Finding a Lost Hamster
Wednesday August 20, 2008
Hamsters can be good escape artists, and they also get lost for a variety of other reasons. They are pretty good at finding a cozy hiding spot and staying under the radar when they do get out, and owners often despair at finding them again. I have had several readers who were sure they would never see their hamsters again, only to have them pop up unexpectedly, sometimes fairly quickly and sometimes after a couple of days. If you have lost a hamster, there are a number of things you can do to increase the chances of getting your little escape artist back, as discussed in "Finding a Lost Hamster"
More on Hamsters: Hamster Care
More on Hamsters: Hamster Care
Comments
I FOUND OUR HAMSTER AFTER 5 DAYS!!!!!!!!
This is a good example of not giving up hope — sometimes just when you are sure they are gone for good, they turn up out of the blue. Sometimes they just need to get hungry enough. If your hamster goes missing in your house, I’d also suggest putting out a bowl of water so he / she can come out to drink, because dehydration is a bigger risk than starving.
My hamster got lost two days ago in my office room and my friends and I looked in every single room on the first floor. He must have escaped at night and I didn’t notice he was gone until i got home from school.We have some evidence that he has been in corners behind our couch up in the office room. I have checked everything mutiple times. My dad set up a humane trap that won’t hurt him but he hasn’t been caught. We haved tried everything! He might have gone down the heating vent. I love my hamster and I want to find him. Please HELP!!!!
Hopefully the wayward hamster has been found. The tips on tracking and catching in the article (http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/losthamster.htm) on finding a lost hamster might help. The apple or peanut butter in a bucket seems to be one of the more effective ways to catch a hamster, for some reason. It’s also important to not give up hope — if they can find some water to drink, they can hide out for a surprisingly long time.
Me and my sister have had hamsters for a while and I’ve had one for over a year.. anyways we decided to get 2 male chinese dwarf hamsters of the same litter, and put them in the same cage (not with my teddybear!) this morning we found the bigger one named Napoleon under my sisters bed. We still can’t find the tiniest one Dynamite we have tried just about everything but still haven’t caught him we aren’t giving up hope and hopefully he will come back.. until then we have a shoe box with bedding, carrots , peanut butter, and water, I hope he comes home… =(
Oh dear. I hope you find Dynamite soon (love their names!) — be patient, because sometimes it is surprising when they turn up. Hopefully he’ll come back when he misses his brother.
My hamster Baby, just made his 3rd escape. I really am quite worried, the other two times I realized he was gone at like 1 am and my mother and I found him within 10-20 minutes, both times in a wash sink in our basement. this time, however, we didn’t notice he was gone till 7:30ish this morning and i’ve been checking everywhere all day! I’m so upset and I just hope he comes home..
My hamster has escaped once, but I saw her right away. She just escaped again today. I am exteremly worried, I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find her. Your tips on how to find my hamster has been helpful, I have placed food around my basement where I suspect she is. I hope I will find Daisy soon!
i just lost my hamster on june,3,08 and i am sitll looking 4 it it is a syrian hamster i think that i will try the peanut butter trick that might help
but i have a feeling that i will find him !?!
omg my sister has lost her pet hamster in our back garden and we have looked for him all night but we can’t seem to find him!!!!!!!1 we really don’t know waht to do please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We lost our hamster over night. the whole family looked all over the house for most of the day. Set up the drop of doom peanut butter and apple bait in an aquarium and croosed our fingers. Then, at about the 25th or so hour (approximated time of disappearance) dad had a bright idea of using our video camera, setting it on night vision (at night of course) and search the house. Her eyes glowed, like all animals do but more so on night vision. Found him under younger brothers bed. Hope that helps, it only took him about ten minutes with this technique.
Hi im brooklyn, im 11 years old and my hamster has got out of her cage! I have looked everywhere and I cant seem to find her! Ì`m so worried about my poor hammy! I havnt had her very long and she not very tame yet..ive tried putting the cage on the floor with no luck yet im not allowed to put flour or hamster food on the floor and im not sure if the bucket trap would work. please if anyone has any ideas email me at tigersrock14@hotmail.com thanks! by the way i need to find her in 2 days!
oh my goodness i lost my hamster 5 days ago and i can’t seem to find it i’ve tried everything you said to try and i just dont know what to do…. can you please help me my mom is going to kill me if she finds out. she will be back in 2 days from her business trip. i’m begging you to please help me
Hi Erica
I hope you are able to find your hamster…I don’t know what else to suggest if you have tried everything in the article — sorry
Lianne
My pet hamster has been gone for over a week. I am sure she is dead, but i refuse to give up hope. Most likely she has gone into the vents, my vent cover was off and the vents go down to far for me to see. I also have a large dog who in the past has tried to bite her. I have tried leaving food out along with her cage on the ground. I have a feeling she is gone. Any suggestion?
My pet hamster Oliver has escaped from his cage, and i cannot find him. I have searched my house ground up and with no results also none of these suggestions in this article have helped. Any advise on how to catch Oliver?
