Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => Pets without Feathers => Topic started by: John on June 12, 2010, 12:36

Title: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 12, 2010, 12:36
Went into the garden to see what was attracting so much attention from the cats...

A beautiful little hamster, jet black long fur.

He's now in the deep, solid-sided washing basket with some water and cut up apple whilst I try and find his owner. Poor little thing was bravely waving his paws and growling at the cat before attempting to waddle away at his best speed...

I'd post a photo but I think he's had enough shocks for a lifetime, never mind a camera flash.

I suspect he'll be happy to go home - if I can find where he's come from. Can't be too far away.
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: GrannieAnnie on June 12, 2010, 13:31
Aww poor little thing!  What a strange thing to find in the garden though John!   ???
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 12, 2010, 14:26
If nobody claims him (just leafleted and door knocked locally) then Cara thinks she can home him. I can't keep him safely with 5 cats (although Pixie ran in terror from him)

He's very cute and not worried by people.

Chap I spoke to said someone might have just 'let him go' - poor thing wouldn't survive long outdoors.
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: mumofstig on June 12, 2010, 15:27
I hope nobody would be cruel enough to just 'let him go'  >:( a freecycle or cornershop ad would have found him a new home.

Hope he get's sorted soon  :)
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: tosca100 on June 12, 2010, 16:17
I hope nobody would be cruel enough to just 'let him go'  >:( a freecycle or cornershop ad would have found him a new home.

Hope he get's sorted soon  :)

Ah but people do let pets loose when they can't be bothered any more, not just hamsters. I am involved with a rescue and it's surprising how often a well behaved , cared for pedigree lab is found wandering with no ID and owners never found! Also rabbits, turtles and any other "fad" pet.

Saying this though, hamsters are very good escape artists!
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 12, 2010, 23:53
Despite door knocking and leafleting around, nobody has claimed Hammy.  I shredded some paper and put it in the basket with a couple of loo roll inners for him and some crumbled weetabix.

It brought a lump to my throat when I saw him. There's this little black thing on his back legs waving his paws and snarling at three cats who backed off. Then he turned and waddled off at his top speed, a slow walking pace.

I know it's anthropomorphic, but he seemed so courageous.

Of course, the tubby he might be a mum to be.

If we don't hear in the morning, Cara is going to have him to home. She's better geared to cope with him.
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Hayley'sHens on June 13, 2010, 20:06
Did you find his owners John, Or has he been lucky enough to go to live with Cara?  :)
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Val H on June 13, 2010, 20:19
He/she is travelling to Batley at this moment to join the menagerie! Cara has he/she safely in a kitten travelling box and has set up a nice new hamster cage for he/she on arrival. Pictures will follow but we didn't want to alarm him/her any more with the flash. :D :D :D. No sign of an owner at all. The vet is going to determine the sex.
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Caralou on June 13, 2010, 21:21
Hammy is safely tucked up in the spare room having a good explore of the cage and tucking into dinner. I have taken a photo, but it isn't too great as I didn't want to use the flash in case it was too scary. I'm popping Hammy to the vets in the morning just to check sex and make sure that I'm not going to wake up to a litter of little ones in a week or so!
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: joyfull on June 14, 2010, 05:55
aarh I love hamsters  :D
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Caralou on June 14, 2010, 10:56
Hammée is a little girl  :wub: Thankfully not a pregnant little girl  :D This morning she had taken bedding into the big hiding tube I got her and seems very content. I was worried about handling her too much so soon, but she will happily climb onto an outstretched palm and spent ages sniffing my hand before I took her to the vets. Still no one has claimed her so now it is tough luck - she's my little baba  :tongue2:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: joyfull on June 14, 2010, 11:20
we had one of those plastic balls for our sons hamster and it used to take great delight in chasing one of the dogs (Maxwell) or if the dog was asleep it used to run at full pelt into maxwells nose to wake him up  :lol:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Pretty Chick on June 14, 2010, 17:59
I'm so glad she's found a good home  :happy:.

we had one of those plastic balls for our sons hamster and it used to take great delight in chasing one of the dogs (Maxwell) or if the dog was asleep it used to run at full pelt into maxwells nose to wake him up  :lol:

When we put our hamster (Sammy) into his running ball, he heads straight for our dogs Toby and Alfie  :lol: :lol: :lol:.
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 14, 2010, 18:46
I must admit I didn't expect Hammy to survive the night after her run in with the cats. I couldn't see any physical damage but expected the shock would do it. She really is a cute little thing and we were overjoyed to see her scuttling around on Sunday morning.

Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Caralou on June 14, 2010, 19:12
I don't think she will be getting a running ball - I have images of her in it and seven cats following behind!!! I've set her up on a high shelf and made it so the cats can't jump up there to her as although the cage is secure I doubt cats watching her 24 hours a day would be good for her  :unsure: I still can't believe someone abandoned her  :( >:( If she was lost by now the owner would surely have claimed her with all the door knocking and fliers. Some people are just evil  :mad:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on June 25, 2010, 06:46
To be fair, she might have escaped which they are very good at.

I had one that could escape no matter how secure I made his cage (including finally a padlock). I would wake in the night with him sat on my chest looking at me!

Apparently there are colonies of wild (well feral I suppose really) ones that have escaped and survive realatively well, when not taking on cats of course!
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 25, 2010, 07:56
I'm amazed that they're surviving in the wild - seems like a totally inept creature for life in the wild in the UK. Pretty but not a lean machine  :)
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Caralou on June 25, 2010, 10:10
There is something wrong with Hammy this morning  :unsure: Last night she was really wanting lots of attention and was all over my hand and really interested in scrambling around the bars watching me as I cleaned bits out. This morning I went to check on her (she manages to demolish all the layers in the cage over night so in a morning I put them back together for her) and she is screaching at me really loudly and aggressively  ??? I'm wondering if the vet nurse was wrong and if she may have had a litter overnight as she is protecting the purple hiding tube from me  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: tosca100 on June 25, 2010, 10:16
There is something wrong with Hammy this morning  :unsure: Last night she was really wanting lots of attention and was all over my hand and really interested in scrambling around the bars watching me as I cleaned bits out. This morning I went to check on her (she manages to demolish all the layers in the cage over night so in a morning I put them back together for her) and she is screaching at me really loudly and aggressively  ??? I'm wondering if the vet nurse was wrong and if she may have had a litter overnight as she is protecting the purple hiding tube from me  :ohmy:

Oh heck. Isuppose the only way to tell if a hamster is ill is a change in behaviour. Must say, we've had a couple of hamsters ( while we were waiting to be in a position to have dogs) and they never screeched at us, though one had a cold once and squeeked when he was ill, otherwise they were very quiet.
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Caralou on June 25, 2010, 10:17
UPDATE - Hammy has had babies  ::) Waiting for the vet nurse to phone me back as I haven't a clue what to do!!! I am also now worried as protecting one hamster from 7 cats has been a job and a half let alone protecting the dozen babas that I think I just saw in there  :nowink: :wacko:

Nurse has phoned and told me to leave her alone other than food and water for a week. They will be weaned by about 24 days so if anyone wants a a hamster or six please let me know!!! I'm going to phone the RSPCA as well as I really don't know what to do with so many - looking after the one little one was fine but this is a bit too much!!!!
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 25, 2010, 13:01
Lottie cat says it's not fair.. not only did you steal the main course off her but now you've had that starters as well  :D :D :D
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: scabs on June 25, 2010, 13:51
Blimey, what an adventure!!

And the strange thing... Helen has just rung me to say that our hamster has escaped from its plastic paradise this morning. 

I suspect 'escaped' means that one of our children has left the cage open.  :(

Of course it also means that he is now lining the stomach of Molly or Mittens.

Either that or is living with Cara!

Helen was tearing the house apart looking for him.

I did say we'd be better off with a ferret...
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 25, 2010, 13:55
Don't worry, Cara's on her way to you now with a dozen baby hamsters for the kids.. or the ferret if you prefer  :(
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: scabs on June 25, 2010, 14:03
I'm not a fan of hamsters, to be honest, but if you keep one it needs looking after properly - putting it in the boy's room was a baaaad idea, but obviously I was overruled as being too strict.  ::)

And now it's loose in a house with two cats.  :nowink: :(
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 25, 2010, 15:29
Perhaps they'll adopt it as a new kitten... and pigs might fly  ;)
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: madcat on June 25, 2010, 15:45
Hammée is a little girl  :wub: Thankfully not a pregnant little girl  :D

I think you need a rebate from an embarrassed vet!   ::) :D :D  How about no vets bills for a year or you will post the story on the internet ?????   ???  Blackmail???  Moi!  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Lewjam on June 25, 2010, 15:49
Not to put a downer on your devious plan,

But black mail usually works better before you give the information away on a public forum!

