All About My Pumpkin

[Hamsterita]

Yes, it sounds like you two have a very special bond.

I hope Pumpkin is doing well now that things are back to normal.

[SKB_Hamsters]

Thank you Thin Lizzy and Hamsterita, Pumpkin has settled back down to her normal self and is a lot more relaxed. She occasionally hears something which does worry her - occasionally I can feel her shake - but with some reassurance she calms down.

Cuddle Time Routine
Pumpkin has got back into her normal routine - she sits and waits for her cuddle time at 8pm ready to come out and explore the sofa. When she out having her cuddle time she also has her playbins- two RUB connected together with a rat tube. Pumpkin first likes to explore her boxes and have a groom in her hideaway before she has cuddles (or a good explore) on the sofa. She lets me know when she want to come out of her playbin - she trained me well - when she first went in her playbins I decided not to clip the lid shut to make it easier to get her out as the clips are really tight but Pumpkin started to climb up and bang the lid - so now she know if she bangs the lid I will get her out for cuddles - I quite like this routine as I know when she wants to be handled and not.

Pumpkin's Palace DIY Cage Layout - January 2017

Today I have cleaned Pumpkin's cage and have given her a new layout which is similar to her previous layout but with new chews, tunnels, hideaways and knuff shelf.
Pumpkin has her new DIY knuff shelf which I have painted with Hot Pink and Sky Blue plastikote - to match a hideaway which is inside her play bin - the shelf has a lollystick fence around the edge so I make more use of the space without Pumpkin knocking everything off. Her Knuff shelf also shelters her sand bath. I also made 5 DIY sisal string tunnels using 2 pringle tubes, 2 postal tubes and a Christmas cheeselets tube. I also left Pumpkin's grass house in the front right corner as she has her evening naps and grooming sessions inside it - also by one of the 4 entrance holes is up against the acrylic which enables me to watch her.
Pumpkin enjoyed exploring her cage and chewing most of chews insides. She even dropped a chew in her water bowl - I thought this chew would look good behind her bowl in the corner of her knuff shelf and I forgot that the bowl was going to be her water bowl - when Pumpkin was exploring she decided to reach across and grab this chew - I was watching her and thought what a silly idea I had to put it there as I watch her drop the chew into her bowl. Pumpkin was very confused as to where her chew had went.

Picture 1 - Overview of cage
IMG_0970.JPG

Picture 2 - Collage of picture of Pumpkin's new layout including a couple of cute photos of Pumpkin exploring
IMG_0969.JPG

Picture 3 - Pumpkin's DIY Knuff
IMG_0968.JPG

[cypher]

Good to hear Pumpkin is a bit more settled again now.
Sounds like she is really enjoying her cuddles & play time, learning to bang the lids of her bins really made me laugh, clever girl

Her new cage layout looks great, lots of fun for her, she looks really lovely in the photos too.
Did she figure out where the chew had gone or did you have to go fishing for it?!

[Hamsterita]

Wow, Pumpkin cage is amazing, I love the new layout.

You did a good work with the Ikea Knuff, it looks stunning. I have to try to make a diy tube with sisal string and a pringles tube... but before I have to eat all the pringles on it.... ufff I have to make so many sacrifices for my ham

I'm glad that she's back to normal.

[BorisPasha]

That's good news that she's more relaxed again So cute that she sits waiting for you for cuddle time.

Pumpkin's cage look amazing SKB, love her shelf. I wish I could be more imaginative when it comes to layout I'm sure she'll have a great time playing and exploring in it.

[Thin Lizzy]

Well you've really done it SKB, that's a very impressive & colourful layout, I so love it!
Pumpkin is so blooming lucky and deserves lots of lovely things.
So glad she's getting back to her normal self.

[SKB_Hamsters]

Thank you so much cypher, Hamsterita, BorisPasha and Thin Lizzy.
This layout exceeded my expectation - I think it was due to me being a little bit more organised and getting everything out that I wanted to put in before I started cleaning as it helped be to visualise how I wanted her cage to look - normally I get things out as I'm going along and this sometimes gets a little stressful especially if I can't find something. I did put in most of my colourful chews in this month which have brighten up her cage.
Pumpkin has been really enjoying this layout so far - she has been enjoying the wide selection of chews - I often hear her chewing on them during the night. Also I think she appreciates having both her grass hideaways in her cage - often see her grooming herself inside them or having a little evening nap.
It's so nice seeing her settled again and behaving like her usual self.

Originally Posted by cypher

...Sounds like she is really enjoying her cuddles & play time, learning to bang the lids of her bins really made me laugh, clever girl ... Did she figure out where the chew had gone or did you have to go fishing for it?!

Pumpkin does really enjoy coming out for her cuddle times. It was so funny watching Pumpkin the banging the lids of her play bins the first time - she is very smart - although sometimes gets a little impatient if I take to long to get her out and start trying to chew the lid - normally I tell her to wait a minute and she will hang onto the edge until I get her out.
I had to fish her chew out of her water bowl - as she didn't figure out where the chew had went although she could have got it out as part of it was still above the water for her to grab - but as soon as I got it out she started to chew it. I have allowed it to dry properly and it been returned into her cage.

Originally Posted by Hamsterita

... You did a good work with the Ikea Knuff, it looks stunning. I have to try to make a diy tube with sisal string and a pringles tube... but before I have to eat all the pringles on it.... ufff I have to make so many sacrifices for my ham

I did really enjoy making this knuff shelf. I would recommend trying making Blacky some sisal covered Pringle tubes - Pumpkin really enjoy them - i agree it so hard the sacrifices we make for our hamsters - but it's so nice enjoying pringles so they can enjoy the tube.

Originally Posted by BorisPasha

... So cute that she sits waiting for you for cuddle time. ...

Pumpkin gets excited when she hears me coming to get her out. The other day I couldn't see her in her cage so thought she might have been in her house - made a little noise to let Pumpkin know that I was there and it was a surprise when she came running from the other side of her cage - as she was already awake and waiting.

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

... Pumpkin is so blooming lucky and deserves lots of lovely things ...

I do enjoy spoiling her with so many lovely thing as it makes me happy seeing how happy she is enjoying all these things.
Pumpkin also got a new treat yesterday, a carrot grain-free nibble pot (Wilko Small Animal Grainless Nibble Pot at wilko.com) as soon as I put it in her cage she started chewing on the pot. It was so sweet seeing her eyes light up and her pouches getting bigger when she realised their were carrot chips inside! Definitely a big hit with her!

[Coco61]

Very interesting to know that Wilko have introduced their own label of these pots. Rosewood Naturals did them first and recently I saw p@h introduced one with apple pieces that went down well here. I think they are a great treat. Enjoy it Pumpkin!

[SKB_Hamsters]

Wilko have sold these nibble pots for a while now - from looking back through some photos I found a picture of the nibble pot I got for Sherbet back in December 2015 - she had an apple one and she approved of it to. Wilko does sell a good range of the rosewood product under their own name (similar to p@h) at reasonable prices. I did look in p@h recently for a apple or carrot pot when they had an introductory offer on them - but they only had flower ones left.

[Hamsterita]

Hey! I've already got a pringles tube.

How did you clean yours? It stinks of potatoes, but I'm afraid of ruining it if I rinse it with water. Could I rinse it on the sink or not?

Could you quickly explain how do you do them? I was thinking about glueing the sisal with elmers glue and nothing more, but should I remove the inner surface or the coloured part?