Carmen
I got a hamster yesterday and it escaped today! My bro left the cage door open.Please help me find Co-coa! She’s not very tame so she clibms ALOT. She might be hurt. Even though i got her yesterday i have grown attached to her. I can’t even go to sleep in hopes she would show up. Please help me!!!
No worries:) We found Co-coa! She walked right back into her cage last night. Hamsters do like peanut-butter:D
Hello. My nick name on the conputer is Tijo
I have a hamster lost for a hole month! accully its my friends. my hamster was lost less than thirty minutes and after we found him we hardly searched around the cage for any escape areas, I think the door was loose and I think he pushed it open becuase he often climbs it. so fornow on I push the door is tight and check is atleast three times before leaving my hamster. Here is an idea: If you cant do anything up above you can leave a trail. look for clues of your hamster make sure there are no excape areas if you thikn you no were he is in a room make sure he cant get out of that room. But as I was saying leave a trail of food and treats leading to his cage. this will most likly not work so. Dont use ANY spices on treats such as salt,pepper and sugur. THese ingrediants are harmful to your hamsters health. Stay up as much as possible. I stay up til 12:00 EVERY NIGHT…now im addicted… anyway this needs lots of pations and hope stand next to were you think he is hidign at till he comes out. other wise I havent any other ideas. If someone else has more good ideas please tell therefore I want to find my friends poor nubbles the hamster so buckaroo my hamster can meet him! 
MY hamster is VERY tAMED and ussally so sleepy he doesnt open his eyes for like a minute when he is taken out. 
he is very cute. if you have any more ideas for poor nibbles who has been lost for a month please tell. he is in the basement in a little crack of a big pile of stuff that her mom wont allow her to move. I been looking for ideas and here is the best article I ever gotton for suggestions. THX FOR DA HELP!
no one has answered me yet? Any way MY friend is almost loosing hope!
She almost cought it too! yesterday I wasnt there but her friend cought the hasmter but it it her and the hasmter ran away!! Any advise? 
I really need it!!
my little robovski hamster-pip- escaped thru the bars- i think- it was 2 days before we went camping for the weekend ni sign of her anywere. it was like a sign from god the sat-nav broke so we had to g into the computer room. my stepdad said it smells of pip in here and it did and suddenly out comes pip runnning for her life we couldnt get her so we left a freindly trap and her cage open. when we came back my mum went to check the trap nothing and then checked the cage there she was all snuggled up.1 day later- i heard a noise again in the computer room out comes pip-she was only in her cage 1 hour ago- its been 2 days now and i havent seen her hopefully she will come back ive bought her a new rotastak cage i hope shes ok and hopefully will come back
-hope your ok pip plz come bak i miss you-
keegan x-x-x-
This helped me a few days ago when i lost my hamster.Her name is twinkle.She is a Dwarf Hamster.My friends told me to come to this website.I found her in the place that she said to look where they usually hide.I was so happy.I wanna thank the people who wrote this for helping me.And to those who need help finging their hamsters,read this really CAREFULLY and you’ll find him or her in no time…gOOd luck and thank you so so much!!!!
Well… Im trying to find mine… its been 2 days. Just got him 2 days ago =P his name is Karamel and i dunno if ill find him or if he is gone for good so i lost him watching a movie and when pizza showed up i noticed he was gone and i said “where did karemel go?” So we ripped the living room apart (literaly) and we couldnt find him… so i tried the bucket trop last night and hes not there. we lifted the couches we loooked behind comp desk we looked inside my room so…
hope he comes soon :’(
I found my hamster after 8 and a half months, living in my juicer in the pantry!
i have lost my hamster as when i put it in his ball he ecscaped and then hes been missing for a night now i wonder if he will show his face again i hope so can you help me plz? he is very tammed and is used to my name x
hello my names mollie and dont worry people my haster go out and about 5 years later it come back strate in his cage running a bout and everything he told me he just found a girlfriend and got carried away but he loves me still and hes just next door at the moment with there rabbits
!
Don’t give up hope - the hamster trap works! We found our lost hamster after two days doing the following:
* place a tall plastic container in a dark room near where the hamster’s cage is located
* place 1-2 dishrags at the bottom of a tall plastic container (to break your hamster’s fall).
* loosely cover the container with a paper towel
* sprinkle some of the hamster’s usual food (seeds, etc.) in the center of the paper towel - just a little bit so the paper towel doesn’t fall into the container
* build a ramp with blocks/books to the top of the container
* sprinkle small bits of hamster food along the ramp in order to entice your hamster to the top
OH NO HELP!!!!! on monday morning before school me and my brother went to see my syrian hamster “nibbles” recently he has started to nibble at the bars but when we looked the cage door was wide open and he had gone it has been 3 day’s since he’s gone and we have put food and beds out outside plus inside. nothing!.I am so sad i burst into tears evern thinking about him! what shall i do?
