I've only gone and lost the hamster

[Bertiebobbins]

He jumped off my hand in the kitchen and found a tiny hole by the washing machine I didn't realise was there. Anyway he's crawled into the cavity wall and has climbed up into the ceiling cavity - probably scaled an 8ft wall. I can hear him scrabbling around above me in the kitchen. Ive no idea how far he can get round the building up there, I'm top floor in flats. I've set up a bucket trap with tuna so can only hope for the best - my question is if he got up that high can he get down again safely? He's got no food with him and I shouldn't think there's anything edible in the cavity walls. How long do I wait before giving him up for lost? So sad. 😭

[racinghamster]

Not the best scenario for your hamster Bertiebobbins. If you can listen closely and locate where he is, maybe if you have a loft door or some way of accessing the ceiling? Hamsters like familiarity and will smell their own cage or nesting. I`m not sure if he will get back down the way he came though unless it`s an easy descent in there. Leaving tasty things out like peanut butter and listening for movements and try and call to him, making a tapping or a scratching noise for him to follow. Really hope you can get him back, best of luck, but make it your priority even if it means calling in the council or whoever can help get the little falla out. x

[Bertiebobbins]

I thought so �� I can't hear him anymore so he's either run off somewhere else or he's gone to sleep.

I've just spoken to the managing agent of the flats and there is no way for a human to access where he has gone- we're right in the roof and basically there's a really small space between us and the roof tiles. Poor little man basically he's on his own - if he can't get down to find the food I've left for him he's stuck up there.

I feel so bad. So irresponsible I should have made sure he was safe

[Thin Lizzy]

Don't blame yourself, accidents happen.
Try tasty food to lure him back like chicken, make a long trail of treats and do the bucket trick. Use books anything to make steps leading up to the bucket. Put plenty substrate in it and some food. Fingers crossed he'll find his way home.

[Piebald]

Don't be hard on yourself Hamsters are cunning escapists. The good news is they lay a scent trail where ever they go and are excellent navigators. Your guy will explore around but I would guess he will make his way back to the familiar especially when hungry. I'd leave a few bucket traps and also his cage somewhere accessible-- he will want to go back to it! Keep the house quiet, especially at dusk when he is likely to poke around. Fingers crossed! xx

[Bertiebobbins]

Thanks - I'm trying to stay hopeful he will find his way down. I'll put his cage in the kitchen aswell as the bucket trap, maybe he will find his way back to his bed tonight.

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Use Canned Tuna Fish or smelly canned cat food too as a good smell for him to seek out. Not sure what species Your Hamster is but can say without doubt Syrians can climb up and down a hollow wall as I've had mine get in the wall and be quite pleased with themselves at cooping very well in the biggest critter trail cage ever made.

One just purchased Black Tort Band girl lived in the wall for almost 3 months by licking our water pipes and scavenging any seed left on the floor and also chowing down on the cat food kibble on the second floor of the house which she accessed by climbing UP and down the walls like a giant tube.

Because of that female I tell people to not give up hope of recapturing an escaped Hamster in the wall until it is obvious it has perished(like winter cold or excess heat of summer etc. Be warned once escaped they will always seek escape when out, and if loose a while they will be very untamed for some time after being recaptured.

[racinghamster]

I`ve seen people on TV animal documentaries call in the RSPCA and they usually find a way to access the roof or the walls, but it can mean drilling holes or looking at ways to help. Whether the managing agent would be pleased to have any damage to the flat though is anyone`s guess! Did he give you any idea of the layout up there? If you are right at the top and inside the ceiling cavity, ceilings (that are not plastered) are usually just boards. Above those will possibly be thicker straps of wood holding the roof up. But there will be a membrane between the roof and the tiles anyway, so hopefully he won`t get out. His only way back should be to follow his own scent trail of the smell of yummy food. x

[Pebbles82]

I would put a bucket trap near the washing machine hole where he went in - it's the most likely place he could come out again, and I agree - if he can get up the walls, he can get down them - there could be all kinds of things in there - a wood frame or something. Also maybe put a notice downstairs near the entrance to your block of flats saying you have lost your hamster and he may appear through a hole in someone else's flat, with your mobile number in case anyone finds him and doesn't know where he has come from. I remember seeing a Youtube video of a hamster chewing through a plasterboard wall and coming into their flat - and it wasn't their hamster - he had come through the walls from somewhere else. When he gets hungry he will seek food.

[BluerayDarkes]

I really hope you manage to capture your hamster, keep us updated x