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Old 08-14-2019, 09:29 PM   #1
newhamster
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 2
Default New Hamster Advice

Hi!

So I just got a hamster tonight and unfortunately, I think I was led astray by the employee about a cage. I got this one (https://www.petsmart.com/small-pet/c...tat-14586.html). I don't have the money until Friday to get it a better cage, so I was wondering what I could do to make it hamster friendlier in the meantime? Should I take out the two sidebars so she can't fall from them?

Another issue is she keeps climbing up the walls and then jumping off of them and I'm worried it's bad for her. Is there a way to disencourage this behavior?


Thank you in advance!
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Old 08-15-2019, 03:42 AM   #2
LunaTheHamster1
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Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,593
Default Re: New Hamster Advice

Hi, I hope you can return the cage and get your money back. At least you have realised the cage is not a good one. I think i would leave the shelves there as you said she is climbing the walls, and it will make it a shorter fall. can you put some of the bedding on the shelves to make it a softer landing. I don't think there is much you can do about climbing the walls and jumping off apart from moving her into a new cage asap. I don't suppose you have a big plastic storage box (bin cage) you could use, till friday? It might be safer. Also is it possible to take the tunnel off the side, so she can't escape that way. I think a lot of hamsters manage to escape from these type of cages. You may also want to put a book or something on top so she can't escape from there. I think once you have her in a proper cage you may see her behaviour change dramatically for the better, Good luck.
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Old 08-15-2019, 04:08 AM   #3
10Minutes
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Join Date: Jul 2019
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Default Re: New Hamster Advice

Lots of bedding would help break her falls. Avoid hard objects in her cage, but sadly, her wheel is still mandatory. If you are able to safely do so (ensure you don't use any kind of adhesive that could harm her, preferably just slot it in), you could place some cardboard around the mid to topmost bars. She won't be able to climb areas covered with smooth cardboard, because her paws have nothing to grip on. I'd probably allow her to continue climbing the bottom bars, or she might get even more stressed without anything to do (hopefully others will comment on this).

Give her an empty toilet roll to play with, she could hide in it or chew on it, or a small cardboard box that has an opening on one side is good too.

I agree with Luna that her behaviour is most probably because the cage is unsuitable and, also because she is placed in a new environment. They do calm down a lot more once they have a suitable cage and have had a chance to get used to a new environment.

When you transfer her to a bigger cage, she will get stressed from the change in environment. Do use all of the old bedding in it (and transfer the toilet roll too!) so that at least her smell is still in there and that would help her to adapt a little more quickly.

Hope you get your money back on the unsuitable cage, and I'm delighted to see you're doing your best for her. What breed is she? You'll make a great difference to her life!
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Old 08-15-2019, 06:21 PM   #4
newhamster
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Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 2
Default Re: New Hamster Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
Hi, I hope you can return the cage and get your money back. At least you have realised the cage is not a good one. I think i would leave the shelves there as you said she is climbing the walls, and it will make it a shorter fall. can you put some of the bedding on the shelves to make it a softer landing. I don't think there is much you can do about climbing the walls and jumping off apart from moving her into a new cage asap. I don't suppose you have a big plastic storage box (bin cage) you could use, till friday? It might be safer. Also is it possible to take the tunnel off the side, so she can't escape that way. I think a lot of hamsters manage to escape from these type of cages. You may also want to put a book or something on top so she can't escape from there. I think once you have her in a proper cage you may see her behaviour change dramatically for the better, Good luck.
I ended up taking out the shelves last night, but that seemed to help a lot somehow because she stopped trying to climb the walls. Right now I just have her food bowl, her wheel, and a little hut for her to sleep in in there. The tunnel has to stay because there isn't a hole closer, but I'll put a book on top. She's definitely chilled out from last night so I think she's getting use to her new house. I don't have a storage bin but I'll get her a new cage ASAP! Thank you for your response.
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Old 08-16-2019, 12:26 PM   #5
Schwartzie
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Join Date: Jun 2019
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Default Re: New Hamster Advice

It takes guts to reign yourself in and realize that something isn’t right and put things in place to rectify the situation. Well done for reaching out and seeking support.

Before you buy another cage take the time to go through threads on this forum about cage sizes and what enrichment etc your hamster will need. You don’t want to go and get another cage that might not be suitable. What hamster do you have? There are many threads here in the forum that can help you decide between DIY bins, IkEA furniture, guinea pig and rabbit cages with mesh on etc. Petshops don’t sell cages that are big enough so you need to get creative and tweak something.

So excited to see what you decide to get. Designing and deciding on your cage setup is so much fun!
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hamster, cage, issue, behavior, climbing, advance, sidebars, fall, walls, bad, worried, jumping, disencourage, make, employee, astray, led, advice, tonight, money, friendlier, meantime, friday, wondering

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