Heeere's Kage - with a K

[Kage]

Yay! I was sat away from him, I'd had my eyes closed briefly, and when I looked his way I thought I saw him disappear into the Suite. Then I saw the bedding in the corner - his secret burrow had been disturbed.

I left the room for a couple of minutes and when I returned I saw he had walked along the Royal Thoroughfare to the opposite end. I sat waiting patiently, sunflower seed in between my fingers, and as he made his way back towards the Suite, I opened the cage door, gently pushed my hand inside. He simply watched as I held the treat for him. He walked towards me and took it, but wouldn't allow me to touch him. He didn't run away, simply dodged my fingers, and stood his ground.

I didn't attempt to touch him again. I knew he wasn't going to allow me to, and I didn't want to cause him any upset at all.

This is just the second time I've put my hand inside the cage with food in my hand. The first time was to retrieve a piece of banana I had dropped, and he took that from me aswell.

I am so happy about tonight, not just seeing him, but having him take the sunflower seed from me, not through the bars where he may feel safer, but inside his home, Kage's Kingdom, without any physical barriers. As far as I am concerned. this is another step forward in our relationship. Slowly, but surely. I'm not going to rush Kage. We'll take it at his pace, with me perhaps encouraging him a little, so we build up a trust between us.

It's times like tonight, albeit it 3 o'clock in the morning. that really makes me believe we are making progress, real progress, our way, slowly, surely

 

[Socks' Mum]

Things are going well. Once they trust you, hamsters are very affectionate animals

 

[Kage]

Last night was a memorable one for me. I was about to retire to bed, around 2am, maybe a little later, then I noticed Kage coming out from his secret burrow in the corner. I waited a while, then went over to join him. I watched him toy with a Whimzee, one from a pack that came the day before, then make his way to the far end of his kingdom. I had a plan.

I peeled a banana, which caught his attention, then cut a slice from it, cut that into four pieces and put them in my hand, or more precisely, my on fingers and slid my hand in through the door. I waited. I could see Kage was interested. He slowly made his way along, a little cautiously. I spoke to him softly, trying to assure him this wasn't a trick, and he took a piece before moving on. He ended up going into his Suite - the hideout to the left of his kingdom. I moved my hand closer, sure he couldn't resist the banana for long. I was right. Out he came, sniffing heading to my fingers and the banana, and took the remaining three pieces so gently. I wasn't sure whether he would nip my fingers thinking they were part of the treat, but he didn't.

I was thrilled. For me, that was another step in the right direction towards bonding with my new bestie. I'm still not going to rush him, taking things at his pace, but still encouraging him now and then. Of course I'm hoping, but supressing any expectations I might have... just in case.

Tonight, tomorrow night may see us take another step closer. We'll see. I'm not training him to jump through hoops; I'm encouraging him to form a bond with me, something a hamster would never do in the wild, with another species or one of his own kind, at least I don't think so. What we humans get hamsters to do is completely unnatural to them, but for us, and hopefully them too, so rewarding. Maybe, just maybe, we all appreciate someone or something nearby to share a life with. I know I do