Realistically, how high can a hamster fall?

Oatmeal_Cupcake · 04-10-2014, 02:38 AM

Realistically speaking, how high can a hamster fall before they get hurt? I've heard people saying that anything higher than 6-8 inches will cause them to get injured.

However, my Kit Kat has jumped out of my hand at 3 feet high on two separate occasions. Each time she has scared the poop out of me and I've gone to bed feeling bad and kicking myself over it. Other than being scared right after the drop she hasn't been hurt.

So again, how high can a hamster fall before they get hurt? I only ask because I don't want to feel so horrible and worried after it happens. I'll still be careful in not letting it happen and I will still feel horrible and worried but not as much. It's more about feeling like it's not the end of the world when she falls. Kinda like when a mother see's her kid trip and even though he's scraped his knee and there is blood she knows that he'll be ok.

jemmalg · 04-10-2014, 03:21 AM

I think it depends on whether they mean to jump or not! Mine like to terrify me by seeming totally calm chilling on the sofa with me and then taking a mad leap off the edge, but they've been fine with that, they land on their feet and scurry off for an explore round the room. But I think if they fell from say, a tall cage they were monkeybarring and fell onto their back, or onto a hard/sharp object, that would be bad for them.

AmyHague · 04-10-2014, 03:35 AM

My two boy hamsters are kept on the side board in our spare/utility room, when I went away my nan was looking after the hammys (as she always does) but on this one occasion she did not close George's cage door properly, and when she came back the next day to feed them, she noticed he was missing! So he jumped/fell a good 3-4ft of the counter onto hard laminate flooring!!! So like jemma says, I think it depends how they land and what they land on.

Esmy · 04-10-2014, 05:17 AM

That leads me to another question. Do hamsters get headaches? lol

slatted · 04-10-2014, 07:03 AM

I agree that it is how and where they fall that makes a huge difference. I have seen hammies fall great distances without incident (I try to stop them being exposed to risk but they are determined to get into scrapes aren't they? :/

The only incident that ended badly was when Laurel had to be put down because she slipped backwards off my shoulder and broke her back

Esmy · 04-10-2014, 07:17 AM

Mine have had several high falls (I learned the hard way how unpredictable they are) and fortunately no injuries. That includes falling off a 3 ft table and about a 3 ft nose dive. Scared me!! I am much better about using a cup for "transporting".

Hekomi · 04-10-2014, 07:27 AM

Only Mocha has been dropped, and by my SO. Initially it was "he jumped from my hand and landed in the tank" but I've further found out it was "he jumped from my hand and landed on the floor".

Apparently it was extremely concerning (this was a few months back) because he landed half on his front and half on his back (so twisted). He then tried to get up but ended up pulling himself around in circles because his back half was still flipped over. My SO was convinced he paralyzed Mocha, and was going to rush him into the emergency. He called me frantic, and I said to put him back, and we looked up some info on the internet. He was definitely not happy, and probably a bit bruised, since he hid behind the wheel (I was out of town) but we were happy to see him eating and drinking normally (SO gave him a treat to make him feel better) so I wasn't too worried about teeth chipping.

By that evening he was back to being Mocha and running around like a little maniac. It was scary at the time since I was out of town and my SO was all alone with him, and now knowing it was from a lot higher than I was originally told, it seems very scary. But he managed to be fine from it and he still makes terrifying leaps.

Esmy · 04-10-2014, 07:31 AM

For having such short legs, they sure love to jump! I have a bridge (ramp) up to Wicket's shelf and he struggles to climb up without the bridge and jumps off when he's done. The bridge is pointless. lol

Oatmeal_Cupcake · 04-10-2014, 10:36 PM

Thank you so much everyone. All of your comments and input have helped. You guys have put my mind at ease nonetheless, I will still be careful with her.

It does seem that they are quite the little jumpers. Lol.