my hamster escaped from her cage! the wheel is attached to the cage and when i looked at the cage, the wheel was opened just enough for my hamster, princess, to get through. i tried the bucket trick last night but it didn’t work! please help me! she escaped like this before and she would always go to her usual hiding place, which id behind the washer and drier. that is always the first place i looked and we didn’t find her! i looked everywhere! please help! give me any advice! i put down some water for her too by the way.
hi iv lost my hamster
hes a boy and his called charlie. he has been missing for a night now and i only noticed last night usually when im about to go to school he comes and says goodbye i love him so much i could cry i have looked everywhere hes a dwarf hamster so hes really hard to find PLEASE HELP ME !!! but not just me him hes probabley starving and thitsty and he got out by a hole in his cage please help olivia xx
me again PLEASE HELP PLEAAAASSSEEEEEE !!!! i no i am being inpatient but i love him and its my birthday soon and i really want him to be there also hes only a baby and i have looked after him since the day he was born so please help me i dont want this to of been the last time of me and him
also he lives with his mum and sistter but they are in seprate cages to him olivia xx
please hurry up i cried last night in bed i am missing his little cut face he is my pe thats not even 1 yet hes probabley about 4 months old
please give me advise PLEASE !!!!!!
lianne i am waiting and if you do not write back by friday night i will be bugging u again !!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Olivia
Sorry I couldn’t get back to you sooner. I’m also sorry you are missing your hamster - I know it is hard not to panic and worry, but I am crossing my fingers he will turn up soon. Have you tried the things in the article linked above?
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/losthamster.htm
That is really all the advice I have to give
There is also some good advice in the other comments too.
Best wishes,
Lianne
Hi my names molly.One time i lost my hamster{Spot} and then about an hour later {near dinner and my dad is a great cook} my sister was walking up the stairs and he was there! Huddled up in a corner sleeping!!! So if you have carpeted stairs look there when it starts getting dark. P.S. We keep our hammys in the basement when we found him he was up towards the top if you know yours is very energetic and strong look there around dinner time.
Hope this helps! Molly
My hamster biscuit has been gone for 24 hours. He is a 14 week old syrian. He has got into my garden [im nearly 100%] somehow. My pparents would never let me get a pet. But on my birthday i paid and promised to look after him. I cant sleep nor eat. And cant stop thinking about him, and i keep crying. My brother,sister and dad say that its my fault and ive done it. Me and my dad checked in the office [ where he could not escape from ] through all of the boxes [and found alot of poo in one] I love my hamster sooooo much and would be so distraught if ive caused him to die. Please save me from this nightmare. I need to fine him i miss him and love him so much. He was only a baby. He made me so happy and im so responsible for it all. I cant face it if i cant find him and i dont want to give up. We have a huge garden and a big pond. I just cant begin to think i have killed biscuit by stupidly not closing his cage door. Im terrified. Please help me!!!!! Please lianne.
Leah x
You dont know how much biscuit means to me. I was really happy. I know he is a hamster but i really miss him. And i cant help feeling i am to blame. I dont want to or cant eat nor sleep until i find him. I really want him home. He is in the garden somewhere. Please reply i need some ideas. I can give up and he means so much. I need him back.I couldn’t bare not being able to find poor biscuit!
Please x
Please reply! I cant go to sleep unless i find him i need it to be light out. Not much time! Please help me! xx
Hi Leah
I just saw your comments. I am so sorry to hear about your hamster. Accidents happen and can happen to anybody, so first, try to stop being so hard on yourself (I’m also sorry your family isn’t being a bit more supportive). All I can really suggest is trying some of the suggestions here:
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/losthamster.htm
It gets much harder if he has gotten outdoors, but I’d just look in every small space I could out there…chances are he’d get scared and hide out the first chance he got. You could also try the bucket trap idea outdoors. However, unless you are absolutely certain he is outdoors, don’t give up on finding him in the house. They can hide in the smallest of spaces, so you should check behind and under all the furniture, under the couch cushions - anywhere small and dark and cozy is where he is likely to be. Also, during the day he is probably going to hide somewhere and sleep, so that makes it tricky to find him. I really wish you didn’t have to go through this - I can tell you love your hamster very much, and I will be keeping my fingers crossed that he turns up soon. Keep us posted!
Lianne
Thanx i will.
I left apples,cucumber and hamster food down in the office and its all gone!! And there is no holes so it must be him! Unfortunately the bucket was too small to catch him but he is alive in the office not my garden!!!
Leah x
Leah: that is terrific news! Hopefully you will be able to catch him. This page is about creating a trap for unwanted mice but I think it would work fabulous for catching an escaped hamster too:
http://glass.typepad.com/journal/2005/09/how_to_catch_a_.html
You could build a staircase up to the rim with stacked books as a variation. What is good about this idea is that is has a tube with food in it on the rim, and when the hamster goes down the tube, it will tip into the bucket so it doesn’t require convincing your hamster to jump into the bucket. Use a pretty deep bucket, but put a nice thick soft towel in the bottom to cushion the fall.
