Cat or Rabbits? (Comparison)

[CoconutTheDwarf]

Hello!! I do know you all are bunny lovers and so am I! I am new but I did make this account a little while back and so I will introduce myself before I start talking! Hi, I don’t have any bunnies just two hamsters and some of you may know me as CoconutTheDwarf from the Hamster Hideout Forum! My parents said they will allow me to get either a cat or bunnies in 3 years but somehow fast forward it to 6 months. Now 6 months goes fast by really quickly (IMO) and I want to choose an animal then do full on research more than I know now, to be fully prepared. Though I am thinking about my choices hard. I don’t really seem which is better for me. I do honestly feel like a cat is right for me since I want more of a cuddly pet, though  I did have an obsession with rabbits for a long time and I do really want one of my own. Though my parents will let me get rabbits other than a cat but they don’t think the’re good for me since rabbits are “Not cuddly and they won’t have any affection towards humans”. To rabbit owners out there, is this true? I am looking for a more cuddly pet and I do know rabbits aren’t the best cuddling pets but are they? By cuddly, I just mean they’ll be sitting in my lap being okay with being petted? It does sound like I’m describing a cat but I don’t know, is there any owners with both of them? Yes, every bunny has different personality’s but just the majority?

[Wick & Fable]

Majority of rabbits are not cuddly. Also, I think the deciding factor between a cat or rabbit should not be cuddliness as both animals have individuals who love, tolerate, and hate it.

Differences that are more constant between cats and rabbits that I can think of are:

1. Routine veterinary costs – Rabbits are usually more expensive because they need to go to exotic vets
2. Maintenance – Rabbits usually require more day to day cleaning to change all litterboxes and sweep/vacuum hay
3. Pet proofing – Both animals require a level of pet-proofing your home/space, but with rabbits, you usually need to up the degree since they will chew, dig, and explore much smaller places, and it is in their nature to constantly chew. Their level of destruction is generally higher, even if they are prey animals and sometimes smaller.
4. Regular food purchases – Rabbits need constant hay and fresh veggies daily, so going to buy veggies and making sure you are getting hay all the time is something rabbit owners must keep in mind.
5. Litterbox – From what I’ve heard, cats can be litterbox trained pretty consistently with really good adherence levels. With rabbits, you can negotiate to have them go in litterboxes (by placing them where they want them essentially), but rabbits will also still have a tendency to pee/poop on soft things (like your bed) or in new places.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[DanaNM]

Wick gave a pretty good run down! I have a cat and bunnies. Just like bunnies, all cats have different personalities, but as a rule cats are more cuddling (in terms of wanting to be on your lap). But my cat also is probably just using me for body heat. 😉

My feeling is that bunnies are more work than a cat, but still less than a dog. Some other things to consider:

Cats can live to be around 20, which is a long time!

A cat would likely try very hard to eat your hamsters, so consider that as well!

Vet care is generally easier for cats, but can be very expensive if they have a serious problem (same with bunnies). I strongly recommend feeding wet food. Cats fed dry food have very high rates of kidney disease and other urinary issues, so that should factor into your costs as well. A cheap wet food is better than an expensive dry food! Cat food is also convenient to buy, whereas finding bunny food can be slightly harder (need hay, pellets, and veggies).

Cats can be really annoying if you aren’t aware of what behaviors you intentionally reinforce. I recommend being very strict about not feeding the cat when it’s meowing, and don’t feed it first thing in the morning… otherwise you will end up with the cat waking you up every morning!

I disagree that bunnies do not show affection to their owners or want to spend time with them. My bunnies show affection, it’s just in different ways. I’ve had some that rush over for nose rubs, and several of them that will groom me and lay next to me when I sit on the ground. Rabbits are social creatures, while cats are solitary by nature. So I do think that bunnies bond with their humans and it can be a very special bond indeed.  I would agree that most rabbits do not like to be on your lap or be held, but with time and patience, most do really love hanging out near you and getting some pets. Bunnies actually purr in their own way, by grinding their teeth lightly, so you know when they are really enjoying things. 🙂

Getting a bunny from a rescue would allow you to pick a bunny who’s personality matches what you are looking for, and the bun will already be spayed/neutered. Getting one from a breeder or pet store as a baby is more risky, because you don’t know what their personality will be and you would need to handle spay/neuter costs.

Another angle is that cats are predators and bunnies are herbivores. As a vegetarian myself, I do love having vegetarian pets!

 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[pinkiemarie]

I have 3 cats and 3 bunnies and I wholeheartedly agree that the bunnies are more work. So much more work. But their happiness is contagious so it’s all a balancing act.

My bunnies are also very loving with me but in their own way. They like to put their heads on the floor and have me pet them. They do not like being picked up and if I’m petting them when they don’t want to be petted they run away.

My cats are absolutely more cuddly in the sense that they like to sit on me and sleep by me, but they also like their alone time. Everything is so much harder with the pandemic happening, but why don’t you do some basic research on both to start? And then if you’re old enough maybe when it’s safe again you can volunteer at a shelter for cats and a shelter for rabbits and see if you click better with one species or the other. One of the shelters where I live has a kitty fun committee which is basically where people get to go play with the cats. Maybe the shelters in your area have something like that so you can see how you get along.

