Hams & travel/pet sitters

[Ralph the hamster]

Hey! We have a few nights away from our guy this weekend, and then the kids and I will be away for like 10 days at the end of the month. We're obviously having someone come in to clean water bowls, change food, add veg, etc but do you guys have them sit and chat like you would or just come and go quickly - we are having a bit of a debate about it Frank is still not coming up consistently when I call for him but he does come all the way up to the chamber entrance to sniff around. I was leaning toward just do the chores and leave but the kids are pretty sure the sitter has to talk so he knows it's not me and I'm not just ignoring him. I told them I'd ask the experts!

 

[Frida]

When my hubby and I go away our son looks after Albert. My son always talks to Albert when he is putting out fresh water and food. It's just to let Albert know he's not been forgotten and everything is okay.

 

[Maz]

I have a pet sitter come in when we're away. She comes around 5pm or 6pm to do food and water and I ask her to chat to them for a few minutes as well - just so they know there is a human presence around still and someone is interested! However she never sees either of them. The Robo is hidden away and our Syrian is asleep at that time and didn't attempt to come out when she was there, the whole time we were away. So whether they hear the talking or not I don't know, but I think it's a nice idea. I asked her to feed at that time so our Syrian doesn't try and climb out of the cage Which if it was later in the evening, he might do.

 

[elusive]

I think he would be good to have whoever comes in chat to him for a while, it will be strange for him to be in a completely empty quiet house while you’re away & then strange again when you come back, I think a little bit of human contact & the sound of a voice will be good for him, it doesn;t have to be much just so he knows someone’s around for a little while each day.

 

[Member ID2]

I'd ask her to chat while she's doing the jobs which she may do anyway.

 

[Zara]

Yes, same here. My mum or niece pop in for Hams and chat to him while they replenish his food / water. It’s nice they can still hear the human interaction.

 

[Ralph the hamster]

Thanks guys! I'll have her chat him up
In other Frank news, he has survived three nights of fireworks in our neighborhood. The first night he barely came out of his burrow but seemed to figure out he wasn't in danger pretty quick and now just seems mildly annoyed, like the rest of us. He enjoyed a little bit of watermelon last night in celebration of not having to hear them anymore after today.

 

[Maz]

Aw he sounds like he's just being a hamster now! Annoyed is a good sign

 

[Riven]

I agree with the above. Get whoever is pet sitting to make their presence known when going into the cage as it helps keep them calm. In the wild a predator who wasn't hunting would make themselves obvious, either through being noisy or allowing themselves to be seen. Hamsters are still very much in touch with their wild side so using this knowledge will allow the experience to be as stress free as possible.

I've had quite a few hamsters be like that when their has been fireworks or even thunder. My current hamster, Ares, is like it. He's even like it if it rains too much for his liking. Glad he's feeling more settled to come out properly again now.

 

[Ralph the hamster]

Update he did great
This is my second night back and he has been out of the burrow both times I have walked in the room. I set some food close to the shelf he hides under and he comes out and gets it and then goes back in the corner to bathe and ignores me. Sometimes he comes back for a second piece, other times I feel like he's just waiting for a bad house guest to take the hint and leave.
Am I stressing him? Or he's just still warming up?

 

[elusive]

It doesn’t sound as though he’s stressed, it might just take. him ssome time to settle again & get a bit more interactive.

 

[RainbowBrite]

It is so nice he will pop out when you come into the room now.

 

[Maz]

It sounds like it's going well. You're not stressing him - he's just not in the mood for interaction at that time of the evening probably (or more interested in the food!)

 

[Ralph the hamster]

It sounds like it's going well. You're not stressing him - he's just not in the mood for interaction at that time of the evening probably (or more interested in the food!)

This is the (blurry) face of a ham who hung out in the open space of his cage with me sitting nearby for an hour last night. He came over and sniffed at me several times.... he also ran like he stole something every time I moved my arms but he would come back out after shorter and shorter intervals so PROGRESS!

 

[RainbowBrite]

It is wonderful he sniffed you and kept coming back.

 

[Member ID2]

Lovely! That is progress.

 

[Maz]

That is real progress to get a close up photo!

 

[Zara]

Sounds like good progress, he’s getting comfortable listening to your voice and knowing it’s ok to be out and about at the same time