Anyway, hope you can catch your hamster soon
Lianne
Hey, I lost my teddybear hamster, Abbie (yes, it is named after me, it used to be my friend’s hamster and he couldn’t keep her…) a few days ago, i put up some bucket traps, but she was too smart and just ate the one seed a put on each step to the bucket and refused to jump in the bucket. So i bought some TomCat live mouse catchers. And I put them up last evening. and to my surprise this morning all 4 had gone off, and in the first two, there was no Abbie, and in the other two i found very cute mice which i let out outside. I know she will come home, but I do have 2 dogs (although you could only count my German Sheaperd puppy, the other is a Chihuahua who is scared of everything and wouldn’t bother her). Is there anything else you can suggest to help me find Abbie. There is a hole in my closet that a plumber made a few months ago when we were having septic problems that leads to the inside of our walls (where I am assuming the mice came from) and I am worried she may have gone in there.
Hi Abbie
I hope you find your hamster soon. I just found this site and haven’t updated my lost hamster stuff with it yet, but it shows an ingenious way to get the hamster into the bucket (you balance a tube or piece of cardboard over the edge with treats at the end - hamster goes for treats and the whole thing tips into the bucket):
http://glass.typepad.com/journal/2005/09/how_to_catch_a_.html
I hope you find your hamster soon.
Lianne
i lost my hamster 3 days ago and i found him last night so i put him back in his cage and i fell asleep and when i woke up the thing you take out of the bottom sides of the cage was off and the hamster wasn’t their so now i gotta look for him again and hes was in this room im in rite now so im just gonna be quiet and wait till i hear a noise than im gonna get him again!! mwahahahahah lol and if anyone has any tips they could give me in case i don’t find him thanks
i lost my syrian hamster coco chanel she escaped from her cage in my bedroom but my door was open so she could be any where she has been missing for a couple of days. iv been up since 2 in the morning listening out to hear if shes in the rooms. last time she escaped she was in the wall and my dad had to break the wall. i hav tried the bucket thing but its not working plz giv me sum tips on how to find her!!!
Hi Ellie
I hope you are able to find your hamster. Have you tried some of the other things in this article (like leaving a few sunflower seeds in a couple of rooms to get a better idea of where she might be hiding):
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/losthamster.htm
I really hope you find her soon!
Lianne
plz reply….
I wrote to you a while ago about my hamster. I have FOUND him! He (biscuit) was in the bucket in his favourite toy (Pot noodle Pot). He has been back a while now and is back to normal. He was lost for 6 days! Thank you for all of the advise.
TIP: even though its hard do not give up on
looking for your pet. They may make an unexpected visit, be prepared!
Thank you
Leah xx
Leah
That is awesome! I am so happy to hear that. Thanks for showing us not to give up
Lianne
please help me find my Russian dwarf hamster. shes been lost for almost 5 days already with out food or water
my mom, dad , sisters, and me looked everywhere for her
there is a hole in my wall leading to my heater where there is also a hole next to. I think she has gotten in that hole leading into the floor next to the heater. i don’t know what to do if she really gone inside that hole in the floor. the hole is wide and is about 1 1/2 feet deep. please tell me a way to try and get her out, and please tell me if she can still be alive. please please tell me how long hamsters can live with out water. im so worried about her, please tell me the most places Russian dwarfs hamsters go to when they are out of their cages!
please answer me soon
Hi Binna
Don’t give up hope - she could still be alive. Please read through all the comments here as there are some great tips about finding lost hamsters, and read through this article:
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/losthamster.htm
I really think your best bet would be a bucket trap which is described in the link above as well as an ingenious modification described on this page (a page meant for catching mice but it should work for hamsters too):
http://glass.typepad.com/journal/2005/09/how_to_catch_a_.html
I’d suggest using peanut butter to try to lure her back as it is irrestible and easy for them to smell.
Best wishes and I hope you find her soon!
Lianne
Yay
i found her
but her leg got hurt
im sad and worried
i love my hamsters like they are my younger siblings
I am caring for them now
Hey, I’m glad you found her — I hope her leg heals up soon!
Lianne
my hamster is run away from home but it not coming back home!!!
we lOst our hamster it was lost for5 days we tryed looking everywhere and it was in the SAME PLACE
hello. me and friend lost 4 baby hamsters in the vent ( we know this for sure )we caught one and the other three are still missing. we havent heard from them. and there has been an awfull smell coming out of the venting system . do you think they are gone forever ?
