Eating Cat Food, Need help.

[Hollydoe]

My 1 month old bunny is such a junkie! She eats just about anything… A fallen cheerio or two is nothing to worry about… But she recently discovered Cat food and I can’t get her to stop. I pick her up and take her out of the room, but she’ll go back. She isn’t underfed, she just likes to eat with my cats sometimes who she loves to follow. I live in a small apartment,1 bedroom, my mother isn’t too thrilled I have her but she accepted when I persuaded her and adopted her. I can’t really put the catfood on a table… I tried a small level but still she gets too it. I might try looking for a smell table soon, but as mentioned I have limited space.. WHat should I do?

[Bam]

You do have to place the cat food so your bun can’t access it. Rabbits will eat dog-and cat kibble if they get the chance. In most cases it doesn’t seem to harm them, but it’s not species appropriate food (duh! ?) and might be harmful in the long run (way too much protein). Plus the cat needs it, of course.

Cats are more agile than buns, so maybe you could attach the cat’s bowl somewhere where the bun can’t reach.

[sarahthegemini]

Sorry to say but bunnies have very delicate tummies so it is imperative that you ensure she is unable to access foods that aren’t suitable for her. That includes cat food and ‘fallen cheerios’ Especially as she’s only a month old. I don’t know what cat food will do but as cat food is obviously formulated for a carnivorous species…It can’t be good. 

Isn’t there a mechanical bowl or something that only ‘releases’ kibble when activated by a collar? I’m sure I’ve read about that as it helps when two different cats have different dietary requirements.

[Deleted User]

Is it possible to just have the bun put up when the cat is being fed? I agree that she shouldn’t be eating it. Unfortunately, if she has an opportunity to get to it, then she will find a way. It’s best to just keep her away from it entirely.

I don’t know the circumstances, but 1 month is quite a short time for her to separated from mum already. Because of her age I would say it is especially important that she isn’t eating anything she’s not supposed to. Their immune system needs time to develop and you want her to be eating hay only so she gets a good balance of normal gut flora.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m assuming this is hard cat food? My Bindi goes nuts for cat food. I have to put the cat food up when he’s out (he’s not free roam but gets out time several times a day). He always makes a beeline for the cat food area and if I forgot to put it up (which happens rarely) he will gobble up a few pieces as fast as he can. I always hear him crunching and take it away.

I really don’t think you have much choice but to find a way for the bun to not get at it.

[Nara mk]

I agree with all previous replies. Unfortunately, other than limiting access there’s no way you could stop your bun from eating something she wants. My Ruvik is like this; she tips over trash bins, cleans up the carpet and goes “scavenging” when I let her out of my room which means I end up following her each step of the way.

Also please be careful of what your rabbit eats at such young age, because the risk of runny stool is higher when consuming new foods!

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