Torn between my cat and Tangerine!

[Crystalroborovski]

So before I got the boys my cat would sleep on my bed with me- not every night but usually 2-3 times a week. Whenever I brought home my two little hams I didn't think I'd have to kick Jasmine out of my room at night because the boys were in a 40 gallon with a locking wire mesh lid. Jasmine showed no interest in the cage except for occasionally perking her ears up to listen to them. She still continued to sleep with me. Whenever I separated the boys I decided to house Tangerine in a bin cage with a locking lid which I have on my bedroom floor. I'd prefer to have it on a table or shelf but unfortunately that isn't an option. Jasmine, being the hunting cat that she is just watches the cage if she ever comes into my room (which is rare now but sometimes if I am hanging out in there). Tangerine is such a skittish hamster so I fear that Jasmine will terrify him in the middle of the night if I let her sleep with me. I feel so guilty every time I have to take her out of my bedroom whenever I go to bed and she really wants to sleep with me! So is there a way that I could allow her to sleep with me and find a way to cover Tangetine's cage? I'm not afraid of her getting into the cage as it is secure. I know I'm not supposed to allow her into my room period but I feel like I have betrayed her over my hamsters! And it doesn't help whenever my family scolds me for being cruel to Jasmine. Any advice is highly appreciated.

[AmityvilleHams]

Cats and hamsters should never be in the same room regardless.If anything you're being what may be considered cruel to Jasmine if you actually allow her to be in the presence of prey she'll never be able to catch(the harsh reality,as cats are natural predators and do not feel guilty over their killing of other animals as they must do so to survive).

Simply covering a cage isn't an option.The option here is either find a different cat free room to house hamsters in,or just make your bedroom a cat free room and do not allow your cat to go in that room.

Please don't let your family make you feel that the cats should come before hamsters That sort of mindset is extremely harmful and shouldn't be listened to.At the end of the day,the cat might get a bit upset for a while but eventually it won't be a problem plus it's better to have an upset cat than a seriously ill or dead hamster(which yes,stress from a predator being in the same room can cause).

[cypher]

I don't think it's being cruel to Jasmine not to let her sleep in your room, it's a little unfair of your family to say that really. Animals adjust to new routines easily enough so I wouldn't give in to Jasmine or your family!
You can have time with her at plenty of other times in other parts of the house which you just can't do with Tangerine, it's not so hard for her to be kept out of your room really & just isn't fair on the hamsters to have a cat in the room at all.
Having the hams alone in your room & being with Jasmine at other times of the day outside your room sounds like a perfectly fair balance to me tbh.

[flowerfairy]

I no longer allow the dogs into my bedroom because three of my hamsters are in there. I would not be able to relax at night if they were in there as well.

They are not very happy about not being with me but they see me at other times so will just have to adjust.

Hope you find a happy solution.

[Crystalroborovski]

Thank you everybody for your advice. I guess I just won't allow Jasmine to be in my room anymore.

Good point amity about being cruel to Jasmine by putting prey in front of her face when she can't have it. I can use that to convince my family that I'm not being mean to her by not allowing her to sleep with me.

It's kind of disappointing but I want the best for Tangerine and Jasmine.

[Drago]

I have to agree with what has been said above. It really wouldn't be all that fair either to jasmine or your hams. I used to have my dog sleep in my bedroom with me, but after I adopted my rabbit, the room became off limits for her. As sad as it may be, you sometimes have to choose between your pets

[Thin Lizzy]

It's always been known that cats are hunters, they will wait until there's the slightest chance and jump.
Your parents are wrong to make you feel bad and they should know better than to make you feel guilty.
Just because Jasmine won't be sleeping in your room doesn't mean you love her less.

[AprilPearl]

This may be a bit late, but I agree that you're doing the right thing and in no way being mean to Jasmine by keeping her out. It's just better all round this way, and Jasmine will get used to the fact that there is one room in the house that is a no-go zone. I'm not saying she will stop trying to get in - I know that's not the case from my two cats (curiosity killed the cat and all that). But, it isn't going to make her stop loving you or anything.

[Pebbles82]

It's all been said really. A cat can adjust to new habits You could get her a nice cosy cat bed to make up for it and have it in another room with some toys or treats in so she wants to go there.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Cats/Me-M...ywords=cat+bed

[Crystalroborovski]

Thanks for the cat bed suggestion Serendipity! She really loves this fuzzy blue blanket I have on my bed and she's probably not happy she doesn't get to sleep on it. The cat bed could be an option or I could get her her own fuzzy blanket