about a year ago i bought 2 roborovski hamsters named Mitch and Sandy (Mitch was a bit smaller than Sandy) and just this boxing day when me and my nan got back home after only being gone 30 mins we noticed that the whole wheel had came off and Mitch had gone. Sandy was still asleep in his bed. after searching in ewvery single place we could imagine, for 6 hours along with my dad brother and friends help we still could not find him. after a day Sandy had noticed about Mitch not being with him and stayed sat in the corner of his cage for a long time. we decided he was lonely and went to get him a friend. (Zammo)they have both started getting along realy well and do everything mitch and sandy did together (e.g. sleeping, running in wheel etc.) unfortunately mitch still hasnt been found. tonight we are setting up the bucket trap and hopeing he will be found safely in the morning. if you can give me any ideas on catching him please email me on emily-seal-lover@hotmail.co.uk Please help me find him im starting to loose hope :’(
please help me…
i forgot to say that the bucket trap didnt work. there are no signs of him anywhere, in the sand, no droppings, nothing. we even left the cage open (sandy + Zammo were in the other cage) but still no sign. what can i do? where can i look? please help
I just lost my hamster that I bought 3 days ago. Her name is Peaches and she’s very cute. She’s a Syberian hamster. I looked everywhere in my house and took all the tips. I need to find her and i’m loosing hope…Please give me advise…I need it…:(
Emily and Catherine:
I’m really sorry to hear about your hamsters, and I really hope you are able to find them soon!
Unfortunately, I don’t really have anything I can add to all the advice listed here as well as in the article:
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/losthamster.htm
Perhaps give the comments and the article linked above another scan - hopefully something here will help you out.
Best wishes,
Lianne
thanks i will have a look at that website + we bought 2 live mouse traps for him so there is hope yet
no nothing is working :’( we hav honestly cheked EVERYWHERE
Well, all I can say is don’t give up hope. Have you tried leaving food around and seeing if it disappears? Keep going with the traps and hopefully you will have a happy ending.
Lianne
Ok thanks i will try leaving food out for him.
I hope he comes back because Zammo has just died. :’( one of the toys in his cage fell over and squashed him and now Sandy is alone again :’(
ok we bought two new hamsters (Jonah and Ronnie) and put them in the cage with sandy. Ronnie kept attacking Sandy though so we seperated sandy from them both. now they live in seperate cages but get to see each other when i bring them out. Mitch still hasnt turned up and he hasnt ate any of the food we left out
i think he has gone for good now :’( it has been 2 weeks
Emily - sorry to hear about Mitch
Ok, if anything happens now im giving up with hamsters
I must be the worst owner ever. Ronnie has ran away too. :’( he got out the same way as mitch 
im never putting that wheel on again 
my friend kieran is in hospital so were buying him two hamsters but they are staying at my house because his mum wont let them in her house. Dont know the names yet so i’ll let you know when kie decides. Good news though 
Sandy and Jonah have been living in the same cage for a week and havent fought with eachother 
they even sleep together it is so cute 
I found Jack!!! After one week, he was hiding in my closet…he is very happy to be back in his home!!! Yeeeeeah Jack!!
Hi Leanne
He is a syrian and it is warm enough where he is. I cant find any possible reason for why he could be hybernating except for we use an electric space heater (portable radiator) over there for heating the room up and apparently they change temperature alot on their own (causing hybernation). Also i now realise that i dont think i give him enough food, only about 10g or maybe a little bit over to last for about 2 days. Is this enough? (FIRST QUESTION
I know this is website is for finding lost hamsters but i have a slightly different questions to ask you. I am asking you because i have used this website before to find my hamster and with your help he came back, so i completely trust this website. All of the other websites aren’t helping me much. My question is:
‘’Im not sure if my hamster(Biscuit) is hybernating or is dead
Continued….
Hi Lianne
My hamster is not stiff at all and is still rather soft, and seems very normal to the touch, i have heard it is almost impossible to tell if a hibernating hamster is breathing and thats the trouble im having. So the three questions that i need your help to answer is:
-Am i giving Biscuit enough food? (10g for two days).
-What are the best ways to wake up a hibernating hamster?
-From what i have told you do you think poor Biscuit is just hibernating or…..dead?
I cant see any reason at all for his premature death (6 months old). No reason at all. I am not convinced he is dead but cannot see his breathing….
Please Please Help me!!
IM SCARED!!
Leah xx
Emily: What bad luck! I hope Ronnie can be found. You are right, it sounds like you are better off without the wheel on that cage. Good news about Sandy and Jonah though.
Lianne
p.s. I hope your friend Kieran is out of the hospital soon!
Renee - great news!
Leah:
First off, about the food, I can’t really visualize how much food 10 g is so that is a really tough question to answer. If it were too little food, he’d probably have always finished it in under two days - but if there was any amount left at the end of two days then it was probably enough. Also, a hamster that wasn’t getting enough to eat would be very skinny, so unless your little fellow was very skinny (as in bones easily felt when you touch him) then the amount of food was most likely not a problem.
As for the hibernating, hamsters usually only do this if there is a dramatic temperature drop, and will come out of it (gradually, over about an hour) when warmed back to room temperature. In most cases, overheating is more of an issue that cold temperatures unless the heat goes off entirely or something. So, if he is in at room temperature and still motionless, I’m afraid I’d be really worried about him. Look for things like the occasional whisker twitch, and watch for breathing really closely. And as morbid as it sounds, if he has passed away his body will become cold and stiffen up fairly quickly. If he is still alive and there is no change, I’d strongly suggest a visit to a vet as soon as you can.
Hope this helps,
Lianne
Thank You
I will look
Thanks for the advice.