 

 

 

 

[Moonlightbunny66]

If you’re really set on a snuggle buddy, I would recommend a cat. You should go to the shelter when it’s time to adopt and meet them. There’s always at least one animal you’ll feel a connection to and see if they’re the right fit.
I have three cats and two rabbits, they all have their own personality. Two of the cats love to cuddle, the other one just loves being pet. And only one of them loves being picked up. Two of them will crawl into my lap.

Both of my rabbits hate being picked up (so I never do) but they absolutely love getting pets and getting their little heads kissed. One bunny has gotten in my bed before and cuddled but when I stopped petting him he would dig and bite my blankets… A cat is less likely to do that lol. Neither of them go in my lap, only one of my buns will let me pick up his front paws and put him on the edge of my lap and pet him (he really enjoys it). But my other bun does not let me do that.
Think about whether you’d still be happy with your bun if they aren’t the touchy snuggle type. It can take a while for the bunny to even warm up to being pet as well.

Also, think about whether you’re home a lot (or still home a lot after the pandemic). Many people say bunnies need another bunny friend even if you’re home a lot, but especially if you’re not. You can often find bonded pairs in shelters. Some people say cats need another cat to play with if you’re not home a lot. People also say that if you get a kitten, they need another cat to play with so they can release more energy and learn from them. It’s also up to the health and personality of the animal. Keep in mind that two pets means two mouths to feed and double the vet bills.

Cats and rabbits both need to be spayed and neutered. A lot of the time when you get an adult from a rescue they will already be. It will probably be included in the adoption fee. Also, I don’t advise letting a cat outside because they can get injured (or even killed ☹️). This can be from predators or cars. One time when my cat escaped (he’s obsessed with eating grass!), he came back limping with a torn ligament and we took him to the emergency vet. You’d also have to give flea and tick medication if you let them outside. In my opinion, it’s dangerous and I wouldn’t risk any of my kitties getting hurt. Sometimes I see kittens outside and it makes me so mad because that have no chance of defending themselves. Cats will also bring you back presents… (small dead animals 😬) I also don’t believe that rabbits should go outside for the same reasons (and the rabbit virus spreading right now). I know a lot of people let them outside, though. But they are in fact prey animals. Mine get scared from just a glass hitting a bowl…

But, both cats and rabbits have their own traits that make them loveable and great companions! There’s a lot to think about! And remember, there’s always time in the future when you’re living on your own and you can decide if you’d like another pet in your family. There are always going to be animals that need a home.

Sorry if this post is way too long, I had a lot to say! 🙂

[DanaNM]

You might have already seen this, but there is a ton of good info here on care, costs, FAQ, etc. All good things to consider when deciding if a rabbit is the right pet for you:

Rabbit Information

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[prince dorian the bun]

As a previous cat person (still one at heart) and now a 1st time bun owner, I found the amount of bun proofing to be the hardest part and biggest difference. They may not scratch up your couch, but they may chew your books, eat your plants, and will destroy your charging cables given a chance.That said, my bun Dorian likes to snuggle (not all buns do), though generally not on lap. He is very good with his litter and I actually find that is so much easier to deal with. Any hay that falls out he deals with himself, so I don’t have the hay problem. I did find bonding harder, though I had my cat, Snow, for 19 years so we were very close and it may be unfair to compare.  As for food, it does take a bit more work, but it doesn’t smell like wet cat food, so that a plus. One other thing I would note is buns are very quiet, you have to really pay attention to communicate with them, unlike a cat if you spaced out on feeding them they won’t meow, in Dorian’s case he will just sit by his bowl or where his bowl should be. It took me quite a while to understand Dorian’s bun language enough that now it seems  obvious what he wants and how he feels, but I think that is the case with any pet… just with buns you have to put in more effort to read non-verbal queues. Finding a vet can be a challenge, that was the one that shocked me the most as a new owner.

Personally I would go visit your local shelter and hang out with both the buns and cats and see who you end up connecting with. Dorian definitely chose me when i went, he hopped right on my lap and that was that 😀

[Hazel]

                          Also, I don’t advise letting a cat outside because they can get injured (or even killed ☹️)

100% agree. It’s also very inconsiderate. I can’t let my dog out to play in the backyard anymore because both of my neighbors leave their clowders of cats to roam free and my yard has turned into one big litterbox. Not to mention the urine all over the cars. Don’t let your animals become a nuisance to your neighbors. Sorry, it’s a pet peeve of mine, I’m not saying you would do that. 🙂

Good luck with your decision, I would recommend a cat over a rabbit if cuddling is important to you. 🙂

[WinnietheLops]

I know this is about cats vs. rabbits, but I grew up with at least 4 dogs in the house and I feel like having our 1 rabbit has been the work of having 4 dogs lol.

The reason my husband and I decided to get a rabbit was that he grew up with cats and as I said, I grew up with dogs. One of our friends had a rabbit and we both loved it, so we thought getting a rabbit was a good middle ground. We also couldn’t get a cat since I’m crazy allergic haha.

But rabbits can be fun, they definitely have more of a cat-like personality I think, but our rabbit wasn’t cuddly until she was over a year old. And even then, she decides when and where we pet her lol. There are the lucky ones who get a very loving and cuddly rabbit off the bat, but that is pretty rare.

Either way, whichever pet you choose, I’m sure you’ll love them and take care of them. If you choose a rabbit, you’ll just learn your bunns unique language and personality and see that they love you too.

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