Bunny/kitten bonding

[Aeyja]

I’m working on my partner ATM to say ‘yes’ to getting a cat, and so far he’s all keen! We would really like the new furbaby and Harvey to be friends (or at the very least not try to kill each other), so how likely is it they will be able to bond? Would a kitten or adult cat be better? My initial thoughts were that an adult would be less work for us, but that a kitten would be easier to bond and then trust around Harvey, given that he would be about three times the size of it when it first comes home.

Excited!!!!

[Hazel]

Yay for you getting a kitten!! I’m actually working on the same thing with my hubby, he’s not as keen as your partner though…

I think it really depends on the cat’s temperament. Both adults and kittens have their advantages/disadvantages. A kitten would have an easier time getting used to a bunny than an adult who is set in it’s ways. On the other hand, a kitten will be hyper, they like to play rough so it might be hard to get it to be gentle with your bun. I think an adult that is pretty chill and doesn’t have a lot of prey drive would be the safest bet. Are you looking for a specific breed of cat? Some have more prey drive than others.

With all that being said, our Siamese was an adult when we got Oscar, although she’s still very playful and nutty a lot of the time. Her and Oscar are good friends now, but it took a lot of work on our part to teach her what was acceptable behavior and what was not. Positive reinforcement worked wonders. She does slip at times even now (chasing, stalking), so we don’t leave them alone together, but they get along most of the time. A lot of it depends on the human. You have to know both animals’ personalities and set them up to succeed. For example, tire the cat out before introducing it to the bunny, a tired cat is a good cat.

In the end it’s up to you, both a kitten or an adult could work. Good luck picking out your new baby, I know it’s exciting!

[Aeyja]

Thanks! I’ve found if you pair pleading with a suuuuuuper adorable video it works wonders. 

 

I think Harvey is quite submissive, he’s not territorial at all despite still having all his bitsies.  As far as I’m aware he has never met a cat before, but he has met a couple of dogs during vet visits. One was a VERY interested and extremely beautiful golden retriever who had never seen a rabbit before, and they sniffed noses and he seemed quite relaxed, but all the small dogs he’s met have freaked him out.

 

I’m not looking for a specific breed, I was hoping to rescue one. Also I’m not at all familiar with the breeds so don’t really know what I would look for! I feel the same way about intentional cat breeding as I do about intentional dog breeding – there are so many who need a loving home already! (this also goes for humans but that’s a different debate altogether ).

 

I would like to be able to leave them alone together as Harvey is free range most of the time, so need to be trusting of them both.

[Sindri]

I adopted a cat who must have been raised with rabbits because he loves being with them and eating their hay and grooming them. I do have a Persian cat that is a breed that is suppose to not be prey driven and laid back however he cannot be trusted with the rabbits. He just cant help himself and tries to take swipes at them.

So I have the same thoughts as Hazel. I think either a kitten or cat could work. Either way you will have to watch and observe how the cat and rabbit interact for awhile before deciding to finally trust them together all the time.

I am excited for you. I can’t wait to hear who you chose. I will say I love baby kittens they are so much fun to have around the house.

[BrunosMama]

We have 4 cats. 2 are pre-bunny .

Jack- oldest kitty. After being chased, climbed on, binkied on, and sniffed in personall areas, he’s not a huge bunny fan. Although he’s not aggressive, he usually gives a grumpy meow and skulls away if one approaches him.

Dinah- second oldest. She rather likes the buns. She hangs out with them, gently pats them, and shares their hay. She hates Harley though. He fell in love with her and harasses her a lot.

Luca – third kitty. She likes the buns quite a bit. She hangs out with them and even groom’s them sometimes. She was an outside kitty before we took her in.

Joey – around a year old. He loves the bunnies and looks at them as playmates. While thats fine for the bigger buns, it was a little much with the small ones. He likes to sit on them. I’ve seen him chase them only to have them turn around and come bounding back after him. He enjoys hanging out in their cages occasionally, although he has been chased out if he overstate his welcome.

Overall, our experience has been good. Our cats are declawed which makes me feel a bit better.

Good luck!