Leah X
OMG!!!v My poor hamster tubby is gone! he escaped sunday night in my bathroom, my mother had to use MY bathroom when she has her own and HAS to leave just enough space for himto get to the rest of the house! its been three days and i start bawling my eyes out about seven times a day and i miss him sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much! i cant imagine life without him! ive put food out for him with flour around it so ill see hs footprints but ive seen nothing! i have two cats but one is to lazy and fat to get him and the other one usually likes to bring us little presents to show us his prey! theres no sign of life or death! ive looked outside but he couldnt get out there and theres no blood or evedince out there either! HELP ME PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
also it may be the flour
Fiona
Oh dear, I hope you can find him soon. You might want to try the bucket trap thing (mentioned in the lost hamster article). You can also just try leaving his cage on the floor with a trail of food to it. Most importantly, don’t give up because it seems some hamsters like to hide for a bit before they show themselves again.
Best wishes,
Lianne
Thx but i tried that and ill try the seed thing, i got a new hamster and his name is scruffy but its not the same as my precious tubby and i really hope the seed thing works ill keep u updated!
I’ve lost my pet mouse Geroldo and am desperate to get him back =(
I noticed him gone last night around 12 before I went to bed and searched for an hour but had to sleep due to school and work tonight. I put flour all around my room and noticed many footprints in the dust when I woke up so I know he’s alive still but I’m worried he left my room (large space under the doorway) and it’s the only room safe from the 3 cats we have…my mother thinks he may have smelt the cats and ran back to hide in my room but I’m not sure. I’ve followed some of the guidelines for the lost hamster, hopefully they’ll work for mice…I’m searching for a bucket to do that trap and my mom has agreed to pick me up some live mouse traps (Not to thrilled about using) but I was wondering does anyone know any treats Mice can’t resist? I need some good bait
My email: cas_808@hotmail.com
I always recommend peanut butter - mice and hamsters tend to like it a lot and they can smell it from a good distance easily. Apple slices seem to be a good choice too,
Hope you find Geroldo soon!
hi lianne! thanks for all your help but now i think tubby is in heaven now, i am very happy for him!I have a new hamster named Scruffy and i love him very much even though he did bite my forehead(long story)! I am worried about scruffy because i think he had a stroke but he is acting fine now. . . i got a nother cage today at kmart and i might get a little friend for Scruffy! I am very happy you were here in my time of distress! you have helped me and so many other people so much and god bless you!You are a great woman and thanks again, sincerely, Fiona Ryan!!!!
My hamster went missing last night and I still haven’t found her. We left the cage out along with three carry cages all with food and water plus peanut butter. we left out two of the bucket traps. I don’t know what else to do. Our dog is afraid of the hamsters so she won’t hurt her but I’m still worried. I really need to find my girl! HELP!!!!
Hey I lost my hamster about a day ago..i cant find her and im starting to get worried. she jumped out of my hand when i tried putting her in her ball..she ran behind some furniture and im starting to lose hope because theres no clues like poo or anything behind furniture..i moved everything in the living room and i still cant find her..i think shes in my room under the bed or closet but im not garantee that she is but i still really want to find her please give me some advice i cant sleep because im scared something happend to her please reply back fast. Thanks =D
Animalcrazy and Derek
I hope you have found your hamsters…all I can really advise is to read through all the comments for ideas and hope, and do the things listed here:
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/losthamster.htm
Best wishes,
Lianne
my hamster went missing for i don’t know how many hours i got home form school and she wasn’t there. HELP .
it was in a separte box and the breathing holes where 2 sizes to big she had to be in a diffrent box because my hamsters kept trying to kill each other i have had a friend come over to help my search no luck any suggestions..help please
Bruna - oh my, I hope you have found your hamster…all I can really advise is to read through all the comments for ideas, and do the things listed here:
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/losthamster.htm
Best wishes,
Lianne
Yay I Found My Hamster About A Week Ago! My Dad Helped Me Find It Because I Put Food Around And In One Spot The Seeds Were Gone. That Means It Ate It, So I Hope This Advice Helps You Find Your Hamster. I Hope You Find Your Hamster
Hi! I lost my hamster this morning
this is what happened:
I woke up at about 7am, i dragged myself out of bed to get ready for school. First i was going to go down stairs but i went to check on Lyra (My hamster) her cage door was open :O. I ran down stairs incase my sister had her or i had left her in the ball last night, she wasn’t. I ran back upstairs and started searching, I felt very sad but i couldn’t cry because I new i had to find her. we looked and looked, round the bed, round the unit, but then my sister heard some banging but it was our other hamster Honey, she was sitting on top of her house looking down at us (i swear she was laughing at us). Then my sister heard some suffling which wasn’t Honey, “Shes behind the chest of draws!” she exclaimed. I went to the gap behind the chest of draws, there was a bit that went under neith it so i couldn’t see if she was there or not. I got her food bowl out and filled it with tonnes of food and placed it by the gap and started calling “Lyra, Lyra come out baby.” I could hear some suffling too, but it sounded rather distant. My sister said, “I think she might be behind the wardrobe.” I shone the torch behind the wardrobe but there was very little chance if she was there that we or she would get out. But then just as i was giving up hope i told Molly to sit and call Lyra from behind the wardrobe and i went to look in the wardrobe. There Lyra was staring up at me from my animal hospital airoplane that i keep in my wardrobe. I was scared she would bite me because she was very scared but I gave her some food (One cheek was already full which is a bit worrying coz there is no food in there) and i stroked her and she was fine so i put her back in her cage, i blocked off all the holes around the room except from the wardrobe so she has some where to go if she does exscape again.
