Hamster scared by cat

SapphireStar · 03-06-2016, 08:50 AM

Hi, was cleaning out my 8 week old hamster so she was in her hamster ball.
Went into kitchen and partner turned his back and the cat whom we thought was out had both paws round the ball. Hammie was on her back but silent and she started acting weird. It was like something had gone ping in her brain and she started flipping over, couldn't hold her head up etc.
My partner said she's obviously in pain and to put her out of her misery. I said to wait, put her in her cage and allow her to calm down.
We put her in her cage and she went into a tube. She's managing to hold her head up now and her eyes are properly open. She's chattering tho.
I just want people's opinions on whether you think she'll recover or to have her pts.
I've had mice who've acted like this but have recovered so they have full motor skills. I don't want her in pain but at the same time if she can recover I'd rather give the option of living a full happy life then over react and end it all if you see what I mean.

SilverLainey · 03-08-2016, 06:56 AM

Poor thing, it must have been such a shock. I hope she is doing better now after some time to calm down.

AnyaAndLyra · 03-08-2016, 07:57 AM

She's just terrified. To her, it was a near death experience and even a few seconds of having the cat that close could possibly feel like hours of being there to her. She most likely will just need a lot of time to be left alone but I think she will probably be okay. You know your hamster better than us but I wouldn't recommend putting your hamster to sleep just because it for scared.

Thin Lizzy · 03-10-2016, 06:22 AM

What a terrifying ordeal for your hamster. It's important that you let her recover and avoid using the ball for a while.
Please keep your cat away from her next time she might not be so lucky.
Try and keep your ham in a room with a door, and that the cat doesn't use the room.
Cats are hunters and given the opportunity will try again.

herbi7 · 03-10-2016, 10:35 AM

What sort of flipping over? Did the cat push the ball around at all? She may just be in shock but if she got bounced around in the ball she may have some sort of nerve damage to her neck or back. I would just see how she goes and if she hasn't recovered in a few days take her to the vet. Keep her warm and quiet and observe her but don't disturb her till she seems normal and active. If she is now hiding up in her tube put a water bowl very near in case she is avoiding drinking

flowerfairy · 03-10-2016, 11:06 AM

Sorry to hear about your hamsters's and your ordeal.

I hope she is feeling better by now and that you and your partner are ok. Its such a shock when this kind of thing happens.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-10-2016, 12:03 PM

I don't like it when cats stare at hamsters. There isn't anything cute about it, just a personal pet peeve...

Hope your hammie made a full recovery?

galaxymouse · 03-10-2016, 12:25 PM

Hello everyone,
Thank you for the replies. Unfortunately Doughnut didn't recover. Her eye burst or something as there was blood from the socket but she couldn't open it. We left her quiet but she died late in the evening. Every time she moved she shuffled as though she was really old but she kept veering to the right and her head kept weaving back and forth.
Am very conscious of cats and how they are towards hamsters. That's why we were going to convert a wardrobe into a hamster cupboard as added protection for her.
However I also had another hamster (male, not from the same litter) who also died without the cats involvement. It was like a light switch had gone ping inside his head. Don't know how to describe it but he acted like he was drunk, favouring his right side and he died too so I think apart from extremely bad luck that maybe they both had a neurological problem.
If they had keeled over and started frothing at the mouth I wouldn't have been surprised. It was like they had a fit.
Anyway all I wanted was for them to have a good happy life but I couldn't give them that.
Am going to build the hamster cupboard and have my name on a good breeders list for when they have Syrians available.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-10-2016, 12:39 PM

Sorry that happened, really sad

Could be coincidence didn't mean to try to make you feel bad or anything, I see cats starring at hamsters alot, just don't think it's right.

pinkneon · 03-10-2016, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear

Sorry that happened, really sad

Could be coincidence didn't mean to try to make you feel bad or anything, I see cats starring at hamsters alot, just don't think it's right.

We always had cats growing up, so of course I got really scared once the hamsters (and other small furries my siblings had!) arrived. One cat was actually never even bothered. As long as she slept on the windowsill in the lounge, soaking up the sun then she was happy. (Our cats were allowed in the lounge at that time, not any more for various reasons). The other cat used to give me evil looks! I swear she thought I preferred the hamster over her LOL. I did once catch her staring at the hamster but as I never let her in my room it wasn't too much of an issue. The only time it became tricky was if the 4 of us were cleaning cages and we would put the hamsters in their balls in the lounge and dinging room, and the cats would have to stay outside. Then we would allow the cats back in and shut them in so my brother and sister could let their rabbit and guinea pig outside for a spot of fresh air. Eventually they all learned to tolerate each other! - Maybe it was like us. We didn't like each other much but we had to live together, therefore we tolerated each other! Our current cat is not allowed in any bedroom, or the living room so he just skulks around. He did walk in a couple of times when someone left the door open, but he's quite old now and can't jump on furniture, so he hasn't actually seen the hamster. It's been many years, though, since any of us has had hamsters living with him so I hope they are never introduced!