MoSimba charging at cats

[Martie]

To refresh memories I got MoSimba back in Nov. a neutered lionhead mix..He is not a cuddle bunny in that he doesn’t like to be held but sweet as can be to be petted otherwise. I have 4 young cats (but big cats) that I’ve slowly been introducing. The have learned to jump over the baby gate and if MoSimba is out he has began to start charging at them.  At first (for a month or so) he acted like he wanted to play.

Now though it’s obvious to me he is charging at them, chasing them out of “his” room back over the baby gate.

He especially seems to get ticked off if they try to play in his willow tunnel or his Loooooong concrete form cardboard tunnel.

I have to assume that this is a territory thing since he seems serious about charging at them and doesn’t appear to be playing at all.

My big ol’ lab he hops around cheerfully like he wants to play.

Am I right in assuming this is a territory thing? And do you think this means he’d be less apt to accept a bunny friend down the road?

Thanks!

Martha

[babybunsmum]

i definitely think its territorial.  but i don’t think it means a relationship between them or future buns is impossible, i think that they need to be ‘bonded’ much the same you would bond together 2 buns.  i’m not at all sure *how* you’d bond cats & buns since cats are difficult to confine, but i think the buns behaviour is def due to repeat ‘intrusions’ of the cats.  maybe if mosimba was taken outside the baby gate with the cats around – therefore out of his territory – to get used to the cats he would slowly be more tolerant?

i think rabbits can more easily interpret cat behaviour as a threat to their territory & status than dogs behaviour, which sounds a little backwards maybe.  but my dog has been immediately accepted as friend by my buns and i think it’s because he sniffs their heads & they interpret this as submission.  where as cats would probably crouch their heads more as though requesting grooming instead of offering it, thus buns get offended.  just a guess, as i’ve never had a cat & bun at the same time. 

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hi Martha! I agree too, it’s territorial. I don’t think that it is necessarily going to mean it is less likely he will accept a bunny-friend down the line, it is hard to say until you actually try it. But making him more comfortable and less aggressive by keeping the cats out will probably help, you do not want the lunging to rub off onto you.

[Charlene]

Definately territorial.  My old bun Bob loved loved loved to chase the cats off “his” floor.  He was territorial enough to even grunt and scratch us when we reached into his cage.

We had a hard time bonding him to Layla when we finally got a second bun, but that was probably because they were too evenly matched.  Eventually Layla got to be dominate but the bonding process took about a year.  We’d actually given up and had them living side by side when one day we saw them groom each other!  I can’t tell you what a relief that was!  If you get a second bun make sure to get a nice docile one.

[ScooterandAnnette]

Very territorial. Our bunnies don’t much care for the cats and will sometime charge them just for kicks. Everyone does get along, though.

[Martie]

Thanks guys, that’s what I thought too. This is the “sunny” room in the winter so everyone loves to be in here, get’s right crowded sometime, ha.
I wish they all were agreeable with each other, and maybe with time…they will be, our relationship with MoSimba is still young I think.

I’m in the middle of moving my 16 1/2 step grand daughter in with us. Mo LOVES her so maybe I will try some bonding in another room with the cats when she’s here to help me.

[katieh]

Pepper is doing the same thing to my cats. My old cat (13) is terrified so he doesn’t come in the room much. But it cracks me up to see this little 5 pound bun chase my big (overweight) 23 pound cat around the room. He just looks at her lovingly but then she takes off after him and he flies over the baby gates. It is hysterical!

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