Hamster Goes on the Lam-and Shows Up Days Later With a New Pack of Friends
If you've ever had a hamster, odds are, you've had at least one slightly traumatizing hamster experience. I've had three hamsters in my lifetime, and all of them thought I was the enemy. One of them got out and went on the run for a few hours!
Recently, one hamster mom's precious furry friend decided it was time for an adventure. She snuck out of her cage when her mom wasn't looking and went on the lam... Only to turn up a few days later with a bunch of unexpected friends:
@erinrusssell i thought bro died #hamster#guineapig#rodents
original sound - Tomodachilife
Erin Russell was so worried about her hamster! She thought maybe the little one had gone off and died, which isn't uncommon, but it is scary. She spent several days searching all over her house for her, but she never thought to check the Guinea pig cage. A few days later, she was just taking care of her piggies when she finally saw her!
Evidently, it looks like the hamster was having the time of her life. The Guinea pigs didn't seem to mind her being there: they were minding their business while she wandered around their house. Luckily, these two animals have similar enough needs and enclosures that she was comfortable.
Related: Guinea Pig Relaxing While Dad Plays the Piano Is a Total Vibe
The Guinea pigs are in a pretty large cage on the floor, with wider bars than a hamster's cage would have. She either squeezed through the bars or climbed over the top. Whatever the case may be, she's totally unharmed! The Guinea pigs can be a little feisty sometimes, but they took to the hamster pretty well.
Don't worry: the hamster has been moved back to her home. This arrangement was just a party-crasher thing. While it was okay for a few days, it was not a good idea to make it a permanent arrangement, so Mom scooped her up and took her right home!
Can Guinea Pigs and Hamsters Live Together?
If this hamster had her way, she would live among the Guinea pigs forever. She was having the time of her life, and there was so much space to roam! It was awesome!
Guinea Pigs and hamsters should not live together under any circumstances. Though their needs, diets, and even their looks might be similar, there are some serious risks of letting them cohabitate:
- Guinea pigs are very social, while hamsters are solitary.
- Guinea pigs are bigger, which is a trampling risk.
- Though Guinea pigs are bigger, hamsters are way more aggressive, and they can/will bite.
As a human, getting bitten by a hamster really hurts! I can only imagine how bad it would hurt for a small Guinea pig. I'm glad everyone in this situation was unharmed!
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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 9:00 AM.