How should I introduce my cat to my hamster?

[ninnymuggins]

I've just bought a hamster. It's in a wire cage and in a place it can't be knocked off. How might I introduce it to my cat or at least make sure they can't get to it?
If it helps, I've had a hamster previously, and there weren't any problems there at all... is that because of the cats or because of something I did?

 

[dances with cats]

you don't introduce them. you keep them as far away from each other as possible. The cat will very likely eat the hamster if it gets half a chance. The hamster will have that yummy rodent smell (just like someone smelling freshly popped popcorn) and the cat won't be able to resist a little nibble and then bye bye hamster.

 

[Gypsy Rose]

We have 2 cats and 3 hamsters and the way we introduced them to each other was to let the cats discover the hamsters themselves. We would watch the cats around the cages and if they did anything other then sit and look we would grab them and say "rat friend not food" and put them back down. We would also put the hamsters in their balls and run around in front of the cats. It took about a month but now the cats ignore the hamsters unless the hamsters run them over while they are in their balls then they run out of the room.

 

[Quantum]

If the hamster has any sense, it will retreat further back in its cage should the cat become a cause for concern. Otherwise bye-bye hammy.

 

[?Willow? ??My?? ?Doxie?]

You could introduce you cat to your hamster in one of those hamster balls. then the cat can get up close to the hamster and the hamster can get away if its scared. but youd still have to watch them closely cuz your cat could paw too rough at the ball.

 

[Jen Weller]

I like the hamster in the ball idea too thats cute