Hamster and cat in the same apartment, will the cat eat the hamster?

Domestic cats are affectionate and friendly creatures, inside of which the nature of a predator quietly sleeps, awakening every time at the sight of potential prey. But what about loving owners if a cat and a hamster in the same apartment every time play cat and mouse, where the role of the cat’s victim is not a small toy or candy wrapper, but a defenseless hamster?

A competent approach of the owners to the maintenance of such an “explosive” pair will help the hamster to remain unharmed, and in some cases even become a friend to the crafty cat.

One goal game, or do cats eat hamsters

Often, cat owners who dream of a rodent in a cage ask themselves the question – is it possible to get a hamster if there is a cat in the house? A tricky question, the answer to which depends not only on the wisdom of the breeder, but also on the nature of each of the animals. Cats, as great lovers of chasing prey, are unlikely to be able to resist an actively running hamster, so there is always a risk of missing one of the pets.

A small animal gives rise to passion in a cat, but it is unlikely that the animal will eat the whole rodent. Caught in the lamps of a domestic hunter, the hamster will suffer from his tenacious claws. An attempt to free himself will force the cat to use his other weapon – sharp teeth, which will be a sad outcome for a small rodent. Most often, cats bite through their younger brother, after which they continue to peacefully “play” with him, mistaking him for a soccer ball.

What to do if a cat bites a hamster

It is not uncommon for the owner to notice the commotion in the apartment in time and take the hamster out of the paws of the cat. If the rodent was lucky enough to remain intact, but not without a bite, it is necessary to treat the wound with an antiseptic and immediately take the pet to the veterinarian. Primary treatment will help to disinfect an open wound, but you should not continue self-treatment, since the consequences may be irreversible.

After an unpleasant meeting, try to create the most calm conditions for the pet’s life. The resulting stress can turn into a hamster’s anxiety, regardless of its breed. The Syrian hamster is larger than the Dzungarian hamster, giving the impression of a stronger and more stable fighter. But in a practical sense, each of them experiences and is equally nervous. Taking care of the rodent, any possible contact between the cat and the hamster must be completely excluded.

There is also a reverse situation, when a hamster bites a cat. Then the question arises, can a hamster infect a cat and what diseases can be transmitted from an infected hamster? You can learn about this from the article about why a hamster is dangerous and how to choose the right hamster to prevent disease.

How to befriend a cat and a hamster

The most successful option would be to meet a jungar with a cat that has not crossed the line of 1-2 months. At a young age, cats themselves are defenseless, weakly showing hunting power. A kitten will not be able to injure a rodent by playing with it, and over time it runs the risk of getting used to an intricate friend scurrying around the cage. But it is important to remember the character and temperament of the animal: if one cat can become a good friend to the hamster and will not let him offend, the other, on the contrary, will be unable to lull the instincts.

You can leave a hamster and a cat alone only if the latter is young. Let them build relationships on their own, remembering to look after the pets and correct their behavior. In the case of an adult animal, the chances of friendship are significantly reduced, but it is still worth trying to accustom a cat to a hamster. You can do this in several ways:

• Take the cat in your arms and place a cage with a rodent next to it. Watch the reaction of the predator, patiently stop his desire to grab the rodent with his paw.
• Try to take the hamster out of the cage, carefully placing it closer to the predator. Be careful: the hamster can be frightened by smelling an enemy smell and will try to escape from the hands, which will provoke feline instincts.

Don’t be discouraged if your attempt to befriend pets fails. In rare cases, adult cats and hamsters calmly react to communication with each other, coexisting peacefully in the same territory.

How to protect pets from each other

Simple steps will help create a comfortable atmosphere for the life of a cat and a hamster in the same apartment, where the most important thing is to remember them in time. So:

• Make sure your pets eat in different places. Noticing that the hamster is eating from the cat’s bowl, the cat may remain extremely unhappy.
• Place the rodent’s cage as far as possible from the feeding and resting place of the domestic predator so as not to provoke a conflict.
• It is important that the cage is placed at a sufficient height without the possibility for the cat to get close to the hamster. An animal can easily hurt a hamster by sticking its paw through the twigs of the cage.
• Make sure that the door to the cage has a reliable mechanism. In the case of a simple lock (or lack of it), the cat is able to open the door on its own and damage the animal.
• Show attention to the cat: communicate with it more often, feed it with your favorite treat and demonstrate your love in every possible way. Such a step will help to avoid jealousy on the part of the predator, to make his mood less aggressive towards the rodent.
• And most importantly: do not scold the cat for instincts against which he is powerless.

A hamster and a cat in the same territory is always a dangerous combination, even with a very friendly predator who recognized the rodent immediately after birth. An unexpected turn can also be news to a predator, when a cat accidentally ate a hamster without wanting it (for example, damaged it during the game). Be aware of the nature of cats and try not to leave animals unattended for long periods of time.

If you already have a hamster and after reading this article you decide that you shouldn’t get a cat, then you might want to consider getting a guinea pig, a rat, or some other rodent. And about whether they can get along well with your hamster, we have prepared useful material in the article: “Can a hamster live with a guinea pig, a rat and other pets.”