Are Harnesses and Leashes Okay/Safe for Hamsters?

Creampuff · 10-24-2019, 12:30 PM

Hi,

I was wondering if getting a harness and leash for my hamster would be safe/okay. Then I could control her, but still let her have time out. What is your opinion on this? Also, if yes, do you know where I could find one?

Thank you!

Ria P · 10-24-2019, 12:39 PM

NO!! Definitely not suitable for a fragile little hamster! You can get or make a play pen to give your hamster room to play and run around in. They are not meant to be controlled either but supervised.

AmityvilleHams · 10-24-2019, 12:48 PM

As Ria P has said, definitely not. They can cause serious injury and even kill a hamster, so never under any circumstances try to use any kind of harness or leash.

Proper supervision is mandatory with any time out of the cage, unless you created some sort of play bin with a secure mesh lid. You're not meant to control their actions, you're supposed to prevent anything bad from happening in the first place. Don't give them opportunities to escape or get injured or otherwise get into trouble, rather than trying to rely on some random device that just isn't safe in the first place to do your job for you.

Creampuff · 10-24-2019, 01:03 PM

Okay thank you! I have a playpen, but she doesn't seem to like it that much. I don't know why.

AmityvilleHams · 10-24-2019, 01:21 PM

How do you have the playpen set up? It's possible you might have too much uncovered space, which would be solved through adding more toys and hiding spots. They are prey animals and no amount of captive breeding will change that, so they need quite a bit of hiding potential with their enclosures and playpens/play bins/etc!

Creampuff · 10-25-2019, 12:49 PM

Oh, okay! Thank you! I think it does have too many open spots. It's not completely filled up with toys. Does it need to be? Does the cage need to like that too? I also seem to have trouble finding good toys that my hamster will play with.

Ria P · 10-25-2019, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creampuff

Oh, okay! Thank you! I think it does have too many open spots. It's not completely filled up with toys. Does it need to be? Does the cage need to like that too? I also seem to have trouble finding good toys that my hamster will play with.

Could you post a photo of your hamster's cage and playpen?

Creampuff · 10-29-2019, 09:46 AM

Yes, here's a few pictures of my cage. However, I do not have the playpen set up right now so I'll post pictures of that later.

Creampuff · 10-31-2019, 09:20 AM

Do you have any suggestions as to how I could make it better?

Chicleteer · 10-31-2019, 04:43 PM

Creampuff, I also have the Prevue Pet cage, and it’s been a great cage for my Syrian.

I also have a Silent Runner wheel (12-inch; she’s a pretty big girl!) and that’s been terrific too — sturdy, quiet, and turns easily. Also, it comes with hardware to attach to the cage, and that works well. I had it mounted that way for a while, but then had to put it back on the platform since Chiclet went through a phase of wanting to go burrowing around the wheel, and that piled up substrate under the wheel that made it too hard to turn.... Of course, shortly after I went through the trouble of removing it from the cage bars and putting it back on the platform, she abandoned her burrowing activities around the wheel and went back to her usual burrowing under the platform. I swear these hamsters are determined to keep us on our toes! :P