Hamster, Gerbil, Mouse or Rat?

[roadsweeper]

I went in to my 1st floor bathroom this evening (which is in the process of being renovated and so has numerous holes in the floor, etc.) to find the below in my bath scrabbling to get out! Can someone knowledgeable identify it for me please - I think it's a gerbil and hence probably a family pet but am not sure? It has virtually no tail so I'm reasonably confident - and very hopeful - that it isn't a rat.





If it's a gerbil I'll try and get it in a cage but if it's a rat I obviously need to know to be careful in case I catch something!

Any fast advice much appreciated as the poor thing isn't very happy in the bath!

[bumblebee]

Eees not a Rat! Eees a Siberian Hamster!

[moleamol]

It doesn't look like a rat and a quick browse of Google images seems to point towards a hamster.

[roadsweeper]

bumblebee said:

Eees not a Rat! Eees a Siberian Hamster!

OK thanks. I'll try and catch him and speak to the neighbours tomorrow!

(Incidentally, I wrote, "gerbil" in my original post for some reason when I actually meant, "hamster" as it looked like the latter based on a quick image search on Google)

[Olivero]

100% a hamster, with a 60% likely hood of being called "Harry".

[Pigeon]

Best send him back to PH HQ quick before everyone logs on in the morning and the servers crash...

[moleamol]

Pigeon said:

Best send him back to PH HQ quick before everyone logs on in the morning and the servers crash...

That cage must be very unsafe.

[roadsweeper]

OK, he's now safely ensconced in my cat carrier and has been christened, "Harry" as per Article 2.3 Section A of the Hamster Owner's Manual.

Now I need to know what is best to feed him? He's obviously exhausted ( the bath is covered in bloody scratches ) but I don't have any hamster food in the house. Are there any everyday things I'm likely to have in that they eat?

[Olivero]

Cheese, nuts and seeds. The little chap should be fine (my old one would vanish for a week then come back covered in dirt looking very pleased with himself) will need water and somewhere warmish like an old tshirt.

[roadsweeper]

OK, I had a box of mixed seeds (sunflower and pumpkin) and pine nuts so I've put them in a dish and put that, along with a dish of water and an old t-shirt, in the cat carrier. He seems much calmer now and has eaten something. The last time I looked he was grooming himself and then he climbed on the t-shirt.

Doing the rounds of the neighbours tomorrow with a dodgy leg (I broke it in two places recently) is going to be fun! At least it's been an entertaining climax to another boring day and I saw him before my cat!

Thanks to everyone for your help.

[thinfourth2]

You have taken the cat out of the cat carrier i hope before inserting harry houdene

spelling police duck off

[Bad-Gerbil]

They can slip through very small holes - so make sure that the cat carrier is secure.
Otherwise you'll be chasing him/her again.
BG

[G-Rich]

Olivero said:

100% a hamster, with a 60% likely hood of being called "Harry".

Brilliant

[Jasandjules]

Good to hear you got him, and I suspect the neighbour's 8-12 year old kid will be pleased to get him back.

[roadsweeper]

thinfourth2 said:

You have taken the cat out of the cat carrier i hope before inserting harry houdene

spelling police duck off

She's being kept well away and in fact has a deep-rooted aversion to the cat carrier anyway!

[roadsweeper]

Bad-Gerbil said:

They can slip through very small holes - so make sure that the cat carrier is secure.
Otherwise you'll be chasing him/her again.
BG

Thanks. I am a bit concerned about that so I've left the cat carrier in the bath just in case he manages to get out.

[roadsweeper]

F.A.O. Mods: If someone could take the, "URGENT" out of the topic title I would appreciate it as I don't want to annoy fellow PHers who think this thread is still urgent and read it as a result.

[MitchT]

G-Rich said:

Olivero said:

100% a hamster, with a 60% likely hood of being called "Harry".

Brilliant

Or Richard

[Mr Will]

roadsweeper said:

F.A.O. Mods: If someone could take the, "URGENT" out of the topic title I would appreciate it as I don't want to annoy fellow PHers who think this thread is still urgent and read it as a result.

Sorted

[Eddh]

roadsweeper said:

Doing the rounds of the neighbours tomorrow with a dodgy leg (I broke it in two places recently) is going to be fun! At least it's been an entertaining climax to another boring day and I saw him before my cat!

So you will be walking funny while carrying a small rodent... yeah we believe you 'found it in the bath' sir

Edited by Eddh on Thursday 30th October 13:11