Hamsters are generally solitary animals in the wild because they are small and vulnerable. That makes it difficult to keep other pets or animals around your little furry friend because it can cause them stress and anxiety. They may even become aggressive in certain instances.
They generally do best when they’re the only animal in the household, but that’s not always realistic if you have other pets, such as cats or dogs. However, there are steps you can take to ensure your hamster lives a comfortable live around your other animals.
If you have other pets or are thinking about introducing new animals into your home that already has a hamster, keep reading to learn more about the most questions most commonly asked. Below is a table of contents for this article so you can easily jump to any section that is specific to your situation.
Can a Dwarf Hamster Live with a Guinea Pig?
No, it’s not recommended to have a dwarf hamster live with a guinea pig because they have different requirements and may become stressed or anxious by living together.
Hamsters are generally solitary animals and may even have trouble living with other hamsters. They are very territorial and may exhibit harmful or aggressive behaviors that can frighten or cause stress to other animals, such as guinea pigs. Conversely, guinea pigs also have different needs that can conflict with a hamster’s and they are also known to be territorial and can attack or stress out your hamster.
As a result, it’s best not to house dwarf or any other type of hamster with other animals because of this solitary nature of hamsters. You can keep guinea pigs or other animals in your home, but keep them apart and avoid any direct interaction before knowing how each animal will react. And keep in mind that hamsters are smaller than most other animals and can become easily frightened by an animal 3x, 5x, or even 20x it’s size.
As always, talk to your veterinarian before introducing any animals to your hamster as they may know more about your specific situation and can provide the best advice.
Can a Mouse get into a Hamster Cage?
Mice can get into a hamster’s cage if the mouse is small enough to fit through the openings or if they are able to chew through the enclosure. As a result, it’s best to choose a sturdy cage that has no large openings.
Mice are very small and agile creatures that can easily fit into small areas that you may not think possible and that includes hamster cages. To avoid this from happening, you’ll want to pick a cage that has very little room between the bars and no large openings. However, mice can also chew through cheap or flimsy materials, such as plastic. As a result, the best cages are ones with metal bars that have a small gap between each one. Cages with solid bottoms are also a good idea to prevent mice from getting inside.
You should also keep your hamster’s cage in an area or room of your home where you don’t have mice. Sometimes distance between your hamster’s cage and mice are the best way to prevent a mouse from getting into their cage.
If your mouse is a pet, this shouldn’t be a problem, but if you have a mouse problem in your home, you’ll want to call a pest control company to safely relocate the animals before they can cause any damage to your home or stress to your hamster.
Can a Mouse Live in a Hamster Cage?
A mouse can live in a hamster cage, but you should ensure the cage is large and secure enough that your mouse won’t escape. That means you should avoid the cages with bars and choose a plastic cage with air holes that are small enough so your mouse can’t slip through.
The spacing on the bars of a lot of hamster cages are large enough for mice to squeeze through, so if you are going to get a hamster cage, make sure the bars are close enough together to prevent that from happening or get one of the solid plastic hamster cages that a mouse can’t escape from.
Other things to note are that mice have different requirements than hamsters. They aren’t nearly as active as hamsters and thus don’t require the same exercise toys, such as wheels. Mice also need a bit more space to roam around, since they are more exploratory than hamsters. Consider getting a larger cage with tubes or other areas for your mouse to hang out. And finally, mice don’t need to burrow, so the choice of bedding may be different, which is another consideration to take into account.
All said, you can use a hamster cage for your mouse, but you need to consider all of these factors when choosing the right cage. Hamster cages are very versatile, but make sure you pick the right one for your mouse based on their needs.
Can a Hamster and Mouse Breed?
A hamster and mouse cannot breed because they are two separate species and do not have compatible reproductive anatomical systems. However just because they can’t breed doesn’t mean you should keep them together.
While this is a common question, the truth of the matter is that it’s just not possible. And there’s not much more to it, including the fact that most hamsters and mice won’t even try. However, it’s a good question because it brings up some an important point about keeping hamster and mice together. And if you’re wondering if you should, the answer is a strong no.
Hamster and mice are two very different animals, even though they may seem similar. Therefore it’s important to keep them in separate enclosures because they have different requirements and behaviors. Hamsters are generally solitary animals that prefer to avoid other animals, no matter how small. Keeping your hamster and a mouse in the same enclosure can cause anxiety, stress, and potentially aggressive behavior to occur between the two animals.
If you do have both mice and hamsters in your home, you can slowly try introducing them and see how they behave, but do it slowly and ensure you are keeping both safe and comfortable in the introduction.
Can a Hamster Kill a Guinea Pig?
While hamster are territorial and can be aggressive, it’s unlikely that a hamster will kill a guinea pig. They may harm the guinea pig and the guinea pig may harm the hamster, but both are likely to try and end the conflict as quickly as possible and hide from the other.
However, hamsters do have sharp teeth and claws that can severely hurt other animals, such as guinea pigs, but they don’t typically kill other animals. While they are territorial, they are mostly interested in running away and hiding. Hamsters will only attack if they feel cornered or in danger, but they prefer to hide.
If you do have both a hamster and a guinea pig in your home, you should keep them separated until you know they are friendly and amicable towards each other. And certainly never keep them in the same enclosure. This is because if they feel cornered without a way to escape, they may become aggressive and cause harm. Both animals would prefer to run away, but that becomes more difficult if they are locked in a cage together.
All in all, it’s best to keep your hamster separate from other animals, including guinea pigs. They have sharp teeth and claws that can cause harm, but they generally only bite or claw when they are scared or feel in danger.
Additional Resources
There were a lot of good questions covered in this article, but if you’re interested in more content related to hamsters and other animals, check out the articles and other resources below:
- Complete Guide to Hamster Behavior – The Pet Property
- Small Animals – CDC.gov
- Can I Let My Hamster Run Around my Room? – The Pet Property
- Small Animals and Pets – PetCo
Conclusion
Hamsters are great pets to have, but you have to remember that they are generally solitary animals in the wild and that doesn’t change when they live in your household. As a result, it’s best to keep your hamster separated from other animals to avoid causing them stress and anxiety.
However, you can have other pets in your house, such as cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and more. Just make sure to keep them safely separated and provide the appropriate materials, housing, and security to keep your hamster safe and comfortable in their enclosure.