Hamster has escaped

Beryl said:
3 cats are bad news for an escaped hamster but their behaviour may lead you to Dash. Are they acting differently?
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No not really, but he was out for a whole night there is a chance they already got to him.
 
I think you would know about that because there would have been a lot of noise and traces. Cats play with their prey and hamsters are prey animals so Dash would have hidden away somewhere the cats couldn't have gotten to him. I think the presence of so many cats will make it a lot harder to coax him out of his hiding place though. Obviously, i don't know but i think there's a good chance that Dash is alive and hiding somewhere but scared to come out.
 
Ok so you need to keep the three cats in one room overnight while you set the bucket trap and put the cage on the floor tonight. In the hope he isn’t in the room where the cats are (if he is he will stay hidden).

Which room was his cage in? It’s quite likely he’s still in the room where the cage is but the other place they can head for is the kitchen. I’ve had one under kitchen cupboards before (it depends if your kitchen cupboards have pelmets across the bottom or open underneath.

Another place they hide in a kitchen is behind the fridge. That is tricky as you can’t move it without risk of injuring the hamster. So don’t try to - just set the bucket trap in there tonight.

So I would put the cage on the floor in the cage room tonight, the cats shut in the room he is least likely to be tonight- and a bucket trap in the kitchen. And turn all lights off when you go to bed. The cats will have to cope with being shut in for one night. Although ideally it would be better if someone else could have them for a few days.

As Beryl said, a cat may show signs of knowing where the hamster is if they are showing interest in a particular area. If you watch them.
 
Maz said:
Ok so you need to keep the three cats in one room overnight while you set the bucket trap and put the cage on the floor tonight. In the hope he isn’t in the room where the cats are (if he is he will stay hidden).

Which room was his cage in? It’s quite likely he’s still in the room where the cage is but the other place they can head for is the kitchen. I’ve had one under kitchen cupboards before (it depends if your kitchen cupboards have pelmets across the bottom or open underneath.

Another place they hide in a kitchen is behind the fridge. That is tricky as you can’t move it without risk of injuring the hamster. So don’t try to - just set the bucket trap in there tonight.

So I would put the cage on the floor in the cage room tonight, the cats shut in the room he is least likely to be tonight- and a bucket trap in the kitchen. And turn all lights off when you go to bed. The cats will have to cope with being shut in for one night. Although ideally it would be better if someone else could have them for a few days.

As Beryl said, a cat may show signs of knowing where the hamster is if they are showing interest in a particular area. If you watch them.
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He was in my room and the other one is where my terminally ill dad with cancer is. I can't lock three cats in with him unfortunately
 
Ok. So assume there is a living room area and kitchen as well? Is there another room the cats could be shut in overnight? Assume your other hamster is in your room as well?

It’s possible the cats have not noticed anything if they are used to the scent of the hamsters being around. What they tend to notice is movement. And if it’s any consolation some cats are really not very good at catching things (from experience with mice in the house).
 
Kash is in Angel Eyes dad's room.

If you have an en suite or separate toilet room the cats could go in the bathroom providing there is no evidence of Dash, no holes, open pipes, gaps behind the sink, bath tub panel etc where he could be hiding.

Or could you take them to a cattery overnight?

If there is no way out of the apartment like a vent, pipes, accessible open window, gaps under the door etc he should be somewhere.

Did you check places like your wardrobe, laundry basket, drawers, cupboards etc? I'm sure that you have though. You said that you went through your apartment with a fine tooth comb. I'm still hopeful for a happy ending.
 
It is a very anxious time for you Angel Eyes and I have been there too. I am hoping by tomorrow, with the things set up mentioned, you will have him back. I assume he escaped overnight, after you'd gone to bed when the door wasn't closed properly. Which means he was probably in your room until morning unless you sleep with the door open. When did you first notice the cage door? In the morning or later in the day?
 
Just out of interest, where do you keep your bags of hamster food? My current syrian has got out of the room a few times and always ends up in another room where the hamster food and treats are kept in a drawer - trying to get into that drawer! He can clearly sniff them out from quite a distance. Just because you can't find him, doesn't mean he isn't somewhere in the apartment.
 
Maz said:
It is a very anxious time for you Angel Eyes and I have been there too. I am hoping by tomorrow, with the things set up mentioned, you will have him back. I assume he escaped overnight, after you'd gone to bed when the door wasn't closed properly. Which means he was probably in your room until morning unless you sleep with the door open. When did you first notice the cage door? In the morning or later in the day?
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Last night he was already gone by then. 😞
 
Angel Eyes said:
Last night he was already gone by then. 😞
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Ok so if you noticed the door wasn't closed last night, and he was gone, then presumably he had got out the night before - and when you came to check the following night, found the door wasn't closed properly. Is his cage high up or on the floor? If it's on top of something high up he wouldn't have been able to get back to his cage so will have found somewhere cosy to sleep.
 
Maz said:
Ok so if you noticed the door wasn't closed last night, and he was gone, then presumably he had got out the night before - and when you came to check the following night, found the door wasn't closed properly. Is his cage high up or on the floor? If it's on top of something high up he wouldn't have been able to get back to his cage so will have found somewhere cosy to sleep.
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He might have got out yesterday afternoon after I gave him treats. 😞
Maz said:
So sorry - I remember you mentioning that.
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It's ok. 😊 Still nothing and I have done all suggestions so fingers crossed. I miss my baby. 😭
 
Is it night time where you are yet?
 
Any luck last night? I believe it's 8.45am in the US right now? Five hours behind Uk time although could be six in some states.
 
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