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So sweet, Mom's watching, better give my fur a quick smoothing! 
Raffy (Syrian Hamster)
- Thread starter Maz
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Thanks all 
. Yes ilguy his back legs do look odd - the Metacam has made a big difference to his activity though and he really loves his bit of baby food with Metacam.
The last couple of nights he was really active in the room and still trying to escape the barrier into the kitchen. I was tired two nights ago and got my routine wrong - I removed the barrier before putting the hamster back in the cage! Raffy immediately appeared from nowhere and was trying to get past. We had a game of cat and mouse for a good few minutes while I tried to block him getting past - he would pretend to go in the other direction and then circle round to get past further along. I was trying to get him further away from the door until I could reach for his tube, which I eventually managed to do and then he just walked into the tube. Phew!
. Yes ilguy his back legs do look odd - the Metacam has made a big difference to his activity though and he really loves his bit of baby food with Metacam.The last couple of nights he was really active in the room and still trying to escape the barrier into the kitchen. I was tired two nights ago and got my routine wrong - I removed the barrier before putting the hamster back in the cage! Raffy immediately appeared from nowhere and was trying to get past. We had a game of cat and mouse for a good few minutes while I tried to block him getting past - he would pretend to go in the other direction and then circle round to get past further along. I was trying to get him further away from the door until I could reach for his tube, which I eventually managed to do and then he just walked into the tube. Phew!
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Rodents are so smart!
Yes, he is. The way he reacted to your voice is really adorableIt's a 30cm oneJust for out of cage time. He is looking adorable on that video isn't he?
A week ago he wasn't quite so active and now he is again.
. Its wonderful news, he is back to become active again. Send many hearts for Raffy 
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Thank you I think he might be a bit blind as well as deaf. There is a half egg box in his cage and the odd time he’s not seemed to be aware it’s there and when he steps on it, the other end flips up at him and he can’t understand why he can’t keep walking. So I’ve removed that now. If he is relying on scent then he’s doing very well.
I think he might be a bit blind as well as deaf. There is a half egg box in his cage and the odd time he’s not seemed to be aware it’s there and when he steps on it, the other end flips up at him and he can’t understand why he can’t keep walking. So I’ve removed that now. If he is relying on scent then he’s doing very well.
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Raffy’s messed up cage again . His burrow and hoard are underneath the area where all the substrate has been pushed up, knocking over the hay hide. He probably thinks I’ve messed up his cage again and knocked his hide over . But it’s his digging underneath that’s done it again. He uses the house as a burrow entrance and toilet area and digs down under the right hand end. Last time I cleaned that area - his cosy little nest burrow was nearer the back and his hoards pushed into compartments further away from it (ie under where the pile of substrate is).
It seems he now has a second toilet above ground as well - next to the shelf he has a wash under (stained substrate). He has never been interested in sprays but using one as a toilet area is a bit extreme! Thankfully there is Perspex behind it or the pee would have run out of the bars possibly.
He is not only back to normal activity again but has been a naughty little tinker. Tonight I could hear this grinding noise when he was out free roaming . Went to investigate and he was in a corner of the room that is sectioned off to stop him getting into an area that is not hamsterproof (ie the barrier hansterproofs it). There is a broken bit of wall near the bottom in that area and he was chewing the wall to try and get past! So will block that area off a bit more.
I do remember someone’s hamster eating through a plasterboard wall once!
The Metacam has turned him into Popeye.
Messed up cage
New toilet area
. His burrow and hoard are underneath the area where all the substrate has been pushed up, knocking over the hay hide. He probably thinks I’ve messed up his cage again and knocked his hide over . But it’s his digging underneath that’s done it again. He uses the house as a burrow entrance and toilet area and digs down under the right hand end. Last time I cleaned that area - his cosy little nest burrow was nearer the back and his hoards pushed into compartments further away from it (ie under where the pile of substrate is).It seems he now has a second toilet above ground as well - next to the shelf he has a wash under (stained substrate). He has never been interested in sprays but using one as a toilet area is a bit extreme! Thankfully there is Perspex behind it or the pee would have run out of the bars possibly.
He is not only back to normal activity again but has been a naughty little tinker. Tonight I could hear this grinding noise when he was out free roaming . Went to investigate and he was in a corner of the room that is sectioned off to stop him getting into an area that is not hamsterproof (ie the barrier hansterproofs it). There is a broken bit of wall near the bottom in that area and he was chewing the wall to try and get past! So will block that area off a bit more.
I do remember someone’s hamster eating through a plasterboard wall once!
The Metacam has turned him into Popeye
.Messed up cage
New toilet area
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Gives sprays a new meaning 
He wants them to grow! It's great that he loves burrowing, but just not the walls 
He wants them to grow! It's great that he loves burrowing, but just not the walls
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I think it shows he's happy in his cage as he did this in his old cage - had a couple of toilets - one above ground and one in his house. On the other hand it might be a reaction to having his house area cleaned out last time (which unfortunately collapsed his burrows) - ie move the toilet area outside the house so I leave it alone!
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Raffy is going to need a nail trim. Some of the nails on his back paws are getting a bit long. This is going to be interesting The technique I prefer takes time - snipping the odd one while they are sat eating porridge or similar while out of the cage. Sometimes only getting one nail - two if I'm lucky. But Raffy is not one to ever sit still for more than a few seconds!
The technique I prefer takes time - snipping the odd one while they are sat eating porridge or similar while out of the cage. Sometimes only getting one nail - two if I'm lucky. But Raffy is not one to ever sit still for more than a few seconds!
- Messages
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Distraction sounds like a good strategy!
H
Helens hamster
Oh bless him! Good luck!
