Cat attacked my hamster. What do I do for an injured hamster?

Cat bites can be very nasty so I always recommend antibiotic therapy and pain management to animals (and to people) who fall victim to their feline. If you decide to hold off and take a wait & see approach, rodents often hide their illnesses until they are very sick - this is a defense mechanism as they are prey animals. They will stop eating, become highly lethargic, and may develop a high fever. As for your cat and the hamster bite, I am less concerned about this but would need to see photograph of the affected area to render an official opinion on the matter. Hope this makes sense.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, sorry to hear that your hamster was bitten! If the area is no longer bleeding and your hamster has a normal level of activity, and is eating/drinking/urinating/defecating normally, you can continue to monitor for any signs of infection (discharge, swelling, or redness). If you notice these signs, you should have him evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can carefully trim your hamster's nails so that he does not traumatize the area while grooming and apply a very small amount (just the tip of a Q-tip) of silver sulfadiazene (SSD) or triple antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin to the area. In the future, I recommend not allowing your cat near the hamster cage, or having a very sturdy lid to avoid accidents.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Twinkie. I recommend that she see a veterinarian today. Cat bite wounds can be hard to see, but can cause significant damage to a small animal such as a hamster. Twinkie will be at risk for an infection if she was bit. I hope this information helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that another hamster attacked Sugar. I recommend bringing him to your veterinarian to have him examined, have the wounds cleaned, and he can be given medication for pain and antibiotics. Any bite wound has the potential to become grossly infected and abscessed, which is very painful and can require surgery to resolve. In the meantime, you can try gently wiping any discharge away from the wounds with a damp cloth. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for reaching out a out Zeus. The more concern is which antibiotic treats infection likely in a hamster's mouth. A veterinary visit is recommended as topical medications do not treat deeply into wounds, so systemic antibiotics are recommended. Cleaning with a mild soap can remove bacteria from the surface. Good luck.

Snoopy should be physically examined by your veterinarian. He may not need sutures but he may need antibiotics to prevent or treat infection. His hair looks quite matted. His lack of grooming may indicate an underlying illness or injury which should be diagnosed and addressed by your vet.

Thanks for reaching out about Hamsy and Shamcey? Abscesses usually require systemic antibiotics to cure, so a veterinary visit is needed. Trying to keep clean with a dilute betadyne will help. Monitor appetite and water intake. good luck.