Owner Pulls Hamster Out to Clean Cage—Cat Quickly Claims New Territory

While a pet parent was preparing to clean the hamster cage, their cat named Bella wasted no time moving into the spot that is typically off-limits to her.

TikTok user @bellakitty470 shared in a video last week that they took their hamster out of his cage and put him in his play ball in order to clean it out. However, someone else had already moved in when the owner returned to the cage to get to work.

Bella, a tortoiseshell cat, saw the open hamster cage as an opportunity to mark a new territory. She wanted to rule the entire house, which included the hamster's home.

The owner returned to see Bella sitting inside the cage and snapped photos of the ridiculousness of the situation. Why would she want to be crammed in a small cage like that?

The video has so far reached over 1,700 views and its text overlay reads: "For God sake Bella, [don't] think u will want to be in there if I closed the cage lol."

This wouldn't be Bella's first time showing interest in the hamster's things. And perhaps it's not because of her desire to conquer the house, but instead some jealousy.

A separate video posted in June to TikTok showed Bella exploring the hamster's run, which consisted of boxes with sawdust on the bottom connected by tubes for the small animal to run through.

The hamster went to bed and Bella saw it as an opportunity to stick her paws into the box and chuck the sawdust all over the floor. Then the feline hopped in the boxes herself to see what all the hype was about.

Newsweek has reached out to @bellakitty470 via TikTok for additional comment.

While a pet parent was preparing to clean the hamster cage, their cat named Bella wasted no time moving into the spot that is typically off-limits to her. While a pet parent was preparing to clean the hamster cage, their cat named Bella wasted no time moving into the spot that is typically off-limits to her. @bellakitty470/TikTok

Can Cats and Hamsters Coexist?

Cats and hamsters typically only cross paths in a domestic home, but Catster reported that felines would likely see these small creatures as prey if they met in the wild.

Domestic cats don't rely on small rodents but instead, kibble, which makes it seem they can coexist with hamsters. However, their prey drive still lives within them. Pet parents wishing to own a feline and a hamster should be conscious of the feline's desire to hunt, Catster's article stated.

Even if your cat does not seem aggressive, there is a chance the presence alone can cause your hamster to be stressed. This could lead to negative consequences on the hamster's health and happiness.

But, of course, some owners have proven that isn't always the case. Newsweek previously reported that the tables had turned when a cat became scared of a hamster. The hamster can be the aggressor in their relationship. These two have scuffles now and then, but ultimately they "coexist very happily."

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