I thought I'd make a thread to post updates on Eevee's progress with us. We got her last week and she's slowly getting used to us.
I've attached some pictures of our baby on this thread, I'm new here so limted to the amount of "in thread" images I can add at the moment.
She's currently in a medium-ish cage I got, this is a temporary house until my boyfriend and I have time off work to build the Linmon IKEA cage like this one!
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WEEK 01
Eevee is slowly beginning to trust us, it's been a while since either of us have owned a hamster so we're learning too. I currently have some tissue shoved up my sleeve to get the scent from me to it haha!
Little Eevee is still very skittish and jumpy (I've never had a jumpy hamster before) so that was a bit of a surprise. I'm hoping with time she will be as tame as my previous hamsters, at the moment when I try to tame her she runs away.
I have had success in picking her up but there's always an escape that happens lol. I recently tried out a new method which is to put her in a medium sized tub with some bedding and getting her to walk on my palm for feeding. This seems to be working so I'll keep giving this method a go.
Aww Eevee's blooming gorgeous! I love her colouring.
I couldn't help but notice the cat, I would advise you to keep it away from Eevee at all times, Cat's are hunters and many think their cat wouldn't hurt another pet but given the chance they will pounce.
Have you got a room you can keep Eevee in away from your cat? Cats will use their paws to swipe at the cage and your hamster could get seriously hurt.
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Mom To Gorgeous Noah
Over The Rainbow Bridge - Master Harvey 2 years & 5 months, Twinkle 'The Diva' 1 year & 8 months, Archie 2 years & 3 months & Xena 2 years & 9 months. Forever loved by T-Liz.
Eevee is very cute! I love her sweet little face. As Thin Lizzie said, keeping the cat out would be a good idea It's stressful to the ham to smell the scent of a predator, and it's stressful for the cat to smell prey and not be able to get at it. I'd also suggest looking into a larger wheel. The one you have now is a bit on the smaller side, but luckily, there are plenty other high quality wheels available. The silent runner is my favorite, hands down. However, the wodent wheel, trixie, and CSE (US & Canada exclusive) are all great too. Check some of them out and see if you like them
She really does look very sweet
I'm not surprised she's skittish & jumpy though, I think your first step toward making her feel more safe & confident is to keep your cat out of the room, once the big scary predator has gone I'm sure Eevee will settle & begin to enjoy life much more.
I know it's been said it in your other thread & the others have said it too but I don't think the dangers & stress of having your cat in the room with your ham can be stressed enough.
I agree with Drago about the wheel, if you can't fit a larger wheel into the cage now it might be better to remove it until you can upgrade the cage & maybe make a playpen she can enjoy a large wheel in until then.
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Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri ❤️
Eevee is a lovely girl, please keep the cat shut out. My mum still remembers finding our family hamster dismembered 30 years ago and she won't tell me about it.
She's a beautiful girl and I'm sure she she will tame up and settle in soon. I think that cage looks great and I hope you do post pictures of it when you build it. There's lots of tips for taming jumpy hams on here, so don't worry about that.
I do agree that for the good of both hamster and cat (they find it very frustrating not to be able to catch a prey animal!) you designate Eevee's room of the house a cat free hamster area. I have cats, but the door to the "hamster room" always remains firmly closed with them outside - albeit often with their noses under the door. I'm sure they know there's a "pretty" inside
And I completely understand your concern of our cat being around, should've added more context to the photos to be honest. That was the first photo taken as we just setup the cage which is why he was in the same room as her, she stays in our bedroom which is locked now that she's all set up.
I agree about the wheel, I was telling Drew it looks too small for her so I'll be getting her a new one when we build the IKEA glass cage (I'm thinking of a flying saucer type?)
Sorry if I scared anyone with my cat in the photo! I assure you Eevee is fine, we've had guinea pigs previously in an "open" style cage and lived for many years, not that I'll be doing that with Eevee lol. I'll keep this thread updated with progress on her.
Upright wheels are a must for Syrians. They are better for their backs and allow them to run most naturally. You can also put in a flying saucer if you want, but only in addition to an upright wheel.
Upright wheels are a must for Syrians. They are better for their backs and allow them to run most naturally. You can also put in a flying saucer if you want, but only in addition to an upright wheel.
Ah okay no problem. I'll get an upright wheel, I thought flying saucers would be better for her back. Not a problem
Also I was thinking about the cat situation, we were hopeing to have the heavily reinforced Linmon IKEA cage in the living room as a sort of center piece, is this not advised now? Oscar (cat in the photo) wouldn't be able to get in the cage at all because of the structure. The other cat (Max) is dopey and has no interest in Eevee at all lol.
Good to hear Eevee is away from the cat, we all worry when we see photos like that but you're clearly doing the sensible thing, even with the new cage I wouldn't have the cage in the same room as the cats, it's not just the danger of the cats getting to your ham, even the scent of a cat can be very stressful for them & you can never really make anything totally accident proof.
Getting an upright wheel also has the advantage of leaving you with a lot more space in the cage for other things, flying saucers tend to take up half the cage!
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Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri ❤️
Eevee's Evolution!
It's stressful to the ham to smell the scent of a predator, and it's stressful for the cat to smell prey and not be able to get at it. I'd also suggest looking into a larger wheel. The one you have now is a bit on the smaller side, but luckily, there are plenty other high quality wheels available. The silent runner is my favorite, hands down. However, the wodent wheel, trixie, and CSE (US & Canada exclusive) are all great too. Check some of them out and see if you like them 
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