Taming - is it too late?

IndigoElectron · 07-04-2009, 03:01 PM

My Syrian Myfanwy is about 7-8 months old and she still isn't very tame. She didn't have a very good start in life - I got her from a pet shop (which I will NEVER do again) and when the bloke was getting her out of the cage, he wasn't very gentle. When I got her home she was so scared that she was squeaking, and she was very timid. She started off in an Imac fantasy with 2 extensions but she chewed the bars so much that she rubbed the fur off her nose, so now she's in a Ferplast Duna Multy. I was a little worried about the size of the cage but it does meet the RSPCA minimum requirements and I don't really have room for a bigger one.

I'm ashamed to say I didn't make enough effort to tame her when I got her. I tried playing with her in the bath but all she wanted to do was climb the sides; I got her out on the bathroom floor with the door shut but she just sniffed at the door and the skirting board, and tried to chew that too. It seemed that whatever I did, she just wanted to get away. I know I should have tried harder but I didn't, and I feel awful about it, but I felt like I was getting nowhere and that she would never be tamed.

She gets fed, she has a Wodent wheel and toys which I change around regularly, and she gets time out in her ball each day. But I'm worried she's unhappy, bored and lonely

I've just bought her a playpen which I customised by attaching cardboard to the top of each section so she can't get out (it gives it a lot more height) and because I got 2 sets, she has loads of room. But she doesn't really seem to like that either - I got her a snuggle pouch and a digging tower which is filled with wood shavings, but she ignores those. She either just runs round the perimeter of the pen, sniffing and sometimes chewing the bars, or she tries to climb them. The only thing she will play with in there is her Wodent wheel. Today I sat in the pen with her and tried to get her to come to me, but she wasn't interested. She doesn't exactly seem scared of me, but she doesn't really like being picked up (she just about tolerates it) and she doesn't want to play.

I feel so sad at the thought that she's probably a third of the way through her little life and she's never been very happy. I want to try to tame her again but I don't know if it's too late. If anyone has any advice I'd really appreciate it - I know I've been a bit neglectful but want to make it up to her and am determined to put the time in.

souffle · 07-04-2009, 03:22 PM

I think that your are doing her proud Myfanwy.
It is important to remember that hamsters are not little humans in skins nor are they animals like dogs which do 'play'. Hamsters do not actually play. The do instinctive things like exploring, digging, running, sniffing, eating and climbing. They sometimes like to be stroked and the odd one will sit on you are allow a stroke but the vast majority want to go off in the opposite direction from you and explore. It is what they are made for...forgaging for food and running around looking for it.
Your hamster sound absolutly normal and happy to me. Hamsters with all their needs met, space to run, toys, food, attention and comfortable clean accomodation will be 'happy' in a hamsterish understanding of the word. Very few hamsters do not chew bars. They are after all rodents and they do chew. Some do become rather obcessive and chew till they hurt themselves but sometimes you do have to move them for their own good as you have done. Often a hamster will actually be happier in a smaller cage than you think they need. Its a case of the right cage for that particular hamster.
Syrians do not get lonely as they are naturally solitary animals so no worries there.
Some hammies do not really enjoy being handled and no matter how much you try they would prefer to just toddle about themselves. They are not running away from YOU in particular. They just want to be exploring!
Don't beat yourself up over her taming as I think you have tried your best for her and I would suggest that as long as you can take her out and give her a short stroke and smoothe and then let her run around then she IS tame. I'm sure she enjoys her out time with you and the changes of scenery. It is never to late to increase your handling though and gradually get her more used to it so hopefully you will get more pleasure from the experience.
She isn't unhappy and neither should you be. Enjoy her for what she is in her own unique special way

IndigoElectron · 07-04-2009, 03:30 PM

Thanks Souffle

I feel so much better after reading your reply, thank you for taking the time to post. Yes, I can pick her up and she lets me stroke her a little bit before she runs off, especially if she is busy eating a treat! I think what has sparked this off is that my boyfriend is buying some rats and we are both so excited, but it reminded me of when I used to own rats and they were really tame. I was expecting hamsters to be just as tame, but I'm realising this isn't the case. I felt I was being disloyal to Myfanwy in some way, by getting new pets (even though they'll belong to and live with my boyfriend, not me!) when I didn't feel I'd done a very good job with my own pet.

I'm relieved to hear that you think her cage is fine and she's a normal hamster. I still intend to carry on handling her more though - I'm sure she would appreciate more time out of her cage!

Thanks again x

Katty_Sheldon · 07-04-2009, 04:15 PM

Hello,
from what i heard hamsters are really different than rats!
I understand your concern totally... I always end up thinking if my dwarf hamster is happy and i want to cry when i see him biting the cage when he has so many toys. He runs around in his cage (Cambridge) and i keep thinking "he needs more more more space omg he must feel depressed" but your hamster is happy to have such a great owner and he has the best conditions he could get! Good luck with more taming, but they just love to run away

suga · 07-05-2009, 03:32 AM

the first hamster i had as a child was the most docile and relaxed creature. She would sit on my lap or in my pocket and go to sleep, she was happy to have a snuggle etc. Every other hamster when out for a smooth, wants to explore. Yours little one sounds very normal to me.