooo smart.

    Daff, you are making me feel much better. He is still MIA and I am not feeling very optimistic. Fortunately our cats live outdoors so that’s one less thing I have to fret about. PS: Thanks so much again for the card. You are the BEST.

    Thanks Hayden!! We try. OH HOW WE TRY.

  5. okk heres another ideaa that just worked for mee!
    if you really can’t find him..leave little boxes full of hamster hay…and turn all the lights of..try to keep the room dark…but that you can still see a bit so you can see the hamster trying to get into the box..this worked for me so i hope it helps!

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