If you hamster has exscaped never give up hope, here are things you can do:
1) place a food bowl in the middle of the floor and keep and eye on it for hamster,
2) Place cage on floor with door open and close all doors to that room.
3) put a bucket of bedding in the middle of the room with a strong smelling food they like in it and make some stairs with books up to the top of the bucket.
when you have found your hamster you should:
1) place in cage with fresh water and food - the hamster will be very hungry and thirsty because mine ate loads and drunk 2cm of water :O
2) Either after they have drunk and eaten or after they have slept a bit, pick them up and check there body for any injures.
Well done for finding you hamster, they can be very crafty little things
Hey, i really need some help! My tiny dwarf hamster has gone missing two nights almost 3 nights ago and we are getting nervous. My whole family looked in every possible corner, hole, and behind every piece of furniture. We are now trying your tips but im not sure, he is very smart! Our dwarf hamster is a new born that we raised, and he is only about 6 months old, were not sure how he could possibly get down stairs and he probley couldn’t get into the heating vent, but what else can we do we havent heard any scratching either! Panicing!, ashley
Hey Ashley, don’t give up. If you read through some of these stories you will see they sometimes surprise you. Definitely try the bucket trap, and leaving some seeds about to see if you can entice him out. Best of luck
Lianne
I have sister rats Pip and Penelope - Pip is friendly and Penelope is shy. Unfortunately not shy enough to stay in her cage. She broke out about an hour ago and we can find no trace of her in our two-storey-plus-basement house. I can’t leave the cage open or Pip will get out (she’s refusing to get on her leash now, which she usually loves) I can’t leave food on the ground or our dog will eat it, I can’t wait for her to show up because my whole family is afraid of her. What can I do tonight to find her? It’s already quarter to four a.m. and I have classes tomorrow…
Kate - didn’t see your comment until just now…hope you found Penelope!
I did - thanks to your tips! She was nestled snugly behind my bookcase with all the food she stole from the traps without setting them off. Unfortunately she chewed through my stereo wires, but that’s a small price to pay for the hint that showed us where she was!
hi lianne, its me again, my other hamster tilly got out at night and is running wild and she is about 4 inches long and can fiit though everything , he got out last night and then i woke up and she is gone, i also have a male syrian hamster named scruffy, could he help find her?
Fiona
Oh dear, sorry to hear that. I’m not sure if your male would really help much - I suppose you could see but be careful not to lose him in the process! Personally, I’d probably skip trying to get him to help and stick with the usual methods for searching and trapping.
Best wishes,
Lianne
Thank you lianne i will keep you posted.
This might sound crazy—- BUT it works!
If you have a cat, or multiple cats, (may work with dogs as well, we dont know) let THEM find the hampster. HOWEVER keep a SHARP eye on your cats, and follow them where they lead.
This is how we found our hamster-one of our cats literally led us to the kitchen cupboards and he smelt or heard him! We used a flashlight and could see him & hear him!
BUT put your cats in isolation (like a closed bedroom) once they do lead you to the hiding spot)!!! DONT FORGET THIS!
Right now, we are waiting for him to take the bait of cheetos with peanut butter, his water and food bowls, his wheel & his cage, and his favorite tunnel! We are so nervous, but we know hes okay atleast!
We love our Orchi! Good luck to all you out there–we hope this helps!
i have a small black campbell dwarf, and i just found out hes escaped. where do hamsters like to hide. i also have another hamster who is his brother, would he be able to smell him and find him. i really want to find him because hes really small. i also live in a flat, would it be easier for me to find him.
annabell
I hope you have found your hamster by now, but if not, all I can really advise is to read through all the comments for ideas, and do the things listed in the article linked below. The article includes some spots to look - try under or behind furniture or under sofa cushions, blankets, etc - they like to find cozy spots to hide and snooze:
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/losthamster.htm
Best wishes,
Lianne
oh my god my hamster escaped either from 8 last night untill 7 this morning i’m realy realy worried abut her. I have looked around hetr cage but shes no there. I’m realy scared because her cage is on a bookshelf on the landing and if she jumped down she might have hurt herself. I dont know what to do. I need help Gizmo has been gone for over 9 hours now i have moved her cage into my room and left the door open with food in it and water. I am sooooooooo scared some one please please help!!!!!!!
please please help she hasn’t turned up and i’ve tried all the things on the web page please please help
:(:(:(
Caitlyn - sorry I haven’t been on the computer all weekend. I hope you have found your hamster…if not keep on trying the advice here (especially the bucket trap) and don’t lose hope
Keeping my fingers crossed, Lianne.
