Heeere's Kage - with a K

We, that is Kage and I, thought it time to open our own diary. Kage has been with me for eleven days now, and though progress may be a little slow, he's doing fine. From now on, he is to be addressed as His Fluffiness Kage I, Benevolent Ruler of the Hideout Realm, also known as Kage's Kingdom. The originator of this idea will remain anonymous and under lock and key . I just go along with it, but there's no need to worry; barmy I may be , dangerous I ain't - yet

(Serious stuff now - mostly) Each time I see him, which isn't every night, I think we are bonding just that little bit more. He's been taking treats off me through the bars for several days which I am very pleased about. Last night, I had a banana waiting ready for when I saw him. When he did come out - of the Sovereign Suite - I started to peel it, and wow! did that get his attention . I cut a slice off and put it through the bars, then dropped it, so I opened the door and picked it up. At first, he made his way back to the Sovereign Suite, but the temptation was too great. Out he came again and took it from me. I tried stroking him with a finger but he was having none of it. "Thank you for the 'nana, but it'll take more than this to get round me, as delicious as it was." is what I imagined he said.

There's so much more I want to tell about HF (His Fluffiness) already, but not all in one go, eh?

And by the way, to you all, he'd still like to be known as Kage

I bet he couldn't resist that banana I tend to find that touch isn't accepted inside their domain, but better started in a playpen area (I start with the bathtub as it's not too big an area). After he's been with you two weeks, you could maybe try that By offering him a tube/taxi to walk into with a nice smelling treat at the far end

It's hard waiting though!

Maz said:

I bet he couldn't resist that banana I tend to find that touch isn't accepted inside their domain, but better started in a playpen area (I start with the bathtub as it's not too big an area). After he's been with you two weeks, you could maybe try that By offering him a tube/taxi to walk into with a nice smelling treat at the far end

It's hard waiting though!

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I can't resist bananas either. They seem to remind me of a past life I may have had - swinging through the trees. The resemblance is there . Back to Kage. I'm hopeful we'll get there, and should that day come, when it comes, I will be able to extend his home further with the second extension I have ready, but I won't attempt this one while he is still inside his home. His hideout is too close. But come what may, I love the little chap unconditionally, and always will. He's perfect just as he is.

Last night proved to be a very interesting one where Kage is concerned. He came out of the Sovereign Suite, about 10pm or a little after. He did his usual stuff, eating, drinking, collecting food for his pantry. I gave him a treat through the bars which he gladly took. Then after a while he went to the middle of the back wall where his water is, and to the right of that the Half Moon Shack, his country residence, and he started to dig. He dug and dug for a good while. I thought he was going to disappear down a new burrow, but that didn't happen. I don't know whether the bedding was too tightly compacted for him, or was there some other reason for the behaviour?

When he finally decided enough was enough, he scurried over to the front corner on the left where he had burrowed days before, and was visible through the perspex wall. He disappeared down, then back up. He did that a couple of times, then until he had done, I didn't realise he had completely filled the burrow, and an amazingly good job he did of it. Is that something he will do in the future - fill in burrows to make others?

His Fluffiness is fascinating me with his antics and I'm keen to learn more about his, and other hamsters lifestyle.

It sounds like he’s really settling in and making it his own place . Who knows what he was doing! They keep us guessing!

Maz said:

It sounds like he’s really settling in and making it his own place . Who knows what he was doing! They keep us guessing!

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Something else that has me puzzled is when I first got him home, he was on his wheel for a long time that night before he discovered burrowing, but since then, at least while I'm around, he'll go up to it, even step on it, move it slightly one way, then the other, and that's it. I assumed that would be one of his main pastimes, but from what I see, apparently not. Am I expecting too much too soon, I wonder? He's only been her 12 days, and I'm happy to leave him to do what he wants to, as well as interact with him.

When I took Chhaya, my cat, the lady I had her from told me not to expect the expected. Maybe it's the same with Kage

Sometimes they go crazy for the wheel at first and then they find there are other things to do. Their main wheel running time is after dark usually . Sometimes that’s the only time they use it as they settle in. He sounds happy and relaxed anyway

Maz said:

Sometimes they go crazy for the wheel at first and then they find there are other things to do. Their main wheel running time is after dark usually . Sometimes that’s the only time they use it as they settle in. He sounds happy and relaxed anyway

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I do hope so This little chap makes the sun shine for me He's just been fed, a little cucumber and broccoli for his treat tonight, and if I see him I'll find a little extra something to offer through the bars for him PS I promise not to overdo the treats.

