A hamster escaping is a situation that causes great anxiety for owners, who can easily panic. Despite this, it is important to stay calm and follow some simple steps in order to find a hamster lost in your house quickly.
How to find a hamster lost in your house
1. First, get a flashlight and gloves
Get a small but powerful flashlight. Although the hamster is usually still in the same room as where it escaped from, it will be easier to find if you turn off the lights. If there are other people in the house with you, ask them not to move or make any noise that could disturb your search.
Get some gloves, to protect yourself from any scratches the hamster might give you. Although hamsters are small and cute, they can be quite fierce when they feel threatened.
2. Check your house room by room
Ideally, close all doors so that the hamster doesn't escape further into the house or yard. Here you have to check EVERY corner of the house, including inside furniture and cabinets. If you can't open a closet or cabinet where the hamster might be hiding, remove any valuable objects before opening it. When checking each room, take your time and remember that even if you can't see the hamster right now it may be moving around, so do not give up or leave the house just yet.
3. Try to think like a hamster
If you still haven't found the hamster after searching through every room, go outside and try to remember where you usually walk inside the house. Think about places that are often touched by your hamster, where it usually plays or chews. It is very likely that the hamster has escaped to one of those places. If you can't go back inside because there are people waiting for you outside, ask them to help you look for the hamster in those spots. Remember that pet stores also sell small tunnels for hamsters, so it could be hiding inside one of those.
4. Once you find the hamster, carry it carefully
Be careful! When you approach the hamster, try to make as little noise as possible and use both your hands to pick it up. If possible keep your fingers together to form a kind of cage around the hamster. If you do not have gloves, cover the hamster with a towel or blanket before picking it up.
When you find the hamster, put it into its cage and give it some food and water. Also remember to put back all objects that might be chewed on by the animal (e.g., electric cables), as this will prevent it from escaping again.
So now you know how to find a hamster lost in your house, and hopefully never have to do it again!
5. If the hamster escapes outdoors, give it shelter and food
If the hamster escapes outdoors and cannot return inside the house by itself, try to bring it back inside as soon as possible. First, find a cardboard box like the ones delivered by the postman (or packages you receive at home), and put some food in it. Then cover the hamster with the box to protect it from predators or any other dangers.
Try to be patient and remember that although they are small animals, finding a hamster in the wild is not an easy task. So be kind to your hamster and keep feeding it while you wait for someone to help you bring it back inside.
How to prevent a hamster escape
As one last tip, if the hamster escapes again after you've caught it once, check out these 7 ways to prevent a hamster escape. If your pet has escaped many times, you should visit a vet who will talk to you about possible underlying conditions.
1. Put the hamster in a room with no escape routes
To prevent your hamster from escaping, you must first find out why it is trying to get outside. Does it want food? Fresh air? To play with its fellow furry friends? Once you figure this out, try putting the animal in a room where there is nothing of interest and where it can't escape from. This way your hamster won't be able to get out of the house, and you will also save yourself a lot of trouble.
2. Make sure all doors are closed
This tip is especially important if you live in an area where there are predators around, like big cats or dogs. Keep your pet indoors and close the doors to your house. If you are not sure whether they are all closed, hang a string of bells on each of them so that you can hear if any door is open.
3. Supervise your pet when you let it out
First, make sure that all doors are shut so that your hamster can't escape the room where it will be allowed to walk around freely. Then, slowly open the cage and wait until your hamster comes out.
Once it starts walking around the room, gently take hold of it with your hand. Never let your hamster roam free inside your house if you don't know how to find a hamster lost in your house - they can eat dangerous things or get hurt. Remember that animals are unpredictable and you should always expect the worst.
4. Make sure to exercise your hamster regularly
Hamsters are active animals that need a lot of space and should not be kept in small cages. The best way to prevent them from escaping is to take them out for regular walks, but if you don't have the time for this, make sure they get enough exercise in their cages. Just like humans, hamsters need to exercise regularly in order to be healthy and happy.
5. Always keep the cage cover closed
Most hamster cages have roof covers that you can use to prevent your pet from escaping. The best way is to always keep them locked but remember that hamsters are good at finding ways out of their homes
6. Don't let your hamster exercise near escape routes
If you do not have any other choice but to keep the animal in a cage, make sure its exercise wheel is placed away from all possible escape routes. Hamsters are good climbers and jumpers, so they can easily get out of their homes even if you think everything is locked.
7. Use child-proof locks on all doors
Regular door locks don't always work against hamsters, which use their cheek pouches to transport food and other materials and move them through small openings. If you're not sure whether your door is locked, check it with a string of bells so that you can hear the sound if the animal opens it.
Conclusion
Hamsters are cute little animals that are fun to have around, but they require attention and care. They should never be allowed out of their cages unless you know how to find a hamster lost in your house. If you can't find the animal, there is a good chance it has gotten out of your home through some small opening and will be roaming around until you catch it. Make sure to close all windows, doors, and vents so that no other animals can get inside your living space.