Hello, My hamster died today..yea i am pretty sad, but now its in a better place. There was not enough food in there for her, i went to give it more food today but it was to late. The hamster is not in my room so i don’t know it was starving, but everytime i go see it, its always hyper, but now i noticed it was not hyper..R.I.P Dasher.
Hi Olivia, my name is Ashley , im 15 and i live in the uk, my syrian hamster named Rocky was gone missing about 5 hours ago in the garden. There are two holes in my garden that lead to other people’s garden, but are covered by ivy. My mum thinks that if he were to come back, the ivy migt get in his way. Next door’s garden is full of tall weeds so its hard to find out if he is there and to make things worse, there are several cats living in my area
the two hles are behind my shed so it is nice and dark and sheltered by the ivy. I have put food, water and a plastic little home behind my shed, and covered the area in flour. I hope he’s okay, but there are so many cats around my area 
He always has liked to explore, but he took it this extra mile when i was cleaning out his cage and he escaped out of his hamster ball. PLease reply soon as i don’t think he will have long( if he is still alive) He is about 1 and a half years old or more, so he is kind of old.
umm i didn’t write olivia, i meant Lianne sorry.
my hamster is outside somewhere… alone…. or maybe he has been eaten… i think i just give up…how can he survive being around an area with foxes and cats…
i made a little home for him and put golden syrp on the floor near it and flour just incase he does come (doubt it) but im givig him5 more days then i give up…
Hi, I’m Natalie. I just lost my hamster this morning and I’m really sad. My hamster is a Syrian male named Dumpling and he is really intelligent. He didn’t leave any trails or anything and he’s really fast. My mom thinks he is outside somewhere because she left the door open to check the mailbox and he probably escaped. i looked outside for hours and i could never find him. My neighbors have cats that always come to our back yard, so i’m kind of scared. I love him sooooo much and i’m trying to try every thing i can to find him.
Hi Ashley
So sorry to hear about your hamster. It can be very hard when they escape outside. Unfortunately it is tougher to survive due to the kinds of things you mentioned, but not impossible. It sounds like you are doing everything right - make sure to leave out some seeds and stuff too (you’ll probably have to replace often as birds and mice will probably steal them, though). It is great that you left a hide/shelter out for him. I will keep my fingers crossed that he finds his way back to you.
Best wishes,
Lianne
Hi Natalie
sorry to hear about your hamster. While your hamster may have got outside (which makes things trickier - see my comment to Ashley above), he may be hiding inside somewhere too. Keep on trying the things listed in the article and comments above, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you too.
Best wishes, Lianne
I give up. It’s been a week and no sign what so ever of him. He is probably dead.
I just lost my hamster, Berry. He’s a tiny dwarf hamster that I absolutely love and I cried for. I just had found out he was gone when I felt the cage around, looking for him. His best buddy, Cherry, was sleeping alone, and I wondered if he was with Sugar, our new hamster…but that was unlikely. I was right- he wasn’t anywhere in the cage. I figured he had escaped. I had an idea how- my younger sister had opened the cage last night and I had accidently nudged the escaped Cherry with my foot. I had put it back but didn’t check if Berry was gone, too. I closed the cage afterwards…that’s probably how my little Berry was gone. I’ve searched the house and been quiet, listening for any hamster-ish sounds, but so far no Berry. Please, please, wish me luck in finding him. I’d die if he did!
Valentina: sorry to hear about Berry. If you haven’t already, try reading through all the tips above for ideas to help you find him. I’ll definitely keep my fingers crossed that he turns up quickly!
Best wishes,
Lianne
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Help ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My hamster got out more than a week ago!!!! I am sure he is either dead or outside!! Because we have holes in our house that lead outside!!I really miss him!!PLEASE help me! It’s weird because i set him up on my pool table one night and i was SURE i secured EVERY thing but he STILL got out!!! PLEASE help me because i don’t want to lose faith that he is dead and or went outside!
My hamster, Tibby, got loose in the backyard about 4 days ago. I’m worried sick about where she might be and I miss her terribly. I am HOPING that she is still alive, and I’ve done my best to look for her, and have set out live traps, and opened her cage for her to come back in to.
I haven’t seen any signs of her, but I also haven’t seen any signs that anything bad has happened to her.
PLEASE, PlEASE, PLEASE help me come up with ideas to find her, or let me know if you think that she’s still okay.
I love her so much, and I hope she comes home safely soon
OMG!!! I lost my daughter’s hamster! She was gone for a few days, (my daughter),and when the hamster was out for a short walk,which she often does, and I turned around and she was gone! Read your article, and after 24 hrs was just ready to make a trap for her, and guess what? I found her walking around DOWNSTAIRS—she’d gone down a whole flight of stairs, and boy, was she mad(the hamster)!!! Anyway, a happy ending for Bella Rose (and for me!) - Mom