[Deleted User]

I don’t own a cat – is it still ok for me to post??? LOL!
I’m pretty sure everyone knows I’m not fussed on cat’s – my hubby has been wanting one for years (forever) and I said NO! Can you imagine my horror when we took Henry to the vet and he described rabbits as like owning a cat – GASP! Lol! And karma got me back! One of the reasons I wouldn’t let the hubby get a cat was because of all the cat hair – I am now suffocating in bunny fluff! Ha ha ha!
As far as your Harvey getting on with a puddy cat? I honestly think it depends on it’s temperament…. Henry came home to 3 older (youngest was 8) dog’s who wanted to know all about him – George even mothered him, licking his ear’s and growling if the other dog’s got to close. As the months went by, and the dog’s worked him out (troublemaker!), they want NOTHING to do with him anymore, ha ha ha! But that doesn’t stop Henry, as soon as the opportunity arises for him to spoon or be spooned by one of the dog’s, he goes for it! Sam (the 15yo dog) will growl and snap at him and he still won’t leave her alone – sigh! It’s not even funny – I really feel for her being hassled. Henry and the dog’s (and they are all small breeds, maltese x’s) are free 24/7 never being locked away, and if we go out, we only check that the board is up so Henry can’t get into the lounge room to chew! Ha ha ha! Henry doesn’t even have a door on his house. And I have never worried – I trust my dog’s 110% to never hurt him, they walk away from him and go outside (doggy door) if he becomes to much.
But we know our dog’s – we lived with them for 8-14 years before bringing Henry home. We knew their temperament, and being older made them calmer (don’t tell anyone wanting to break into our home that! Lol!). I don’t see that a cat would be any different, but I think the older the better (just me) and only if your super confident you can trust it before leaving them alone together. Like Sindriona and Hazel, as much as they get along (I love seeing pic’s of Lily and Oscar), if you have the slightest doubt, don’t do it. You have to know in your heart, mind and most importantly, your gut!
Henry will put his head in front of my dog’s (any, he’s not fussed) face and will sit their on the chance he will get groomed – nope! That’s when I feel bad for Henry, he desperately wants someone to groom him…..

Everything I have said is based solely on MY personal experience – I honestly don’t know anything about cats other than what I have seen and read on BB – why I am confident you can. Just take care (and I would say that to someone wanting to introduce a dog toooo!). Look at BM, so cool!
I too can’t wait to hear what you decide and how it goes.

[Cottontail]

I would check with shelters or adoption agencies for an adult cat, and let them know about your bunny and what your ultimate goal is.  Chances are they would recommend an adult that is already set in his/her ways.  Kittens tend to be high energy, and they generally don’t understand how destructive their teeth and claws can be to other animals during play… but I would not advocate declawing if at all possible.   Some cats have higher prey instinct than others, and many of them can never really be broken of it but with patience and lots of strict –mostly positive–reinforcement can learn the laws of the house. One rule we’ve always enforced is that you can’t mess with anyone at the food bowls.. play, fight or otherwise—it’s neutral territory.

Our Zoey is 9 years old and we’ve had her since she was about 3 months old.  She was a terror to cats and anything that moved on the floor until she was about a year and a half old.  After that she settled in to her own and decided she wanted to adopt anything that was kitten sized.  She never really trusted other cats, but anything smaller *even if older* she protected fiercely.  Over the years she has adopted kittens, squirrels, hamsters, and now Peter.  Without him she gets horribly depressed.  She was pitiful when he was at the vet yesterday for his neuter, but perked up when we finally brought him home.

At my parents house is a 25 year old persian mix (a hurricane Hugo baby) that, although over the years she’s been a wonderful mouser, lizard catcher and snake killer, will not harm squirrels, bunnies, birds, or anything that is fed by people. On the other hand we’ve owned many cats I would not trust under any circumstance.  One example being a female that had such a strong prey-drive that she tore out the carpet at the door and tried to force her way under to get in the same room as the bunny (luckily she was too big).  She’s lived there over a year now and although she’s adjusting she’s still not completely accepting that she’s not allowed to hunt other pets (other cats included)…

For the most part, I have found that adult, neutered males tend to be the most laid back with other animals.  They tend to have the attitude that if there is something that needs hunted they need to find a female to do it (most of the boys we’ve had).  Granted there are exceptions to that as well, as one of our best mousers was a Mau-mixed tom that learned how to open doors…

Anyway, ramblings aside; Cats can be great companions to prey animals if their personalities mesh and they learn house rules.  Talk to local rescues and hang out with the cat at the shelter before bringing him/her home.  You may consider working with a shelter and fostering a potential cat before adopting, to see how well they do in your home.  They’ll need time to adjust to the new surroundings and rules as well, and that could be a couple days to a couple months depending on the cat.  Once you do find your match, be patient and consistent.   And to echo what the others have said;  If you have any doubt, don’t leave them unattended.  It only takes a moment.

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