Cats and rabbits

[leanne]

Hi, I am fostering a kitten and really want to keep her. She pounced at my rabbits cage last week and one of my rabbits would not move or eat, I assume this was from shock but he has had problems before so it may not have been but the next day he was fine. I have kept them seperate since. Is there ever a chance that this could work or would I be constantly shutting doors behind me and keeping them seperate. She is a lovely kitten but when she wants to play it hurts! Is it time to give the cat up?

[Catalina]

Cats and rabbits can be friends, but maybe not kittens and rabbits.  I’m not sure if you have seen this thread https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/a…fault.aspx 

My cat and bun get along really well, but my cat is almost 11 years old and really laid back.  It might take a while for your kitten and bunnies to get use to each other.  Or it might take until your kitten is older and more mature.  I kept my cat and rabbit separate (just let them see each other) for weeks and weeks.  Then my rabbit escaped while I was on vacation and the pet sitter found the cat and rabbit lounging on the couch together.  So they decided that they wanted to be friends!

 

[skunklionshow]

At our largest population, we had 4 cats & 3 rabbits.  The majority of my cats were old so they weren’t very interested in the rabbits.  If anything, the rabbits were often more interested in them.  I kept the rabbits locked up during the day and then they were let out after work, when the cats & rabbits could be supervised.  Eventually (maybe 8mos) we found that the rabbits were escaping from their pen, but seemed to be alright w/ the rabbits, so we let them be free range w/ the cats.

Most recently, after 1 bunny & 1 cat passed away, we adopted a kitten and 2 yr old tom.  The kitten LOVES to play chase w/ the rabbits.  Oddly enough, rabbits are faster than cats, so no problem w/ their interactions.  Occasionally the rabbits would lunge or grunt at the kitten & that’s when she knew enough was enough.  The kitten also likes to climb into Jessica’s pen and sometimes lay in her beds or play w/ her toys.  Jessica is about 5 1/2 yrs old and seems confident w/ letting the kitten know that she’s done w/ her.  The only other problem that we have had has been the bunnies peeing on the cat beds.  The buns seem to think that everyone likes a little potty on their sleep areas, as I’m sure your aware, cats do not like that.

I think they can get along….I would just work w/ supervised visitations for a while, possibly even w/ a spray bottle on hand in case kitten gets too playful/ aggressive.  I also suggest that you have toys that both species enjoy, that way they can start sharing.  Also keep on hand “exit spots” or “hideaways”, areas that are more bunny accessible than kitty accessible, so the bun can hide & get away from kitten as needed.  Do not let your kitten eat hay!  The tom loves the hay, but cat digestive systems are not hay tolerant so you can end up w/ a really poopy mess!

[MirBear]

i have 2 young active siamese cats that like to catch wild animals but they are good with the buns, id be more scared of my bunnies hurting the cats. but mine are all about the same size within 10 pounds between the largest cat and smallest bun, and all the same colours.

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