Accidentally scared my new hamster

littlebrownhamster · 02-28-2016, 07:28 AM

Hi all,

I was reattaching the water bottle to my hamsters cage earlier and in the process I disturbed her while she was in her bedding area. Before I attached the bottle I spoke to her so she knew I was there and suddenly she screeched at me (maybe I was speaking too loudly).

I've only had her a week and she's had 2 new cages in the time (the first one was way too small) she's been in the new one since Thursday. I've left her completely alone since Thursday to settle in but the day before the move she was letting me gently stroke her so I know she is friendly.

I've never had a hamster screech at me before so I feel awful that I have scared her but also I now feel less confident with starting the taming process. I feel bad about moving her but the new cage is so much bigger.

Does anyone have any tips on how I can gain her trust after this? I don't want to do a bad job with her but feel like I've ruined the work I had started.

Thanks in advance

cypher · 02-28-2016, 07:36 AM

I wouldn't worry too much, you probably just startled her when she was sleeping, I'm sure she won't hold it against you!
You've done the right thing giving her time to settle into the new cage, have you done the tissue trick? Putting a tissue up your sleeve for a few hours then putting it in the cage & doing that daily for a while, it really helps them get used to your scent & can be especially helpful if you're having to leave them alone & not have much contact while they settle.
Just keep talking to her & go slowly with taming, if she let you stroke her before I'm sure she'll soon be getting used to you.
Try not to worry, being relaxed around her will help her feel more confident too.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 02-28-2016, 07:59 AM

You did good to upgrade her, since it's only been since Thursday I'd give as much time as needed until she feels secure in her new cage.

sully · 02-28-2016, 08:32 AM

In all my years I had never had a hamster that screamed, until one of my recent rescues. It was a real surprise and she had bitten me a couple times too. She is now much calmer and I haven't heard her scream for about a month now. Im sure yours will be okay once she realises you mean her no harm and she gets used to things.

littlebrownhamster · 03-01-2016, 02:07 PM

Hi all,

Thanks so much for the replies, I really appreciate them. She hasn't screeched again but I've made a big effort not to disturb her when she's asleep.

She is still quite unsettled though. I upgraded he cage but chose a rabbit cage with bars (the bars are 1 cm apart) it is over the minimum size according to other posts on this forum. She's been climbing a lot and hanging off the roof!! I'm worried she will hurt herself as she seems desperate to get out and is generally skittish

tonight I made a very large pen for her and let her have the run of a room, when I put her back in her cage she went to bed so I'm hoping that helped a bit. I really can't fit a bigger cage in the house so I'm really hoping she will settle down.....

She let me stroke her tonight, she's really lovely.

**Sm_banks** · 03-01-2016, 02:09 PM

You just scared her. She will be okay.

Pebbles82 · 03-01-2016, 05:06 PM

It's just time now really. It'll be a couple of weeks before she stops feeling strange in the new cage. Ours only squeaked at me once - opened his mouth wide and a loud squeak came out - it was at the sight of my hand descending from a height. He'd forgotten about it next day I reckon. If you're worried about her falling from the top, then maybe just put extra substrate in the bottom to cushion any falls - you can fill a cage base with it and even heap it up higher in the middle. If it's deep enough she might even dig a tunnel. Also move any hard floor toys so they are under something else - eg a shelf or a sputnik etc. So if she does fall she can only land on soft substrate. Scatter feeding can distract them a bit from the strangeness of a new cage and keep her occupied. Ours gets quite excited at finding bits of food in the substrate. When I put his food out I put half in the food bowl and scatter the other half around the cage on the substrate. As Cypher says, the tissue trick will help her recognise your scent in a positive way. And you can talk gently to her each day through the bars so she gets familiar with your voice.

The main thing, if she has just moved cages, is don't clean anything for the next couple of weeks, other than minor spot cleaning (ie taking a handful of wet substrate out and replacing it with a new handful, then mixing it in) as she will be scent marking the cage so she can find her way around. Their poops aren't dirty, they're just like little seeds, so don't worry about those.

If you leave her to her own devices for the next two or three days she will start to find her habits in the cage. Taming will come soon

Thin Lizzy · 03-03-2016, 08:15 AM

She's still settling in so don't worry. Twinkle would react to the slightest noise when I first got her. Give her more time and avoid doing a cage clean like Serendipity suggested. She just needs to mark her scent all over the cage. Try the tissue trick so she gets familiar with your smell. Stuff some tissues up your sleeves and leave for a couple of hours and then place in the cage, curiosity will have her sniffing the tissues, do this everyday four a week. You'll probably find she'll use the tissues as bedding.

AnyaAndLyra · 03-05-2016, 09:50 PM

Hamsters only screech when in pain or extremely frightened or if they need your attention and can't get it otherwise. She was probably just frightened as it can take a while for them to get used to new surroundings. You also have to consider her background, especially if she came from a petstore. If she did, she could've had experienced you don't know abou so certain sounds or movements could scare her more than others. Give her time and approach slowy when you do.

littlebrownhamster · 03-09-2016, 12:35 PM

Hi all,

Thanks very much for the great advice.

She hasn't screeched at all since which is a relief! Generally she is much less scatty and seems to recognise me now.

Only problem is she is bar chewing a lot

I've put loads of chews and toys in with her but I can't seem to stop her doing it. I want to avoid changing her cage again so wondered if putting some kind of plastic on the bottom bars might help? I could also possibly make some kind of attachment and link her cage to another to give her another level.

Thanks everyone!