Hamsters and Cats?

[Sammybingo]

I have a bit of a query, and any advice is most welcome.
I am looking for a new housemate and have exchanged a few emails and texts with a lovely seeming girl. She is coming to look round tomorrow, and seems very keen (although she hasn't seen the room yet - it doesn't get much natural light. But then, neither does my room, I just hang out in the lounge mostly!). Thing is, she has a cat. The cat sounds lovely, and I do LOVE cats, but I am worried about how the cat / Chewy might be around each other. Would I have to move Chewy's cage to my room? Apparently the cat is so scaredy he is frightened of his toy mouse, but I wouldn't want Chewy going after him!

What experiences have people had of cats and hamsters sharing a home? In particular of introducing the two?

I really have to go to bed. It's just been too fun watching Chewy dig tonight!

[Hamtastic]

I wouldn't tempt fate and make sure to have a cat- and escape-proof hamster cage. There was a post here a while ago describing a situation where a hamster got bitten by a cat and died. I'd say with a safe cage and if you take your hamster out with the cat locked out of the room, both should be OK You might end up having to lock your door if the cat decides that observing the hamster's cage at close range is fun and the hamster becomes scared of it.

[Sammybingo]

Thanks Hamtastic . I have no wish to remove Chewy from his Hamster Heaven, he is pretty happy in there and it's a wonderful cage for watching him too (and for him to watch me, grr). I suppose at worst I could move the cage to my bedroom, but he has always lived in the lounge, and it's super, as we can interact all evening, but neither of us is kept awake in hours where we shouldn't be.

I just have "the fear" really! My cat, who lives at my dads house, is a proper hunting cat, a real fiend, so i suppose I find it hard to imagine a cat that isn't! x

[LocoRocoPanda]

I have a whole bunch of cats and I keep Rin (and Phoenix for now) in my room as it's cat-proof but most of my cats don't really care, they're much too calm for that. And the two that do care (my Maine Coon and my huge ginger tom) all they do is sit there watching them. I keep a close eye on the Maine Coon though as she's quite the bird catcher. But I've had 4 hamsters now and not a single one has ended up being hurt, or even touched, by any of my cats.

[Jesse]

My cat doesn't bother at all with the Syrians. I think their size scares him, especially Alice who is the size of a baby guinea pig! However, he is very curious with the robos who are in a glass tank. I did have a very traumatic incident a couple of years ago when my Chinese girl escaped and unfortunately it ended badly for the hamster I've learnt a lot since then and he is never allowed in any of the hamster rooms when I'm not around

[SnickersTheFirst]

My hamsters are all in my room so I just keep the door shut but when my cat occassionally creeps in she kind of stalks around their cages and gets ready to pounce. I've always removed her in time but I wouldn't trust her alone with them!

[Fidgetthefirst]

My cat stares at Milo and my dog - but they don't do anything, they just stare.. but im very careful with his cage, i always double check it before i leave the room, and if im in bed and i have a fear i always go down no matter what time, or how cold to check if its closed ;D
Dont worry - as long as the cage is secure it should be fine!

[Spark]

My best friend's cat and hammy used to have staring competitions - the cat would occasionally jump up on top of Rufus' cage, but he never seemed to care. Most the time they just ignored each other. Only thing they had to be careful with was Mitty 'batting' at Rufus while he was in his ball. Apparently she'd learnt that she could break the ball open doing this 0.0

[Ministottie]

I have the same sort of concern as you atm. I'm going home for Easter and my brother has a cat. I'm so worried about how she's gonna react to my furries lol

[vicky1804]

My cat shows more interest in my mice than my syrians, he will watch them and i just warn him if he get to close.
Id say leave hammie downstairs when someone is in, and when you go out quickly move hammie to somewhere the cat cant get