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Old 08-15-2021, 02:32 PM   #1
Merlina
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Default Hamster holiday care

Just wondering what everyone does for holiday care for their hamsters? I have had hamsters for 17 years and have not yet been away anywhere for more than one night where my hamsters couldn't go too but health problems mean that I now have to make a trip where I can't drive so my hamster will have to stay at home. My partner will be here and is OK with food and water but he is not able to manage out of cage time for an agile fast little ham. I would only be gone for two or three nights so would it seem reasonable to leave Skarloey in his cage for that length of time? He normally has his cage open all evening and in to the early hours but still spends about 75% of the time in his cage (his favourite wheel and chilling spot are in there). In future I may have to leave him with a friend but would worry about him being out of his cage in a strange place (although he has never tried to escape - he doesn't even climb out of his pen and that is easy to do). So I would just like to know what everyone does when they go away - do you trust friends or relatives to let your hamsters out of their cages? How long would you leave them with no out of cage time ? Also if you look after someone else's hamster would you feel confident letting it out?
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Old 08-15-2021, 03:23 PM   #2
Amethyst_ice
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Default Re: Hamster holiday care

Hello,

I live alone and rarely go away but i've always been comfortable going away and leaving a hammy with two water bottles (in case one fails) and a full food dish for several nights.

Not everyone can let their hammy out every day so im sure your little one will be more than fine as you go away for a rare treat
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Old 08-15-2021, 03:57 PM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster holiday care

If your partner's there to do food and water I'm sure your hammy will do fine without out of cage time for a few nights. Maybe your hamster will see it as a holiday lol.
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Old 08-15-2021, 04:29 PM   #4
Merlina
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Default Re: Hamster holiday care

Thanks for your replies. I feel happy to leave him for a while now. I am sure I will miss him more than he will miss me . (His cage has been open for 3 hours and he has been out for about 10 minutes tonight!)
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Old 08-15-2021, 11:24 PM   #5
Ria P
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Default Re: Hamster holiday care

Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlina View Post
I am sure I will miss him more than he will miss me .
That is so true! I currently work overnight twice a week and keep thinking of the poor hamsters at home in their cages wanting to come out.
When i get home next day and ask my OH how the hams have been he always tells me that they were fine and playing on their wheels, no bar chewing and no pacing by their door. They only do that when i'm home because they know that i'll let them out.
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Old 08-16-2021, 01:49 AM   #6
Merlina
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Default Re: Hamster holiday care

Thanks Ria. Now you have said that I realise that Skarloey behaves differently with me and my OH. I let him out so I get the excited bouncy hamster whe can't wait to be free. OH likes to sit by the cage and have a chat so Skarloey sits quietly and stares at him with no sign of wanting to be out. He only sits with me in the morning when he is tired and I get a long unblinking stare from a foot away while I am trying to eat breakfast.
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Old 08-16-2021, 03:10 AM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster holiday care

I think they do miss us actually, but not so much if someone else familiar is there. When I've been away and left my OH to do the feeding and watering he rarely sees them, and the same if I have a pet sitter come in - so they sense it's not you and hide away. And I do wonder what goes through their little heads, wondeirng if you're gone forever. But after it's happened before I guess they learn it's temporary and you'll be back.

We did have one hamster though who really pined if we weren't there even for a night or two and looked terrible after two days. Depressed and gaunt. It partly depends how bonded they are to you maybe, and also if the house is completely empty. After that experience I would never leave them in a completely empty house, not even for a night or two. If someone is there once a day to feed them (and I tell them to talk to them too!) then they do ok really.

I recently took our 23 month old syrian with us when we were away for a week (staying in a house so it was straight from house to house and in a holiday cage). Normally I'd get a pet sitter to come to the house which is less upheaval - pros and cons to everything!
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Old 08-16-2021, 04:32 AM   #8
Merlina
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Default Re: Hamster holiday care

I've always travelled with mine and found they were all perfectly happy as long as they were in their own cage. It means folding the seats flat to get in cage + playpen + box of hamster toys so it makes packing easy cos you can't take much luggage! After the first few times most of them did not even wake up when moved, but I did have one that insisted on standing up wobbling on the highest ledge so he could look over my shoulder. After several stops to persuade him down I had to lean over the front seats in a very inelegant position and dismantle the shelf before I reached the motorway. I didn't fancy trying to explain to the police I was only driving at 10 mph on the m1 cos the hamster wanted to see where he was going. Also I would never leave a hamster in the car alone so comfort breaks can't happen if I travel by myself!
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Old 08-16-2021, 04:41 AM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster holiday care

It's not really safe to have them in a cage when travelling as they can be thrown and injured. Better to take the cage, set it up when you get there, and have the hamster in a pet carrier, either on your knee where you can hold onto it (unless youre the driver!) or well wedged in somewhere on the floor of the car. I also put a blanket over the top so it's dark and less scary distractions of cars and light etc. They usually just go to sleep.
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Old 08-16-2021, 11:20 AM   #10
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Hamster holiday care

Not only can hamsters get thrown around and injured if driven in a cage or something similarly large, they can also become a very dangerous projectile if an accident were to happen(which can happen at any time to anyone even if they drive carefully normally) so it really is best to just stick to a safe and fairly small carrier!
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