Cats and hamsters

Claire_Bear

I've been considering getting a hamster and building a network of hubs made from various things as a cage - like actual hamster cages and storage boxes connected with tubes. The thing is, the hamster would be in the living room as the rest of the house would be too cold for it, and our cat spends the majority of her time in the front room too. Does anyone else have a cat and a hammy in the same house, and do they get on? I'd be scared that our cat would be able to hook a claw through the bars of the cage and get hold of a hamster or something :eek: I'd also be scared that the cat would be able to knock the cage over my climbing on top of it

Fire_Fox

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weXdlkUHt7g

cheepskate_2

We had 2 gerbils and all the cat did was sit on top of the cage, never knocked it over but it was only 1 sturdy cage. we used to say the cat was watching his telly.
Personally i would buy secure tubing and not use cardboard ones, also if you use the Rotastack tubes as outside tunnels they tend to come apart a bit easily if knocked.

beks

Hamsters are great escape artists so what I would be most worried about is it finding a way out of your self constructed cage.
We used to have a hamster and 2 dogs and although this is obviously different to cats (dogs cannot get on top of cages!), I would be very careful keeping them together. My poor hammy make a break for freedom one night and ended up being brought to me as a little present by one of the dogs when I went down in the morning. I was devastated! Be very careful to make sure the cage is absolutely secure.

chocdonuty

Cats love watching small furries but please make sure the cage is very secure, I came home yesterday to find a proud cat and my daughters hamster ripped in two on the carpet:eek: _pale_
Probably was my fault, I'm not entirely convinced I shut the cage properly but I can't blame the cat for her natural instincts. As long as you are very careful it should be ok, just remember to shut that door!

Dr.Shoe_2

The largest cage you can get would be the best idea as Hammy can dodge the cat much easier. Also, plenty of hiding places would make Hammy feel a lot more secure too and you do need a sleeping box. A cage which is longer and wider than it is tall would be impossible to knock over and it should be away from the edge of the table too. Try to put it in a corner.

We had a hamster in a very large tank with about 8" of soil in the bottom so she could burrow.

princess_loki

when i was little we had two cats, a hamster and a bird :rotfl::rotfl:

never had any problems - youngest cat sometimes sat and looked at them both but no problems.

when i was older i had a hamster and a cat. the cat was terrified of the hamster as hamster used to run into the cat when in her ball thingy. once the ball broke open and hammy still charged at cat - cat ran away! from then onwards i always used a little bit of sellotape on the ball.

cat was always locked out of front room at night but one time i got a little drunk and forgot. cat pulled cage off unit and hamster was found in the morning in the electric cupboard - scared but ok.

however, think about the nature of your cat - if it is an avid hunter i would not recommend getting the two together - both of the cats i had with other pets were docile and a may i say it a little dim :rotfl:

foreign_correspondent

when you ask whether cats and hamsters 'get on' - well, just remember that small furries are the cats natural prey, so the cat's instinct will be to kill it, not get on with it...

If the hamster is in a secure cage it will be safe, if it is not, it will be fair game for the cat.

When you say 'tubes and storage boxes' do be aware that hamsters can gnaw through cardboard, wood and plastic and they can get through the tiniest of spaces - if you want the hamster to be safe, you need a cage that is cat proof as well as hamster proof.

For example, a standard metal cage may be safe as the hamster cant get out, and the cat cant get in, but a vivarium (fish tank) with a lid that rests on top would be secure against the hamster escaping as it cannot climb the sides, however, if the cat can dislodge the top, he may well get in and polish off the hamster!

Curious_George_2

we wanted to buy a hamster for my DD and we had 2 cats,
so when we were picking a cage we did it very carefully... to be honest i wouldnt buy a "normal" cage... your just asking for trouble
we got one of these - http://www.meltonpets.com/browse/main/sa/jacoboB.htm
the sides are plastic so there is no chance of 'hookage'

the cat watches him sometimes but has never shown more interest than that which has been a surprise (and our cat is champion mouser who regularly brings home bodies)

UKTigerlily

I've always had Cats & have also had loads of Hamsters, my Cats never bothered with the Hamsters even when they escape, they move too slow & are too fluffy for most Cats to bother but some will. You need to have a secure cage as like others say they are fantastic escape artists, mine used to have Rotastacks many years ago & could get out. Personally i'd put a shelf up high somewhere & have it up on that, attached to the wall if necessary so it's out of the Cats way, only you know your Cat, I know mine'd ignore it but others aren't so lazy!

picklepick

We have 2 gerbils and 2 cats and we also used to have a hamster. Plastic cages arent very suitable for either as they gnaw through plastic within hours. If you get the rotastak tubes you must get the anti gnaw metal rings for the ends otherwise they'll be gone by the morning!

We have tanks for our gerbils and the cats love them. they sit on top and watch, the gerbils are totally oblivious to the cats. They touch noses through the bars and neither is too sure what to make of the other.

Just make sure that all your tubes are cellotaped together so they cant come apart. I wouldn't used plastic storage boxes, they tend to have gnawable corneres. If i were you id use glass tanks. We got ours for free or very cheap from ebay and freecycle. Then made wire mesh lids in a wooden frame to go on the top. With their rotastak cages sat on top. There is no way the two can come apart or get knocked over. We've made sure of that!!