Quote Originally Posted by Mel1959 View Post
I’ve been following this thread and haven’t had much to say because you’ve been getting stellar information and help. I know exactly what you’re going through as I went through it myself.

Don’t knock yourself out or allow yourself to be attacked just so Hamy can have a clean cage….its not going to harm him to have soiled bedding, etc. Unfortunately you do have to feed him. Does your cage have a small 4” x 4” door or just one large one? If no small door is there a way to cut one in the hardware cloth that can be then closed and secured with a metal clip. I ask because this new little door can be an access point to add and remove food/water bowls without allowing Hamy the ability to escape and attack you. Many rehabbers stop physical interaction with their squirrels as they mature and get wild. It’s not an ideal situation for you and Hamy, but it’s also not the end of the world.

If this is not something feasible to do then the only alternative I can see is to put food and water in when Hamy is asleep. I know of others that have done it this way when their squirrels were too wild while they waited for release.

I know how hard it is to realize and accept that your precious furry baby no longer wants to be your baby. As others have said this might pass, but if it doesn’t, then all you can do is bide your time till the weather warms and the leaves are on the trees so Hamy has a fighting chance at a life in the trees. I know how frightening it is to think about him being out there in the big, bad, scary world, but it’s a life he was born to live. You just have to do all you can and hope and pray for the best for him.
Thank you so much for your lovely words.
Hamys cage has 2 large doors with a small door in the large ones. Well.... I tought Hamy how to get out of any kind of enclosure. I figured back then that if Hamy wants to be free he needs to have the knowlege how to escape if necessary.... it works against me now.... I won't be able to get food in and out through the cage doors....
But we bought a cat carrier today. If necessary we'll use that...I can put the opening of the cat carrier on the cage door. Once Hamy walked in to the cat taxi I'll shove a board over the opening. It will allow me to close the cat carrier so Hamy can't escape or attack. I did that with tamarin monkeys. Works like a champ. I just have to have the help of my hubby and I have to be fast. And it gives me the chance to clear out the stash in his house where he sleeps in...
I figured out a way to feed Hamy without having to open the gates. I can fidle the rodent blocks in his bowl inside the cage from the outside. The veg I cut thin enough that I can fit it through the hard wire. Piece by piece.... Hamy threatens me when I offer the veg but he takes it. Same with fruit... water is no problem as I have hamster waterbottles on the outside of the cage. I can clean and refill them no problem.
About the bedding... Hamy hates to get wet... he actually throws all the wet bedding on the floor of his cage. I usually have a wooden board which covered the hardware cloth on the bottom of the cage. But at the last attack I couldn't put the board back in as the severity of Hamys attack came as a bit of a surprise... so at the moment whatever Hamy throws on the floor of his cage I can easily get out. Most of it falls in a tray underneath the hard ware cloth flooring and what doesn't go through the hard ware cloth I can pull out by hand... the hard ware cloth flooring is not great for his wee feet but it will do the trick till I can come up with a better solution.
I'm really troubled at the moment. I don't know what to hope for... who am I to put my hopes and desires above Hamys needs and dreams.... only Hamy can deside how he wants to live his life.... I have to wait and sit it out... all I want for Hamy is to be happy and safe.... but it's killing me to know what dangers are awaiting him... Hamy deserves to be with his own kind if that's what he longs for... it's totally up to Hamy... for now he will have to stay with me till it's warm enough and there's leaves on the trees. Hamy will always be my pal no matter which way this will go... and I will defo do anything in my powers to make it as easy as possible for Hamy.
If Hamy could have grown up with his mom and siblings he would go seperate ways within the first year of his life as well... I'm just afraid he changes his mind once he's out in his release cage... how do I know... is that a stupid way of thinking... so far Hamy doesn't like to dig in dirt... he hates dirty, sticky hands and feet... and he sure hates to get wet...