Raffy (Syrian Hamster)

[Frida]

It's gone to Raffy's head getting a bigger cage. He thinks he's some kind of millionaire rock god who can party all the time.

 

[Maz]

He is certainly less desperate to come out. It's kind of - well I might do or I might not! If I open the door and offer him the tube he's still dead keen to come out (and made quite a racket last night behind the TV) but he doesn't bar chew to get my attention to come out now. But that might be because he can't reach the top right corner easily! No idea what it is with the flower basket, but it did used to be cable tied to the bars before

 

[Member ID2]

Maybe flowers aren't his style.

 

[Maz]

Poor Raffy hasn't seen me for two weeks while I've been upstairs isolating so I don't spread my germs. I really miss him! Two weeks is the longest he's ever gone. Normally it's just been a week while we've been on holiday and even then it took him a while to trust me again afterwards.

I had a negative test today and have been getting up a few times wearing a mask, just in case. His cage is a mess! So I think he might have been getting a bit frustrated at night.

OH has been doing the feeding.

 

[elusive]

Aw poor Raffy, he must be feeling quite confused bless him, he probably enjoyed making a mess of his cage though.
Good news that you’ve had a negative test, hopefully you’ll be feeling a bit better soon.

 

[Maz]

I'm feeling quite a bit better today now the temperature is down a lot more, but it's still a bit of a temperature so not entirely sure if I've stopped being infectious or not. I think you have to have two negative tests for that.

I am itching to see him and get him out but it would probably be safer to wait another day or two.

 

[elusive]

It must be really frustrating having to wait especially if you feel a bit better but best to be safe I guess.

 

[Maz]

As I just mentioned on Pips thread, I've decided I'm not infectious any more. It's day 13 and I've had a negative test. Everything I've read says you're not infectious after day 10 (most people quicker than that). So I decided to feed the hamsters myself this evening, but still wore a mask and washed my hands. I wash my hands before feeding anyway.

So they both had some extra treats. A piece of strawberry, fresh coconut and a bit hard boiled egg white, as well as hamster mix, and Raffy also got a yippee and one of those big rodipet treats in the wafer cup thing. And scattered a few pumpkin seeds around in various places. I did call him a few times but nothing wakes him up lol! He wakes up when he wants to wake up. I hope he isn't looking skinny too! (Pip was looking skinny). I do think they can pine. Although OH said he chatted to Raffy a couple of times this week and he sort of looked back and looked like he might try and get out of the door but didn't attempt to.

 

[elusive]

He must have really missed you but it probably won’t be long before he’s keeping you up half the night again.

 

[Maz]

He’s out . I opened the cage door and he was faster than a rocket! Straight into the tube. He’s now whizzing around the room at a rate of knots. Not sure he missed me really but he associates my voice with out of cage freedom.

He’s got a bit fatter. And Pip has got thinner - hmm.

 

[elusive]

Raffy must have been so happy to get out, sounds like he was really enjoying having his freedom again. He’ll probably slim down again a bit with all that zooming around!

 

[Member ID2]

Aww, Raffy must have enjoyed his free roam so much.
I'm sure he'll get round to pay attention to you and let you know how much he missed you...once he's caught up on his free roaming backlog, lol.

 

[Maz]

Here he is

 

[RainbowBrite]

Hello beautiful Raffy. You look very happy to have your Mum back.

 

[elusive]

Lovely to see you again Raffy!

 

[Coco61]

Glad to see Raffy out again but still carefully checking that it was his play area.

 

[Maz]

I found Raffy upstairs in the bedroom tonight! He was out free roaming in the living room and I was in and out of the room sorting some things out. The barrier to the kitchen was in place. I went upstairs to take some washing up, walked into our bedroom and there he was running around. He gave me a big surprise there! Clearly he can now do stairs! He used to be scared of stairs before.

I think he is making his feelings known. He was left in his cage for two weeks while I was ill. And although I'm getting him out at night again, it's for a much shorter time because I'm tired and want to go to bed! So he's only been getting about 15 or 20 minutes. And clearly decided to do a runner to stay out more.

Well he took some catching in the bedroom. Eventually he went into a corner near a door and I managed to pick him up and put him on the bed (he wasn't going to stay on there for long!) while OH came up with his tube taxi. Not sure it's possible to block the stairs off so he might need to free roam in a smaller room from now on! Poor Raffy - he just hasn't been getting enough attention. Now if he would get up earlier, he might get more attention!

 

[Frida]

Sounds like my Albert has been giving Raffy lessons on how to climb stairs

 

[Maz]

Honestly I couldn't believe it. I tried to teach him to climb stairs once and he didn't like it and was scared. And our stairs are very steep! But he has had boundless energy since being cooped up for two weeks. And he's not getting enough attention. I need to find a way to get him out earlier I think. The little monkey.

 

[elusive]

Raffy really is making the most of his freedom now he’s coming out again! Must have been quite a shock to find him in the bedroom like that. Sounds like he’s been enjoying himself.
I hope you can persuade him to get up earlier somehow so he can have plenty of time & attention again.