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Small pets

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Original poster

Oh god my cat has caught my little hamster

75 replies

ThoseFemalesAreStrongAsHell · 02/06/2018 20:08

My DS got a hamster for his 5th birthday (about 18 months ago) and he's very much part of the family we love him loads.

About 3 months ago my friends cat had kittens but one was pushed out and the mum wouldn't let him feed he was so small so I took him in bottle fed him etc and he's thriving now at 12 weeks but has obviously tried to get the hamster so in the day when I'm not around/night I've kept the hamster in the cage in the bathroom with the bathroom door shut because the cat kept jumping on the cage and I was worried.

Tonight as we were getting ready for bed I left my DD who is 4 in the bathroom to brush her teeth and closed the door behind me, and she'd got him out of the cage and he was running around so as I opened the door to check the cat grabbed him and had him in his mouth and was pawing at him it was really quite traumatic and I would say it went on for about 5 minutes before I could get the cat as he kept running from room to room with him in his mouth.

I have got him back in his cage, theres no obvious bleeding or injuries but he's just not himself. Has not accepted any food or even moved from the tube in his cage. He normally loves carrots so i put some next to him and he's not touched them.

Could this just be shock? Hes not making any noise like squealing or anything, both eyes are open When I wake him and normally hes not very active at this time. My vet isn't open so I'd just like some advice I will take him tomorrow. Thanks.

OP posts:
Beamur · 02/06/2018 21:52

Cats are actually very good at carrying prey without injuring it. Fingers crossed your hamster is shocked but not hurt.
Leave it somewhere quiet overnight and see how it is in the morning.

lorisparkle · 02/06/2018 21:54

I hope all is well for you, on a positive note we have had cats and hamsters with the strict rule of hamster in bedroom with door shut at all times and a good sturdy cage. My ds were older so very good at following the rule. Our lovely hamster lived for 3 wonderful years - still miss him!

BUT we did have an incident when the school hamster came to visit. The cage was not as sturdy and the cat stood on the tube, the tube broke and hamster escaped. The cat had hamster in mouth but luckily dropped it when my dh shouted. Ds caught hamster and put him back. He was absolutely fine and lived until he was over 2 years (and that was as a school hamster!). Our cats whilst good at catching mice prefer them alive so that might be why he was fine.

lljkk · 02/06/2018 21:55

must admit I laughed at AEFT's story. Oh Dear

Original poster
ThoseFemalesAreStrongAsHell · 02/06/2018 21:57

Alicatz66 I mean, obviously I'm not surprised I just wanted some advice. I am gutted. As I said up thread I was so apprehensive about getting the kitten but as he was pushed out so early on at 3 weeks old and my friend wasn't going to try to rehome him and just let him die or be eaten I took him in, I bottle fed the kitten every 3 hours including throughout the night and although the plan was to re home him after 8 weeks I chose to keep him and keep the hamster in separate rooms at all times when I was not around. Obviously as my DD let the hamster out when I was unaware I have hurt my poor hamster and I promise you I could not feel worse.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 02/06/2018 21:59

my cat killed my hamster when I was younger.
My dd often asks for a hamster but it's completely unfair to keep caged rodents or birds in the same house as a cat. Cats are predators and it's terrifying for the hamster.

Branleuse · 02/06/2018 22:00

if your hamster survives maybe you could rehome it?

Stormwhale · 02/06/2018 22:01

You are clearly a caring pet owner op, please don't beat yourself up. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and accidents happen. Hopefully hammy will rest and calm down over night and pick up in the morning.

I would make sure that dd knows that this is just an accident. My four year old dd would be completely devastated and would play it over for a long time. She will need your reassurance. Flowers for you all and fingers crossed hammy is ok.

Twopointsforhonesty · 02/06/2018 22:03

My hamster died of shock a day or two after the cat got it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. My dad then brought it back to life. He used a straw to resuscitate it. Seriously. Wouldn’t recommend it though - was petrified of it after that.

Original poster
ThoseFemalesAreStrongAsHell · 02/06/2018 22:06

YearOfYouRemember completely agree about the age of my DD and the cage. She has been warned many times not to open the cage without an adult around and in the shock of it all I shouted at her and her little face dropped she knows it was wrong and honestly I had no idea why she did it otherwise I would have never left her alone if I thought for a second she would get them hamster out! She was really upset at bedtime

OP posts:
Alicatz66 · 02/06/2018 22:09

ThoseFemalesAreStrongAsHell .. I'm sorry OP ! That was a bit snotty of me .. I really hope little hammy makes it xx

Timeissliplingaway · 02/06/2018 22:10

Cats can carry things in their mouths very gently, they do tend to play about with their prey sometimes. Even if there is no signs of injury the poor little thing might die of shock eventually.

