Confession

[Lovelyness]

When I went on holiday recently, my neighbour came in to feed Blossom for me. When I got home, I noted a couple of odd things:
1) a blanket, which is normally on the back of my rocking chair, was on the back of the sofa
2) a couple of my knitting bags, which are stored on the bottom of the shelf of the bookcase had a tiny hole nibbled out of them.
Both a tiny bit curious, but I didn’t think anything more of it.
My neighbour has just popped in to tell me that she has booked a holiday to the Isle of Wight, inspired by my holiday a couple of weeks ago.
While she was here, she told me a little story…
She said that she had been quite forgetful recently due to menopause. I thought she was going to say she had forgotten to come in one evening…but no…
She went on to tell me that she had come in, fed Blossom etc, locked up. The next evening, she came in to feed Blossom to find that she had left the lid of the cage open! And there was no sight of Blossom! Because it was so hot, I had left the door to the kitchen open so it was cooler, and the stairs are open to the lounge.
Anyway, she started to call Blossom, who did eventually (thankfully!) poke her head out from behind the bookcase. Forgetting that I said that Blossom wasn’t great with being handled, she was so relieved to see her that she went to pick her up…and Blossom bit her…3 times! So, trying to think how to get Blossom back in her cage, she took the blanket off the back of the rocking chair, laid it down on the floor and put a trail of food onto the blanket, which Blossom pouched happily, then she wrapped Blossom in the blanket and popped her back in her cage!
Having been bitten, my neighbour phoned 111 and ended up going to the hospital the next day to get a tetanus shot!!
Blossom is, thankfully, none the worse for her little adventure. I’m amazed that she didn’t cause more damage…literally 2 tiny holes in 2 of my knitting bags (I had put it down to moths!) …and you know what an avid chewer she is! Also amazed, given how hot it was, that she was ok without any water for up to 24 hours…don’t know how long she’d actually been out of her cage. Also, that she wasn’t hurt as her cage is on the sideboard, and it’s quite a drop down to the floor. Also that she hadn’t explored any further than the bookcase which is right next to her cage, as she literally had access to the entire house.
Just so thankful that all’s well that end’s well!
No wonder she’s so bleddy sprightly now tho!!!!!!

 

[Socks' Mum]

Relieved to hear Miss B is OK. Socks says what an intrepid but sensible (except for the three bites) hammy Blossom is I hope the poor lady's hand heals quickly

 

[Maz]

Oh my goodness! Your poor pet sitter! She must have been so worried - and so good she actually told you. It's the kind of thing you hope won't happen. But she persisted in getting Blosssom back despite being bitten three times! She must have felt so stressed!. I did have to laugh about the tetanus shot though. I'm surprised they actually gave her one. It's something you have to have for a dog bite but generally isn't seen necessary for a hamster bite. Although no harm in it I suppose

You must be feeling a bit shocked though - at what might have gone wrong. But all's well that ends well. Now Blossom has had a taste of free roaming, she will probably want more! Maybe you could try it - when they're older, it's much easier As long as she can't get out of the room.

 

[Lovelyness]

Apparently the doctor said that she didn't really need a tetanus shot for a hamster bite, but since she was there, it made sense just to give her it anyway.
Yes, I think it was all a bit stressful for her.
I'm glad that Blossom is conditioned to coming out for food at the same time of day, and when she hears the front door open/close, and hears talking. She knows that means food and will come out for it, so she came out of hiding.
On reflection, I'm wondering if Blossom didn't really like being out tho...she didn't go very far and she hardly chewed anything which suggests to me that she wasn't that happy with it. Either way, it won't be happening again! There isn't anywhere safe to free roam in the house and she's never been happy with play pen time. She's always much preferred pootling about in her enclosure.
Yes, I was a bit shocked, but I don't really like to think about 'could have's' because those things, thankfully, didn't happen. I'm just focusing on that she's ok and there's not really any harm done.

 

[Maz]

That's the way to think, yes. And yes even if they enjoying being out, they like to go back to their cage and nest etc. They don't really like being away from that.

 

[Maz]

Even so - she had a big adventure. I wonder if she slept inside your knitting bag

 

[Lovelyness]

Even so - she had a big adventure. I wonder if she slept inside your knitting bag

I don't think she actually went in one of the bags, but she must have climbed onto the shelf with the bags as the bits that were nibbled were at the back of the shelf. One of the bags she nibbled contains an art piece I'm working on called Sanctuary. I do rather like that she found sanctuary amongst my knitting bags. She most likely curled up and had a sleep, bless her.
Definitely a big adventure!

 

[Hammy Chum]

When I went on holiday recently, my neighbour came in to feed Blossom for me. When I got home, I noted a couple of odd things:
1) a blanket, which is normally on the back of my rocking chair, was on the back of the sofa
2) a couple of my knitting bags, which are stored on the bottom of the shelf of the bookcase had a tiny hole nibbled out of them.
Both a tiny bit curious, but I didn’t think anything more of it.
My neighbour has just popped in to tell me that she has booked a holiday to the Isle of Wight, inspired by my holiday a couple of weeks ago.
While she was here, she told me a little story…
She said that she had been quite forgetful recently due to menopause. I thought she was going to say she had forgotten to come in one evening…but no…
She went on to tell me that she had come in, fed Blossom etc, locked up. The next evening, she came in to feed Blossom to find that she had left the lid of the cage open! And there was no sight of Blossom! Because it was so hot, I had left the door to the kitchen open so it was cooler, and the stairs are open to the lounge.
Anyway, she started to call Blossom, who did eventually (thankfully!) poke her head out from behind the bookcase. Forgetting that I said that Blossom wasn’t great with being handled, she was so relieved to see her that she went to pick her up…and Blossom bit her…3 times! So, trying to think how to get Blossom back in her cage, she took the blanket off the back of the rocking chair, laid it down on the floor and put a trail of food onto the blanket, which Blossom pouched happily, then she wrapped Blossom in the blanket and popped her back in her cage!
Having been bitten, my neighbour phoned 111 and ended up going to the hospital the next day to get a tetanus shot!!
Blossom is, thankfully, none the worse for her little adventure. I’m amazed that she didn’t cause more damage…literally 2 tiny holes in 2 of my knitting bags (I had put it down to moths!) …and you know what an avid chewer she is! Also amazed, given how hot it was, that she was ok without any water for up to 24 hours…don’t know how long she’d actually been out of her cage. Also, that she wasn’t hurt as her cage is on the sideboard, and it’s quite a drop down to the floor. Also that she hadn’t explored any further than the bookcase which is right next to her cage, as she literally had access to the entire house.
Just so thankful that all’s well that end’s well!
No wonder she’s so bleddy sprightly now tho!!!!!!

Oh my goodness!! Glad Blossom and your neighbour are ok.

 

[Hamster Haven]

What a story! So glad everything worked out! The part about the tetanus shot made me chuckle a bit!