Hamsters are among the most popular “pocket pets” known for being small, cute, and easy to keep. But if you have other pets in your home, you may want to think twice about getting a hamster — especially if you have cats.
Cats do eat hamsters. Cats are carnivores and naturally hunt small rodents in the wild, which makes hamsters their natural prey. Even domestic cats still have hunting instincts and may go after a pet hamster, given the chance. Cats are likely to kill any small animal they can catch, even for fun.
This article will explore the topic of keeping cats and hamsters. I’ll include information on how to keep a hamster and a cat in the same house and how to introduce the two.
Can You Keep Cats and Hamsters in the Same House?
You can keep cats and hamsters in the same house. However, you’ll have to take precautions to protect the hamster, especially if your cat is an active hunter. These include choosing a cat-proof cage and putting the cage in a safe area where the cat can’t get to it.
You should also lock the cat up when you take your hamster out of the cage to handle it. Therefore, it’s essential that you choose a cat-proof cage for your hamster and ensure the cage is stored in an area away from the cat.
Choose a Cat-Proof Cage
Some cats won’t have an interest in hamsters, but others will be extremely interested. Even if you think your cat will have no interest, I recommend you purchase a sturdy cage with bars too narrow for a cat to reach through. This will prevent unnecessary danger to the hamster.
In addition, make sure the door to the cage latches securely. Cats are quite intelligent and may observe you pulling open the cage door. Although they lack opposable thumbs, they can pull things open using their teeth or claws.
Alternatively, you can keep your hamster in a large aquarium with a secure lid. Make sure the lid is strong enough to support the weight of a cat, as your cat may eventually climb up there to get near the hamster.
Put the Hamster Cage in a Safe Area
If you’ve ever owned a cat, you know it can be difficult to keep cats away from anything they’re interested in. Take kitchen counters, for example. The cat may know they’re not allowed on the counter, but they jump up there anyway, especially when you’re not looking.
That means, if possible, you should put the hamster’s enclosure in an area that’s totally inaccessible to the cat, such as a private room where the cat isn’t allowed to go, at least for the first few days or weeks after you bring your hamster home.
This gives the hamster time to adjust to their new environment without the added stress of a predator invading their space.
If you can’t place the enclosure where it’s inaccessible to the cat, put it somewhere that’s at least difficult for the cat to reach, and never leave the cage unattended while the cat has access to the room. You shouldn’t allow your cat to sit next to or climb on top of the cage, as this will terrify the hamster.
Additionally, hamsters aren’t totally helpless, so they may defend their territory. Therefore, some hamsters may bite the cat through the bars if the chance presents itself. While this isn’t directly life-threatening to the cat, infection of the bite can result, making veterinary trips and antibiotic treatment necessary.
Can Cats and Hamsters Become Friends?
It’s not likely for a cat and a hamster to become friends, but it’s also not impossible. While the idea of these two creatures being friends is incredibly cute and charming, it’s not safe to simply put your cat and hamster together, even if you have a very friendly cat.
Some cats may be too lazy or disinterested in hunting, but that doesn’t mean they’ll enjoy hanging out with a hamster — or that the hamster will enjoy hanging out with a cat.
For proof that cats and hamsters can sometimes be friends, check out this short YouTube video featuring a cat and hamster hanging out:
How To Introduce a Cat to a Hamster
If you’re absolutely determined to see if your cat and hamster can be friends, there are a few steps you can go through to introduce them safely.
DO NOT just put a cat and hamster together without protective measures in place. You may think you know your cat won’t attack, but imagine how you’d feel if you were wrong and your hamster was hurt.
The first step is to allow the cat to come into the room where the hamster is kept. Watch both parties carefully for negative signs such as:
- The cat is overly interested in the hamster
- The cat stares at the hamster
- The cat tries to get into or onto the cage
- The hamster hides when it sees the cat
- The hamster squeaks
- The hamster freezes in place
All of these are negative signs — either that the cat’s hunting instinct has been triggered or that the hamster is afraid.
If you see even one of these behaviors, immediately remove the cat from the space and/or relocate the hamster cage away from the cat. In this instance, your cat and hamster can’t be friends.
Signs Your Cat and Hamster Can Be Friends
If you don’t see any signs of aggression or fear between your cat and hamster, they may be able to become friends. Signs this is possible include:
- The cat shows no interest or only mild interest in the hamster
- The hamster shows no interest or only mild interest in the cat
- The cat lays down and grooms normally, ignoring the hamster
- The hamster eats and plays normally, ignoring the cat
To be specific, “mild interest” should be nothing more than a brief notice of the other animal. Keep in mind, even if there’s no sign of fear or aggression, it DOES NOT mean your cat and hamster can definitely be friends. It just means a friendship is possible.
At this point, continue to allow the cat and hamster to inhabit the same room under direct supervision. When, after repeated exposure, there’s still no sign of aggression or fear from either animal, allow them to sniff each other through the bars of the cage.
Watch again for the cat to stare at the hamster and try to get closer. If this happens, it’s a sign of aggression and should immediately be stopped. Likewise, watch the hamster for freezing and other signs of fear, like running and hiding. Both parties should acknowledge each other and then go on about their separate business as though the other animal is of no interest.
How To Introduce Your Cat and Hamster Outside of the Cage
Before you take the risk of exposing your hamster to your cat without the protection of the cage, let the cat come into the room where the hamster is kept, and wait for the cat to lay down and start grooming/relaxing.
Now you can take the hamster out of the cage and hold it. Let the cat see you holding the hamster across the room or from at least a few feet away. If the cat shows no interest, you can move closer.
Keep getting closer, watching the cat for any reaction or sign of interest. If there is none, and the hamster is calm, you can eventually sit next to that cat while holding the hamster. When you’re sure both animals are still totally calm, allow them to sniff each other.
If everything goes well and the calm/disinterest continues, you can eventually allow the hamster to approach the cat directly. You should NEVER allow the cat to approach the hamster until you have confirmed that the cat can be trusted (i.e., the friendship between the cat and the hamster is fully established).
If you make it this far and the animals remain calm — congratulations! Your cat and hamster can be friends. Even so, NEVER leave your cat and hamster unattended when the hamster is out of the cage.
Conclusion
Hamsters represent the natural prey of cats. As such, most cats will try to eat them or at least hunt and kill them. Cats and hamsters can occasionally become friends, but it’s very rare.
You should only introduce your cat and hamster to each other if neither animal shows signs of fear or aggression towards the other.