How to find the right cat to bond w/single rabbit?

[Rosezabeekeeper1224]

Intro: Although I have fostered rabbits in the past, I recently and finally got my first rabbit, Luna. She is a Mini/non-dwarf Holland Lop (so confusing to see difference) 2 years old, unspayed. This is my fourth day and she’s quite at home, haha, acting as a little queen. I will spay her in a month or so; I’m determined to go to my favorite vet to do so because they do laser surgery and have seen female rabbits heal faster but they’re booked right now. Luna is showing great potential as a free roamer. She’s smart and loves to be around me and has excellent litter box habits for an unspayed rabbit. I am her 3rd home; her first two were people with kids who got bored. Hmph. In her last home she was great friends with two small dogs. Also, according to the 2nd home, she was very aggressive to another rabbit in the 1st home. I am not in any hurry to give Luna a friend since I have plenty of time daily to spend with her, but eventually I would like to give her one.

I am stumped on the how. I do not currently have dogs or cats or another rabbit for Luna. I am not sure about another rabbit for Luna given the time it takes for bunnies to bond and her supposed aggression. It might be too stressful for her. She’s never been bonded, supposedly. Maybe if she is spayed, her aggression towards other bunnies will diminish? But I really do not want to risk having to give up on the 2nd bunny if it doesnt work out. I am still open to this, but really want whats best for Luna.

I am not really in a position to have a dog due to my apartment. Not allowed.

Cats, however, are. I have seen cats and rabbits get along. I need advice on how to do this, if a 2nd bun for Luna is not right for her. How do you pick a rabbit-friendly cat? How can you tell a cat has low prey drive? I have fostered cats but never owned one. I have read the forums on bonding cats and rabbits, but how do you choose the right cat in the first place? Like what characteristics should I look for?

Also, I know some people have birds or guinea pigs as friends, but I don’t feel comfortable with that size difference/potential for injury. I also do not want a pet bird or guinea pig. I am glad it works out for some people though.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Dface]

Congrats on your new bunny!

Rabbits like rabbit company. In some circumstances they can form a companionship with other animals, but this isnt bonding. Its not a real alternative, and the majority of the instagram/reddit/facebook posts you see of prey/predator ‘besties’ are fictitious. In some circumstance this works bit its so rare for it to be real and it’s not normal. It goes against their instincts.

Forcing a pet to do it is wrong.
If YOU want a cat, sure get a cat make, sure it doesn’t kill your rabbit, but getting a cat as company for a rabbit is ridiculous.

Rabbits can communicate with their own kind, but they cant with other species. Humans have a grasp of animal behaviour and its meaning-other animals dont.
Things that mean something for one species does not mean the same thing to the others. (In humans smiling is friendly, in other animals its aggressive to bare your teeth etc)

Rabbit bonding isnt easy, but this forum has a whole section dedicated to it, plus shelters often allow for speed dates to find the likely easiest match for your bun.

[iDon'tCare]

I’m sorry to say that it’s not real bonding. The cat and rabbit will tolerate each other but it’s not the same. If Luna is alright with being a single rabbit and doesn’t seem depressed and lonely then great! However after she is spayed, watch her behaviour. By the sound of your post, she’ll be fine as a single rabbit, but if you start leaving home often and for a long time then I strongly recommend getting her a rabbit friend who you think has the right personality. (If Luna is territorial, get a submissive rabbit for example.) Best of luck!

[Azerane]

Hi there, welcome to the forum

While in some circumstances cats can be good company for rabbits, it is a situation that must always be supervised and they should not really be considered bonded companions due to associated risks. I’d call them more circumstantial buddies than companions (eg, the rabbit is out and happens to lounge on the couch next to the cat, but they’re not expected to be in each other’s space all the time or have access to each other etc). My childhood cat used to hunt and catch wild rabbits on a regular basis, he wasn’t a really big cat either, so don’t underestimate their abilities based on size. That being said, I have seen a number of cats that do get along well with rabbits, the rabbit also has to get along with the cat. Some rabbits will bully cats and chase them at any opportunity.

In terms of choosing a cat, I’m really not sure. Unless you know the history of an adult cat it can be tough to tell I think. If they were previously kept solely indoors they might be a better candidate due to lack of hunting experiences. If you’re getting a rescue often the people there will be able to tell you about their personality and may be able to provide more info. The other option is to adopt a kitten or cat under a year old so that you are more easily able to train them that your rabbit is family, not food.

[DanaNM]

Hi there, and welcome

I don’t think you should gauge her aggression towards other bunnies based off her first home, as she wasn’t spayed, and the previous owners may not have even known how to properly introduce bunnies. (must be neutral territory for both rabbits). Almost all rabbits will be aggressive towards other rabbits if done in their own home (how would you feel if a stranger showed up in your living room and said, “hi, I live here now!”).

If you are open to her having a bonded bunny friend, that would be much better for her. You would wait until she is spayed, healed, hormones settled, and then take her on some “speed dates” with other bunnies at a rescue.

Cats and bunnies can get along, but as others have said, a true bond wouldn’t really happen.

. . . 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.  

[tobyluv]

I agree that the reason for her aggression to another rabbit in her former home was very likely due to her being unspayed. You cannot put unspayed or unneutered rabbits together. Spaying and neutering is always the first step in bonding. There are times when bonding between rabbits doesn’t work, and they have to remain apart for their lives, but that is rare. I have bonded 5 pairs of rabbits over the years, and they were all easy bonds, which of course isn’t always the case. Sometimes it can take a few weeks or longer to bond rabbits. I have found a good way to bond is to put them in an x-pen, and my husband and I get in too. Even if the room is not neutral, the x-pen becomes its own neutral space. You can even put down a sheet or several towels to mask any smells in carpet. If you get a companion for Luna, she very likely would prefer it to be another rabbit. It’s usually easiest to bond spayed females to neutered males, but you can bond same sex rabbits. Wait at least a month after she has been spayed before introducing her to another rabbit and starting bonding. Also make sure that the other rabbit has been neutered or spayed at least a month prior. Most rescues and some shelters will have already neutered and spayed rabbits.

[Rosezabeekeeper1224]

Thank you everyone.  I will get Luna spayed and attempt bun speed dating to look for a potential friend in a few months. I really hope it works out. If it doesn’t, she’ll have me at least.

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