Can Hamsters and Cats Live Together? Tips For Keeping Both

You love cats. Even greater is your love for hamsters. You are even planning to pet them both. But we’ve all grown reading fairy tales about cats and rats being the greatest enemies.

You don’t know whether the same applies to felines and hamsters, but you at least are aware that hamsters and rats are all rodents and therefore have a few things in common.

Now, if you are asking yourself whether it’s possible for hamsters and cats to co-exist in harmony, then you must be in luck. Today is all about hamsters and cats, so keep reading along.

Can Hamsters and Cats Live Together?

Yes, hamsters and cats can live together. However, it is important to note that there are some precautions you must take if at all you want to keep these two pets without having your cat trouble the little furry friend.

Cats and hamsters seem to be the most difficult combination. And while it’s naturally hard, it’s not impossible. When you play your cards right, it’s possible for your feline and hammy to cohabit harmoniously.

So yes, if you have a hamster and want to bring a cat, or maybe have a cat and are considering bringing in a hamster, it’s possible for that to work. However, that will majorly depend on how you do things and the nature of the cat you have.

Cats are natural hunters. Yes, that calm cat you see in your house has a high predator instinct that does not go well with rodents. The two creatures are, in theory, at war. Your hamster is a prey animal, meaning it will always be seen as an object to catch and eat.

That being said, if you want to co-exist peacefully with both feline and hamster, there are steps that ought to be taken. But just before that, it will be helpful to learn about the personalities of each animal.

Let’s separate the two animals first before we look at what you can do to form a union with them.

About Hamster’s Personality

Hamsters are small innocent rodents that look like mice and rats, even though they do not share lots of characteristics. They are prey animals, which means their instincts do not go well with cats.

About personality, hamsters are pretty gentle towards other rodents, so it’s safe to say that hamsters get along with other rodents. They are also social animals, so they enjoy the company of other pets or even humans.

Hamsters can also entertain themselves. They get really excited when there are lots of toys to play with. This means that you don’t have to spend much time engaging them because their interest in self-entertainment will keep them busy.

Again, hamsters are shy and clever animals, much more like any other prey animal. Whenever your hamster sees anything strange, running to hide is something that comes to them naturally. That’s a reflex that helps them survive the cruel wilderness life.

The only problem is that they are not considered good pets for children, who tend to be more excited and might accidentally hurt or kill them. These little beings are just as delicate as they look; therefore they need to be handled with extreme care.

About Cat’s Personality

Cats are generally aloof, solitary hunters. They are born predators, meaning they are instinctive hunters who usually do not need much training to be good hunters.

These furry friends usually do not like rodents, which means, if your cat sees your hamster out of his cage and ready to run away, your cat may find it hard to hold back from attacking your hammy.

Cats are also curious and very territorial. However, there is a variance in how cats behave around different pets and people. Some cats can be meaner than others depending on the kind of personality they have been conditioned to have through training or how they were initially raised.

While they are good hunters, one thing about cats is that they tend to give up easily. When your feline notices that there’s no way for them to catch their prey, they will just give up on them and move on.

With all these, it’s evident that hamster and cat personalities do not match. A cat will always see a hamster as food and the hamster will keep on running each time she sees your feline approaching.

In other words, it’s unrealistic to expect that your cat remains nice and ever gentle towards your hammy. Cats were born to hunt, so attacking your hamster is something that happens to them naturally, much more like a reflex.

With that said, if you are planning to get them both, or maybe already have one and are planning to add another, ensure that you have everything set in order for your hamster to her space and peace.

Tips To Keep A Hamster And A Cat Together

Now that you’ve decided to have your hamster and cat all live under one roof, it is imperative to set up your house in a way that both of them can coexist together.

Here are some tips you can keep in mind.

Keep Hamster’s Cage Away From Cat’s “Territory”

One important tip is to keep the cage of your hamster away from areas where your cat hangs out most of the time. One is a predator, while the other is prey, it’s just common sense that both of them should not be in close contact with each other.

If you place your hamster’s cage in an area where your cat can easily reach it, there is a higher risk that your cat might try to reach inside the cage and attack or play with him, even though this means harming herself as well.

Get A Secure Cage For Your Hamster

Hamster habitats are there to offer a place where these little pets can go whenever they feel threatened. You never know what may happen when you leave your house. As a result, always ensure that the cage your hamster is in is very secure.

Your cat may get tempted to try and find a way into it. When they can’t, the next attempt will be to try and force their paw into the cage in order to catch your hamster.

That’s not what you want, so always ensure that you buy a cage that can keep your hamster far from your feline’s reach even when there’s no one around to intervene.

But the cat isn’t the only one likely to go seeking trouble. Hamsters are very curious beings, and at times may sneak from their cage to explore their surrounding. That may not end up well, especially if your cat is around.

As a rule of thumb, a secure cage is one that does not have any openings big enough for her little feet to pass through, so even if your hammy wakes up while sleeping and attempts to climb out of the cage, they will be unable to do so.

Keep Your Cat Outside When Your Hamster Is Outside Their Cage

The goal is to keep these two lovely pets as far from one another as possible. So, always ensure that your cat isn’t in the room when you have your hamster loose from their cage.

Holding your hamster next to your feline will only put them in danger, and you never know what would happen just as soon as you turn your back for a second. So, never take any chances whatsoever when your hammy is out and having some lap time with you.

Most of the hamsters will get stressed just by seeing your cat around, even when the cat isn’t going to cause any harm. And as we all know, stress in hamsters can cause conditions such as wet-tail, digestive problems, fur loss, and more.

That’s why it is of utmost importance that you place your cat somewhere else when you let your hamsters out. This way, they will never see each other, and each will be at ease.

Never Allow Your Cat Near Your Hamsters Cage

Cats have a superior sense of smell and can easily detect the scent of your hamster when inside the cage. And once your feline figures it out, trouble is sure to follow.

Once your cat suspects a tiny prey in there, you might just have a hard time getting her away from the cage. And even when you manage, you never know when they’ll come back. That’s why it is best to not in the first place allow your pet to go close to the cage.

Again, as earlier said, cats are very curious. Whenever they detect some slight movements inside a cage, they will try to go closer and see what’s inside, or even push their paw into the mesh. You know how disastrous that can be for your hamster, so do not allow it to happen at any cost!

Supervision is of Utmost Importance

The only way you can be 100% sure that both your hamster and cat will be safe is to keep a close eye on each one’s whereabouts. Always make sure that you keep a close eye on your hamster when your cat is in the house.

No matter how calm and innocent your cat acts, it may not be exactly the same way your hamster feels. Your poor hamster may have had a traumatic experience with your cat in the past, or may just be scared for no apparent reason at all.

Normally speaking, both cats and pet hamsters can coexist peacefully in the same house as long as everyone is kept safe under your careful supervision. So, if you are going to bring them both, be sure there will always be someone to keep their eyes on them and intervene in case things get out of hand.

And that’s all there is to it! With a little effort and proper supervision, you should be able to keep both pets safe and sound. Just remember what we said – never take any chances whatsoever when your hamster’s safety is at stake!

In Conclusion

While they may live in the same house, don’t expect your hamster and cat to live the same way your cat has probably lived with your dog. You can never trust the interactions between a cat and a hamster, as nature puts them on 2 totally different sides.

This is why, for the safety of your hamster, always take all the necessary precautionary measures before you bring in one in the same house as your cat. If you don’t take things seriously, then your hamster is more likely to pay the price for it.