Would it be cruel to get a hamster?

[expatinscotland]

Dh and dd1 would like one.

We have indoor cats. One couldn't care less - he's an old fart and Persian so he's not a good jumper.

The other, however, is a sprightly 6-year-old.

She wouldn't actively hunt 'amster, as dd1 calls it.

We'd keep Hamish the Hamster in the girls' room high up on a chest of drawers.

But would it be cruel considering feline presence?

[dewmeadow]

You should ask Dave what he thinks

[expatinscotland]

dave, the hamster can't be free range. is it cruel?

:o

[Aero]

I wouldn't have one with cats in the house - but that's because I've seen my cat do the mouse thing and it ain't pretty.

He brought in a live one the other day and half killed it before I could stand it no longer. I chased the cat, rescued the mouse (although would have probably been kinder to let the cat finish him off as he had little strength left in him), and let him go at the back of the garden.

[hunkermunker]

I'd get a Ferplast Duna cage for it, because they have plastic sides, not wire ones - a wire lid though.

My hamsters stayed at my mum and dad's for three months when we were between houses a few years ago - their two cats were fascinated by them, but the hamsters didn't care - and the cats couldn't get them. The cats went a bit potty though.

[expatinscotland]

Pepsi would go potty.

But dd1 talks about it running on a wheel and I think, yeah, hamsters are sweeties.

DH likes them, too.

[hunkermunker]

I'm toying with getting another one - DS1 would be entranced.

[dewmeadow]

you can get those ball things to put them in for a wee run about. I think the cats would eye them up constantly though. the poor wee thing would have high blood pressure

[expatinscotland]

w/my luck it would be a wee shite like the gerbil i had when i was 11.

[1Baby1Bump]

ive had hamsters, mice and rats as a child and they were never fazed by the cats, although the cats were mezmerised!
we used to put the hamster in its clear playball thing so it could go on the floor and put some sellotape over the door to make sure it didnt come off. the cats would watch but move away if it came close.

[dewmeadow]

gerbils are like RATS! I hate them and theyre vicios wee bastareds

[expatinscotland]

this gerbil was the rodent antichrist.

little c(*t.

[dewmeadow]

oooh - I was going to say that word but I was afraid

[DaveTheFreeRangeHamster]

My first hamster lived with a cat (of the old fart variety)
Can't see it being a problem as long as you don't get an escaping hamster, like Dave.

[edam]

Used to have a hamster and an elderly cat who were fine together. Ish. Hamster lived in a Rotastak thingy - you know, all plastic so no access for nosey moggies. My sister used to put it in those plastic ball things for some exercise. Every time the poor sod stopped for a rest the cat would pat it to keep going. With a really sadistic 'dance, little hamster, dance' look on her face..