You will never be a Dr Evil!
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Caralou on June 25, 2010, 19:11
The vets also told me Evie cat wasn't pregnant twice - I kept taking her back and they were adamant nothing in there and then in for her spay I said to the nurse I was still sure she was pregnant and they finally said yes and that she was due within a week  ::) :lol: ::)

I have just popped some food in for her and she didn't growl but wasn't as friendly as normal. I'm just hoping she doesn't eat the babies  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: scabs on June 25, 2010, 21:59
Ours has been found - fat, furry and very much alive!
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: mumofstig on June 25, 2010, 22:25
Quote
furry and very much alive!
much like you then  :lol:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 25, 2010, 22:55
Ours has been found - fat, furry and very much alive!

Details man, where was it? :)
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Snap Dragon on June 26, 2010, 00:05
not here I hope!!!!

Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: scabs on June 26, 2010, 08:04
 :D

under Joe's bed!

Helen had the room torn apart and we assumed he was indeed 'in cat'; Joe went to bed and there the little so and so was!
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 26, 2010, 08:53
Sensible hamster!

Happy he's turned up safe and sound.
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: scabs on June 26, 2010, 09:06
Hope the babies are ok, hamsters are notoriously cannabalistic.  :(
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Caralou on June 26, 2010, 09:51
Funny you should say that scabs..... I'm not sure there are still babies this morning  :( I left her alone to not startle her as much as possible but when I had a quick peak earlier I couldn't see the little wigglers  :( I'll take a proper look this evening as I don't like disturbing her in the day.
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: scabs on June 26, 2010, 10:24
I'm no expert - like I say, I find hamsters a bit of a waste of fur - but when I used to work at the pet shop it really was a lottery; didn't seem to make much difference if you left them to it or not, most of the time mum would just eat the kids! :ohmy:

having said that, with everything she's been through, being dumped in the wild etc, it's hardly surprising that she'd be stressed up.

I hope she's not eaten them, but my money is on it I'm afraid.

 
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: madcat on June 26, 2010, 18:06
You will never be a Dr Evil!

 :tongue2:  And I've be practicing my evil, menacing chuckle ...  as demonstrated by Dick Dastardly himself!   :D :D
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Snap Dragon on June 28, 2010, 19:17
Any news on the babies Cara?

Did she eat them all?  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: scabs on June 28, 2010, 22:14
Latest reports would seem to confirm mummy hamster rubbing belly and wiping chin...
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: John on June 28, 2010, 22:48
Hammy's story started out as a children's adventure, then turned into something out of Dickens (homeless and with child) and now has ended up as some sort of tale from the Greek gods.

Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Caralou on June 30, 2010, 18:46
All babas are long gone.... However, Hammy is a far nicer hamster now, she was already very into attention pre-babas and now wants lots of fuss (so much for hamsters not wanting to be handled!). At least she had a good meal  :ohmy: :blink:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Pretty Chick on June 30, 2010, 18:48
All babas are long gone....

Wow! :ohmy: Poor little things  :blink:

However, Hammy is a far nicer hamster now, she was already very into attention pre-babas and now wants lots of fuss (so much for hamsters not wanting to be handled!).

I'm glad she's back to her normal self  :)
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: mumofstig on June 30, 2010, 18:57
cringeworthy..eugh! Isn't nature cruel sometimes?
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Caralou on June 30, 2010, 19:10
After all the stress and moves she has had I think it is nature's way of protecting her  :( I'm going to get her a roll round ball - but not let the cats anywhere near! I don't know if it is because she has such a hard time but I think I quite like hamsters, especially this little one  :blush: :wub:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: mumofstig on June 30, 2010, 19:15
you're such a big softy cara ..a complete pushover  :lol:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: madcat on July 01, 2010, 00:06
if it is cute and furry or feathered, Cara is in love!!!!   Boys, you know what you have to do ...... :ohmy: :D :D :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: joyfull on July 01, 2010, 10:23
if it is cute and furry or feathered, Cara is in love!!!!   Boys, you know what you have to do ...... :ohmy: :D :D :D :D :D :D

 :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Hammy's Great Adventure
Post by: Debz on July 01, 2010, 10:44
I had a hamster that loved to be handled.  He also liked to sit on my shoulder while I cleaned out his cage and sometimes he would climb up my hair if it was tied back and sit on my head.