Hamster not afraid of cat

Sukirutski · 09-01-2017, 12:30 PM

I live in a one bedroom apartment and I keep my two hamsters in my bedroom but I can't close the door cuz 1. it gets hot in here and 2. the cat will tear up my carpet under the door if i close the door. So the cat comes into my bedroom and if she notices my dwarf hamster Celica out she will try to get but she can't cuz it a closed cage but when I shoo her away I notice that Celica is a the bars of her cage not at all afraid of the cat is that normal.

SabreRose · 09-01-2017, 01:02 PM

I would think so.
Before she died, my syrian would come to the bars of her cage and her and my dog would sniff each other.
I think as long as you're 100% sure the cat has no way of getting in or hurting the hamster it should be ok.

Sukirutski · 09-01-2017, 02:54 PM

Hmmm I always though she would be scared of mama kitty cuz mama kitty is a predator and she is prey. How interesting.

AmityvilleHams · 09-01-2017, 03:59 PM

Even if she doesn't seem scared you really shouldn't ever let predators in the same room with prey animals

It's a recipe for disaster,especially since accidents can happen in little to no time no matter how much caution is taken.

LokiWolf · 09-01-2017, 08:16 PM

When I still had my hamsters they lived in my room where my cat, Zim, spends most of his time. He adored my hamsters (he was actually terrified at first, thinking a tiny hamster would break out and attack him; he's a lover not a fighter), he would watch them and try interacting with them through the glass of the tank. If any of my parents' cats came in and so much as looked at the hamsters funny, Zim would chase them off which was out of character for him but he was very protective of the hamsters. Most of my hamsters ignored him as he wasn't viewed as a threat since they were well secured in locking tanks, but one of them was different.

She was my first hamster, a Robo named Charlotte. She was very depressed in beginning as she was very lonely but somehow she struck up a relationship with Zim through the glass. He would come up to the glass and when she noticed him, she would come over to where he was, she never did this to any other cat and not even with me. I never got any pictures but sometimes when Zim would come to the glass he would put his paw up on the glass and she would come over to the other side of the glass and put her paws up on the glass where his paw was. Even when I got Charlotte a cagemate, which cured her depression and loneliness, she would continue to interact with Zim through the glass. When Charlotte died, Zim was depressed and mourned the loss of his friend. When the rest of my hamsters died and I removed all my cages, he was very upset.

All hamsters and cats are different however. When keeping any animal with another in the same household, you need to monitor the behavior of both to make sure no one is stressed out or in danger.

AmityvilleHams · 09-01-2017, 09:32 PM

Honestly it's much better to just not let predators around prey period

No matter how nice a cat may seem,accidents happen and those accidents can be fatal.Plus the prey drive of cats is never fully eliminated(they're obligate carnivores,with the nondomesticated relatives eating rodents in the wild including hamsters).I'd personally rather have torn carpet than a dead or seriously injured(or seriously ill eventually due to unnecessary stress)pet.

Even small cats and dogs can cause serious damage to tiny hamsters(munchkins for example would even be able to kill small rodents,as would chihuahuas and other small dog breeds).It may seem like a minor injury for humans when they get scratched or bitten by a dog or cat,but considering how delicate and small hamsters are it could lead to internal injury or lost limbs(among other things).Plus cats "interacting through glass" could be more curious for less nice reasons,and as for mourning it could very well be the stress of a change or even just feeding off the energy given by an owner.

Having prey animals and predator animals in the same house is entirely possible though,but only if the prey animals have a predator free area with secure doors.Some cats can open doors,so make sure they can either be locked or that you don't have door opening cats!

LokiWolf · 09-02-2017, 12:26 AM

AmityvilleHams, I would appreciate you not presuming things. I've lived with cats for well over twenty years and I know animal behavior, especially my own pets. You did not see anything that I saw, so don't assume it's negative behavior. You hear 'interact' and think 'hunting behavior' when I know it obviously was not and you wouldn't even think that if you had seen it and knew anything about behavior that was taking place. I know the behaviors I saw and from knowledge of animal behavior, especially behavior of the cat I've raised from an orphaned four week old kitten, knew it was friendly behavior. Animals mourn and I know what it looks like, I've witnessed many animals mourn over others in my life, it's not as simple as stress from change or 'feeding off emotions' as you say. You can state your opinions, but please stop assuming when you never witnessed what actually took place.

Rsclio197 · 09-02-2017, 12:58 AM

I agree with Amytiville hams. The above member asked for people's opinions and she's got responses. Cats are far too unpredictable. My mother always had cats growing up and there's no way I would even allow any of them in the same room as a hamster.

Also, chill out Loki. This is a friendly forum. We're all here to help each other and offer opinions.

AprilPearl · 09-02-2017, 02:34 AM

Yes, all cats are different. No doubt, some will not be interested in attacking and chasing hamsters. However, given that your cat did kill your previous hamster Botan, I would say that she unfortunately is not one of them (again, I am very sorry for your loss. I do not mention this to make you feel guilty in any way, but just to give a reason for my stance here).

Ham ham Botan is dead

Due to this, I would personally keep the cat locked out of the room in which you keep your current hamsters. However, you say that you cannot do that and that is your choice. I hope no further mishaps befall you.

As for the question at hand: hamsters which have been raised in captivity do not know that cats are predators, so may well not display any fear. I do not think that this is especially unusual.

SabreRose · 09-02-2017, 10:39 AM

Oh no. If your cat had killed a hamster before when you thought there was no the cat could get into the cage, I think it would be best to keep the cat out of the room the cage is in at all times.
Not trying to sound judgmental by any means, accidents happen and and sometimes have devastating consequences, but going forward it's best to really increase hammy safety.