Mine are just about to get cucumber tonight too

Back to the diary. With all the talk about cleaning, I got round to doing it tonight. I did carefully life the Sovereign Suite out, and as I thought, he wasn't inside. I carefully felt around that area, on top, and below. I'm not sure whether I quite reached the bottom, but I found no wetness at all, so either I didn't feel round enough, or his toilet is somewhere else. I didn't try anywhere else so as not to disturb Kage any more. I was a little surprised not to find Kage, either. Where he was, I've no idea.

With his secretive nature, Kage is an apt name for him, Kage meaning shadow in Japanese. By day, he is His Fluffiness Kage I, benevolent Ruler of the Hideout Realm, also known as Kage's Kingdom, but by night..."The Shadow," mysterious, secretive, and near darned impossible to get a glimpse of

Actually, Kage did come out, just before midnight. He made a grand entrance, little by little. I watched him climb up what I used to call his secret burrow in the left hand front corner of his home. He uses that a lot now. I hadn't seen him at all for two nights, and this was pure joy for me. Watching him drinking, eating, filling his pouches ready to store food in his pantry, scurrying, watching me watching him . Then coming back and taking the tissue I'd put in for him. This is the second time I have given him tissue, and it surprised me when he popped it into his mouth and into his pouches. I expected him to drag it . He enjoys his sand bath; I've seen him in it twice now.

I put a nut selection in his jam jar lid tonight. I like to vary what I put in. Sometimes it veggies, sometimes it's fruit, mealworms, nuts. He didn't take what I offered him from my fingers tonight. I'm not sure what it was - something out of a mixed pack. Perhaps I should have offered something a little more tempting.

Later, I'll turn the radio off, turn the lights off, make myself comfortable and wait for him coming out to spend time on his wheel, as I am sure he will. I won't see him, but it will please me to hear him

Goodnight all

So great that Kage is enjoying himself and active and happy. He sounds like a very contented hamster

Socks' Mum said:

So great that Kage is enjoying himself and active and happy. He sounds like a very contented hamster

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I hope so, I really do. The little chap, His Fluffiness, "The Shadow," or simply Kage, call him what you will, is the best thing in my life now

Ha ha, that's exactly what I've found before - dry under the house He is probably using the house as a "porch" an exit from a tunnel to a burrow somewhere under the substrate - which could be anywhere! If you can't smell anything yet, I would just watch if he emerges from anywhere else. Eg under a platform? That might be his other exit.

When I had this with Tino, his sleeping and hoarding and peeing area wasn't at either end of the cage where he used to appear from - it was smack bang in the middle under all the substrate. So another night you could try having a feel around under the substrate towards the middle of the cage perhaps?

Here's Kage's Suite - the one with subsidence. The entrance on the left is clear , and the one he goes in and comes out of. The one on the right is blocked off. That is where he burrows from. I didn't clear it, I merely straightened up the bedding, added a little so the house would sit straight again Where he burrows to, I've no idea. Like you, Maz, I have a feeling he lives somewhere in the middle and has his toilet. That will be my next port of call come spot cleaning day

This second photo shows where I do see him burrowing. I call it "the secret burrow". You see the pink disc in the bottom corner, that's where he comes up and goes back down. It seems when he's done, he fills it in again, ready to burrow a next time. Where that one leads, I have no idea. I've tried watching, and it does look as though he's headed underneath the Suite, but he could be bluffing

He maybe has a hoard down there

I wouldn't at all be surprised Nor would I be surprised if he's playing games with me. Early this morning I turned the radio, turned the lights off and waited for his expected appearance on the Big Red Wheel. He didn't show, as he has in the past times I've done it. If he wants to play games with me - the cheeky little rascal - there's only going to be one winner - but it ain't gonna be me! . Who can help but love 'em?

Pretend to ignore him and he'll be demanding your attention ha ha! I think you two are definitely developing a bond though.

You do do you? I'm not sure how to take that. Are you thinking along the lines of The Odd Couple, or simply AN odd couple?

And he's ignoring me, by the way. Pleading with him doesn't cut it I've given him meat and two veg in his jam jar lid - broccoli, peas and a mealworm; I've put a sunflower seed on his doorstep; I've got one ready to give him when I see him. Actually make that if, not when He just ain't playing ball.

I hear him shuffling along, sometimes can't quite make out just where. This could be a long night Glad I've got mi cocoa