Original poster
ThoseFemalesAreStrongAsHell · 02/06/2018 22:15

Branleuse the only person I could re home him to is my mum but she also has a cat so not the best idea!

I've text my sister to see if she will take him in. She lives nearby too so we can go and see him if she says Yes!

OP posts:
Lougle · 02/06/2018 22:19

A word of hope, but I regularly rescue mice, etc., from one of my cats, that she catches and brings in. I shout at her, she drops them (reluctantly) and I then play a ridiculous game of trying to catch the poor creature before she recaptures it again, then I release it outside my front door (her catflap is outside the back door, so I figure it gives mousey a fighting chance of escape while she has to figure out her route to the back of the house and around the side to the front).

One day, I couldn't find a mouse, and it hid for 24 hours in the house. The next day, I saw it wander across my hall. I let it out of the front door, and it must have realised it had no energy to run away, because it walked back to the front door Sad I put it in a box with some granola and some sugar water, and after a couple of hours, it started moving and eating/drinking. After 4 hours, I took it back outside, and he ran away Smile

MilkAndCookies1 · 02/06/2018 22:19

Hope he is ok!
I had hamsters and cats for years with no issues!

Mishappening · 02/06/2018 22:22

Hamsters are quite tough and as long as he is still able to walk about things could go fine. He may just be resting to recuperate.

Our hamster fell from the top of our open plan stairs to the bottom, after having a fit. We were pretty pessimistic about his survival chances but he was fine.

NotLeanButMean · 02/06/2018 22:26

Your friend sounds awful Shock

Good luck to little hammy Sad hope he makes it.

Original poster
ThoseFemalesAreStrongAsHell · 02/06/2018 22:34

Alicatz66 oh don't worry! I am a cat lover myself and understand it is an instinct for them! Hence the leaving in the bathroom and very stern warnings to my kids to make sure the door is shut at all times. Grin.

I very selfishley fell in love with the bloody cat even though hes an arse and doesnt appreciate me haha, and made the desicion to keep him and the hamster together, dd and ds both knew and it was explained the cat cant be with the hamster alone ( tom and jerry were an example) and I don't understand why she let him out. She's only 4 but I don't think she even knows why she did it bless her.

OP posts:
Jinglebells99 · 02/06/2018 22:38

A friend of mine bought her parents two love birds as an anniversary present. While they were out, the car got into the cage and they returned to find their lovebirds dead. I really don’t understand why you would keep cats and birds/rodents at the same time. It really isn’t fair on the prey animal. They must live in fear. I’d rehome the cat.

Branleuse · 02/06/2018 22:41

4 year olds are babies. She had no concept of the consequence and couldn't be expected to x

GoldPlatedChaos · 02/06/2018 22:42

Oh your poor daughter. I hope the hamster makes it.

wombatron · 02/06/2018 22:42

I love @Lougle 'a story. Hoping for this outcome for you OP. Xx

Original poster
ThoseFemalesAreStrongAsHell · 02/06/2018 22:42

NotLeanButMean her cat has had 3 lots of litters now but she sells them on gumtree for £30. I don't agree and she knows this. I've offered to pay for the cat to get nutered but she's not interested.

The mum cat when not looking after kittens is very well looked after though. If it wasn't no doubt I would have her too!

OP posts:
HellofromEurope · 02/06/2018 22:43

Oh no, I keep my fingers and toes crossed for the little hamster. Hope he'll be fine!

C0untDucku1a · 02/06/2018 22:48

Poor hamster :(

My children asked for a hamster but we have two cats. The people at the pet shop said cat1 would also be stressed knowing something was in a room She couldnt get into.

Honeyroar · 02/06/2018 22:52

Best case scenario the hamster is in shock and uninsured. I'd think about trying a bit of sugar water too, it's revived a good few of my hens over the years. Then keep the cat well out of his sight and hearing for the night and leave him quiet.

When I first got my hens my male cat used to keep stalking them and really wanted to catch one. We used to growl at him and shoo him away. He did actually learn that they were off limit and now wanders amongst them without doing anything. I doubt your daughter will ever do that again. I'm sure you could keep both with more care.

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