Question about cat behaviour with small pet

[NarcissistsEyebrows]

Hi,

I agreed to post this question for a friend to try and get some information about cat behaviour in relation to a hamster.

Very grateful for replies from vets, people who understand cats and cat behaviour well please.

In a family home with two cats and a hamster, is there any benefit in socialising the cats and hamster together under close supervision in order to familiarise them with each other?

The point of this would be so that the cats were less likely to attack as they 'know' the hamster, and the hamster is less nervous in the event of an accidental escape if it ever came across a cat.

Many thanks for your expert input

Is this a joke?

You don't "introduce" prey animals to animals that catch them and kill them.

One smack from a cats paw and your hamster is dead.

Your poor hamster needs keeping in an area that the cats are not allowed, otherwise they will scare it 24/7, and if they get hold of it they will kill it and eat it.

Does that answer your insane question?

Jeez, I thought the not understanding that monthly gas/electric direct debits are NOT your bills threads were peak insanity but introducing a frigging hamster to cats. Hells bells.

It is not a joke.

Just wanted to gather opinions from knowledgeable people.

Thanks for replying

Sounds like a terrible idea. Poor hamster.

Just to be very clear, I have posted this on behalf of someone else as I think they'd benefit from seeing some views other than my own

Please do not take this to mean that I have done this or I think it is a good idea

Also I'd be extremely grateful if anyone who is in any way 'cat qualified' would state this in their reply.

I'm sure you can imagine that someone might be more convinced by views from a proper expert than just an Internet random

I hope you understand what I'm saying and don't take offence

In my experience my gentle cat who I told my ex not to shut in the room with his beloved rat unsupervised tore the rat into pieces he literally knocked the cage off breaking it open to get at it this is the most super chill cat on the planet not really interested in the rat....while we were watching him

My other cat got hold of a neighbours hamster I wasn't fast enough to get it off him when he bought it home and he grabbed it and legged it I don't think the hamster survived I heard it screech then silence so he either got away or got killed

Your friend probably shouldn't be allowed to be responsible for animals.

Former veterinary receptionist & lifelong owner of both cats and guinea pigs.

There is no benefit to introducing them.
Its instinct - most cats will hunt and kill hamsters and other small prey animals. Small prey animals will likely be petrified in the presence of a cat.

Best case scenario the cat isn't very prey-driven and ignores the hamster, hamster still likely to be stressed. My very lazy older cat, who has never caught anything bigger than a spider, is still intrigued by my guinea pigs. I wouldn't leave her in the same room - even an inquisitive paws through the cage could cause serious injury, for example if their eye was clawed.

@NarcissistsEyebrows

Hi,

I agreed to post this question for a friend to try and get some information about cat behaviour in relation to a hamster.

Very grateful for replies from vets, people who understand cats and cat behaviour well please.

In a family home with two cats and a hamster, is there any benefit in socialising the cats and hamster together under close supervision in order to familiarise them with each other?

The point of this would be so that the cats were less likely to attack as they 'know' the hamster, and the hamster is less nervous in the event of an accidental escape if it ever came across a cat.

Many thanks for your expert input

If your friend thinks that introducing a lion to a gazelle is a good idea, then absolutely crack on. The principle is the same.

Terrible idea.

I think my friend think that they know their own cats very well, plus they're watching closely.

I'd argue its not quite the same as a lion cos there is zero chance you could get in between a lion and gazelle send separate them in time, whereas with a cat you could...?

Related question, how delicate is the hamsters constitution in terms of the stress it would feel being put very close to a cat?

Really appreciate the replies btw, especially the qualified one from Paws27

I'd argue its not quite the same as a lion cos there is zero chance you could get in between a lion and gazelle send separate them in time, whereas with a cat you could...?

You really couldn't. Cats are insanely fast when they're hunting and a hamster would stand absolutely ZERO chance. Even if the cat didn't catch it, the fear could kill the hamster.

Related question, how delicate is the hamsters constitution in terms of the stress it would feel being put very close to a cat?

Incredibly delicate. The stress/fear could easily kill the hamster.

At the end of the day, cats are predators and creatures like hamsters are their prey. Why on earth would you introduce one to the other and expect the prey to come out alive? What's the benefit to either animal?

www.petsradar.com/advice/help-stressed-hamster-symptoms-causes

"Hamsters can become stressed for multiple reasons. Hamster stress can be caused by fear. Being so small, it’s easy to understand why hamsters might feel afraid sometimes. Scary situations for hamsters include loud noises, rough handling, being held at a height, sudden movements, or unfamiliar environments"

"Hamsters are very susceptible to stress, and sudden stress can put extra strain on their heart and other body organs. If they are old or have poor underlying health, they are even more at risk of sudden death from stress."

"Although hamsters are tiny, hamster stress is a big problem. If you take home a little ball of fluff, it's worth doing your research to make sure you handle them correctly and provide them with everything they need for a happy and relaxed life."

If a cat bites a hamster, no matter how quickly you intervene, the damage will be done & highly likely to be fatal.
It's just not worth the risk. There's absolutely no benefit to either animal.

Cats are fast as fuck & sneaky to boot.

It’s a massive risk. It’s like leaving a toddler with a bowl of haribo.

I have a cat and a hamster. The cat is barred from hamsters room at all times

When I worked at my last practice we treated a bird for (luckily minor) injuries after it was swiped at by the family cat. The two had coexisted with no issues for over a year, family let their guard down and the cat clawed it.

Although the injuries were very minor there was a high risk of the bird dying from shock. Antibiotics were prescribed as infection risk was also high. It was a very lucky bird & survived, but why take the risk?

Also it's possible the hamster could die of shock, even if the cat didn't try and kill it

I have a degree in animal behaviour. Not only should you/they not do this, but the hamster should live in a room the cat is barred from. Even the smell of a cat is going to be hugely stressful for the poor thing.

My cat got into our rat room once, nowhere near the cage. They were petrified, it is instinct.
Keep you hamster away from the cats!

Just to point out my cat had lived with the rat for a long time with zero interest he was the fattest most lazy arse cat on the planet it took one time dropping the guard down and he evicerated it

Just no.

You can't train the hunt instinct out of the cat. You can't train the fear instinct out of the hamster. PPs are right that the fear alone could kill the hamster.

On top of that, cat claws and teeth are really really germy. A scratch with a tooth or claw, even one that's not a bad injury, would most likely be a death sentence from infection.

I have 5 cats with massively different Prey drives. One has only ever 'caught' a long dead fledgling. None of them are allowed near the hamster. We did have an escape incident and by sheer luck, the only cat in the house at the time was the one with the lowest prey drive. Now, the hamster cage is secured and I make sure all the doors are closed when I go to bed.

You really don’t need to be in any way “cat qualified” to know that this is an awful idea.

In fairness I do know of a rabbit who happily coexists with cats but they’re more similar in size, despite being natural prey.

We have domesticated cats to the point where we idolise them as furry babies, but don’t forget they were first brought into homes to act as pest control. When one of mine brought a mouse in recently they took it in turns to guard the cupboard where it was hiding FOR 3 DAYS!! When it eventually came out, lured by peanut butter trap, it was lucky I was on hand to humanely remove it or they would have pounced. And they’re the laziest most chilled cats ever. Their natural instinct will override their socialisation.

One factor to add in, don't mean to drip

What difference would it make to your answers if I told you the hamster has been placed on the cat while it was sleeping or resting and the cat didn't react at all.

Does this sound like evidence that this particular cat isn't likely to be a threat?

Is this thread some sort of sick joke