Poor little gerbil - must have been so scared.

If you can't keep the gerbils in a separate room to the cats, I think it would be kinder for you to rehome them.

I usually keep hamsters but when my last one had to be put to sleep recently I decided I would not get another. Although I did keep Snoozy Fudge in a cat free room there were times when I opened the door and a cat got in. I was also too scared to take the little hamster out of the cage in case it escaped. With eight cats in the house it wouldn't have stood a chance.

My cats are fine with my bunnies but I think hamsters, gerbils and mice are just too much temptation for them.

I agree with the others - you can't punish a cat for just being a cat.