If your cat ate your hamster, then we are sorry for the loss of your pet. However, you should have known that cats are natural predators while hamsters are prey. It is your mistake that you kept them together. If you haven’t taken your cat to the vet but notice any signs of illness, take it to the vet immediately.
Many people keep cats and hamsters together but use preventive measures like separate rooms, secure cages, etc. If you leave your cat alone with your hamster, always supervise them. If something goes wrong, you need to be present.
Here’s everything you need to know about it, including whether or not your cat actually ate it. Or do cats eat hamsters, and what should you do if your hamster was eaten? Also included are some precautions for keeping a cat and a hamster together.
Are you sure your cat ate the hamster?
Hamsters are very good at escaping. Playing with your hamster outside of its cage can sometimes lead to losing track of them, and it may even run away from its cage and disappear. These creatures can fit into tight spaces and quickly disappear, making tracking them challenging.
Hamsters enjoy curling up in small spaces. Their favorite hiding places are small objects like shoes, closets, furniture, boxes, blankets, bathrooms, etc.
So, it is important to know whether your cat actually ate the hamster or it just escaped. Because sometimes, what happens is hamsters hide due to the threat of attack by the cats.
Do cats eat hamsters?
Yes, cats do eat hamsters. They are predators. They have a natural instinct to hunt. Many people are unaware that hamsters are actually rodents. Thus, cats eat rodents and will kill them if given a chance. Cats that live outside also do the same thing for food. So do cats that are in captivity.
A running hamster can’t keep up with cats regarding speed. Cats can bite and scare hamsters to death. We recommend keeping the hamsters and cats away from each other. Having a cat-proof cage or training your cat could protect your hamster from being eaten or attacked.
What would you do if the cat ate the hamster?
Normally, wild cats eat small rodents, so your cat probably survives if it ate a hamster. But, you should monitor your cat for signs of vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain over the next 24-48 hours. They are master hunters and survive by eating their prey in the wild.
In most cases, cats’ bodies can process meat and bones, so eating hamsters usually doesn’t affect them negatively. A cat can swallow a shard of bone that breaks off and make holes in the stomach or small intestine when it passes. Your veterinarian should be contacted if your cat exhibits any concerning symptoms after eating a hamster.
In addition, your cat might get infected or become sick if it consumes an unhealthy hamster. So you should be aware of it.
How to prevent a cat from attacking or eating a pet hamster in the future?
The best method to prevent a cat from attacking or eating a pet hamster in the future is to separate them. Even though hamsters and cats are wonderful pets, keeping them both in the same house can be dangerous. It’s important to keep your hamster safe from your cat since it will view it as potential prey. It is best to get your hamster a secure cage and keep it in a separate room from your cat so they can live happily together.
Here are some methods you can use to prevent a cat from attacking a pet hamster:
1. The hamster cage should be secure
Cats have a natural instinct to attack their prey. To protect your hamster from a cat’s attack, you will need a cage that is secure from all sides with no open lids. Bars should be small and close enough so the cat’s paw would not enter the cage.
2. If your hamster is out of his cage, never let the cat into the room
If you leave your hamster out of the cage for playtime, never let the cat into the room. Hamsters who see a cat may feel anxious and fearful. Also, if your cat sees your hamster, it may try to get close and pounce at the chance.
3. You can distract your cat by keeping it away from the hamster cage or room
Keep your cat and hamster from interacting as much as you can. It means cats should be kept as far away from the hamster’s room or cage as possible. For example, you can distract your cat by playing with it if someone is interacting with your hamster. Distracting your cat will help your hamster from getting attacked.
4. Place your hamster cage in a corner
Placing a cage where your hamster is safe from cats is very important. A corner is the safest place to place the cage. Though your hamster is usually safe from cats most of the time, you can provide it with extra protection by placing it in a corner. This way, your cat will not be able to harm your hamster.
5. Keep your hamster in another room:
Placing the cage in a separate room ensures that your hamster is safe from the cat. It prevents your cat from staring down at your hamster, poking its cage, or frightening it by walking around at night. In addition, a separate room means your hamster will be able to play outside its cage.
What did we learn from all this?
Hamsters and cats are prey and predators. Cats are naturally inclined to hunt and kill rodents and other small animals. It is not a good idea for cats to live with hamsters because hamsters are rodents, which cats instinctively hunt, torture, and kill.
If your cat ate your hamster, this must be due to your negligence. You should have taken measures to ensure your pet’s safety. If you keep them together, there would be chances that cats will eat them. You also have to check whether your cat actually ate your hamster or not because they are good at escaping. You should consult your veterinarian if you find something unusual in your cat’s health.
To prevent this from happening again, you should figure out what happened before you get a new hamster and use preventive measures as mentioned above.