Hamster's palatial new home

A home fit for a king – that’s what Percy the Syrian hamster has finally found after being spotted for sale on Facebook Marketplace in a too-small enclosure with a hide he couldn’t squeeze into.

Hamsters need housing that is at least 100cm long by 50cm wide and 50cm tall – the bigger the better as they love exploring.

A lady who had previously adopted a hamster through Blue Cross Sheffield bought Percy, a former school hamster aged around a year old, to rescue him from his cramped conditions. His nose twitched with excitement as he checked out the roomy new home she provided with a sand bath, wheel, willow sticks to chew on and lovely deep bedding to burrow and snuggle in.

She was worried by Percy’s condition though. His breathing was raspy, his long white fur matted and his skin sore from itching. He also had an eye infection.

A local vet prescribed Percy antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for his chest infection and drops for mites.

It was also advised that Percy needed a new diet as his coat was dull and his teeth had become overgrown.

Percy gobbled down the specialist hamster food mix his rescuer scattered around his enclosure – foraging is natural behaviour for hamsters in the wild. He also enjoyed fresh vegetables and fruit, especially cucumber and coconut.

With the right home and diet in place Percy’s confidence grew. He loved cuddles and even let his rescuer brush out the knots in his fur with a baby’s toothbrush!

There was just one problem. The lady’s other hamster was not too keen on Percy’s enclosure being in the same room as his. Hamsters are a solitary species.

So, Percy moved to Blue Cross Sheffield rehoming centre while our team sought to find him the perfect forever family. They made his stay as fun as possible, scattering mealworms around his enclosure and adding toys for extra enrichment. In return, he charmed them with his sweet nature.

Then a local veterinary nurse who was looking for a hamster to join her family spotted Percy’s cute little photo on the Find a Pet section of the Blue Cross website. She had a little palace set up for Percy with a multi-chamber hide, forages and sprays and different types of bedding for snuggling and sleeping, She’d also bought a playpen so that Percy could have a change of scene in the evenings when hamsters are at their most active.

A week after Percy was adopted, a member of the Blue Cross Sheffield team contacted his adopter for an update. The news could not have been better – she, her husband and kids all adored him. Finally, Percy has the forever home and family he deserves.