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The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

If you are thinking of transforming your home into a multi-pet household with a hamster and a ferret living together, think again. Even though they are both classified as small animals, ferrets and hamsters don’t get along and shouldn’t live under the same roof. 

We’ll cover all the details below.

Ferrets and Hamsters

The reason why you shouldn’t let a ferret live with a hamster lies in their respective natures. In the wild, they would have a predator and prey relationship, which means one of them would be in grave danger. But, before we go into details about their connection, let’s find out more about both pets.

Hamsters

Hamsters are small animals that belong to the Rodentia order. That means they are rodents and have an omnivorous diet. They eat mostly seeds, vegetables, and grass, but they can eat an occasional insect too. They are generally solitary animals and only interact with others for the (very brief) purpose of mating.

Ferrets

Ferrets are small animals from the Mustelidae family. They are characterized by their long body, short legs, and carnivorous diet. They eat meat like their distant cousins: weasels, stoats, and polecats, which also eat small animals. As pets, ferrets require mental and physical stimulation and human interaction.

Can Ferrets Live With Hamsters?

Please Note

The use of male pronouns in this article is a stylistic choice by the author. This information is applicable to female ferrets and female hamsters too.

No, ferrets can’t live with hamsters because hamsters are in unending danger in this relationship. It is not possible to create a secure environment for a hamster if a ferret is around. Although hamsters aren’t part of the ferret’s natural diet, they are small animals that most predators (even cats and dogs) would consider prey.

Will a Ferret Kill a Hamster?

There is a big chance that a ferret will kill a hamster at first meeting simply because the hamster screams “prey” to the ferret. Ferrets have a high prey drive, and they will react accordingly once their instincts kick in. You can’t do much to stop this behavior and that is why ferrets and hamsters don’t get along.

It doesn’t matter whether your ferret is the most relaxed ferret in the world; he will react because he is a predatory animal, and it is in his blood to react. A fatal accident can happen in a second.

Will a Hamster Feel Threatened Around a Ferret?

Yes, a hamster will feel threatened around a ferret. Ferrets are predators, and a hamster can sense the danger a ferret brings. Hamsters act like all small prey-like animals, which is what they are. They feel most relaxed when they are hidden somewhere away from danger. So, you can be sure that having a ferret around a hamster will elevate his daily stress.

Can Ferrets and Hamsters Live Under the Same Roof?

It is not a smart idea for ferrets and hamsters to share a household, but it is possible. But, before you decide on it, make sure you set some ground rules that will make both pets happy, safe, and stress-free.

Ignorance Is Bliss

If you want to keep your hamster happy and your ferret relaxed, both under the same roof, you have to make sure they don’t know the other one exists. The best way to do that is to keep them apart. We aren’t talking about them sharing the room with them in opposite corners. Put them in different rooms, with different toys, bowls, cages, carriers, and any other accessories that you can think of. You should even store accessories in separate rooms. That is important because both animals have a specific smell. So, if one pet picks up the scent of the other, they will know there is another living being in their environment that is either a threat or a treat.

Set a Care Schedule

A care schedule is a timetable you can follow to plan when you are handling your pets. This is important because you have to make sure a ferret doesn’t smell a hamster on you and vice versa. The best way to avoid that possibility is to change clothes when you are done with one pet and wash your hands thoroughly after every visit. Also, it is a good idea to have a small break between handling two animals so that the residual hamster/ferret scent can disappear around you.

Know Safety Tips for Hamsters

If you have done everything to make them unaware of each other, you are almost done making this rather controversial cohabitation possible. The last thing you need to do is to make the hamster feel safe in his home. That means you have to make sure a ferret can’t enter a hamster cage under any circumstances. That doesn’t mean a ferret will enter the hamster room, but it is better to be safe now than feel sorry later. Take note of the following:

• Make sure there are locks on the doors of your hamster’s room so your ferret can’t get in and the hamster can’t get out without your help.
• Check every hole in the cage, and make sure it is not bigger than half an inch (or less for a dwarf hamster) so a ferret can’t get in, nor can a hamster get out.
• It is best to keep the hamster cage off the floor. Place it on the dresser or the table away from other furniture so your ferret can’t reach it by jumping from the floor or from the nearby furniture.

Final Thoughts

Ferrets and hamsters don’t get along, and we strongly recommend keeping them apart at all times. They are polar opposites in diet, instincts, and behavior, and it is best that these two pets never meet. By keeping them apart, you are removing unnecessary stress from the hamster’s life, and you are preventing your ferret’s instinctive reaction.

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Featured Image Credit: justart7, Shutterstock