Rabbits and Rats?

[BunnyLiz]

I have two female rats that are in the same room as my bunny and they share the same playtime room. lately they have been sniffing through the cage bars during playtime. the rats are very interested as is my bunny. doesnt look aggressive just curious. so i was wondering if anyone else had rats too. can i introduce them and have playtime together occasionally? if so any advice?

[MarkBun]

As with any pet introductions, you can go ahead but monitor the situation. Sometimes they will become buds, other times, they’ll bite. It’s usually up to the animals.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hmm, I have not heard of rats and rabbits, but I have heard of rats and cats. I think I would be a little leery of it simply because of the biting and big tempting bunny ears and noses. A fight could cause a lot of damage.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

There are actually a few members who have rats too, so I’m sure they could help you!

[msarro]

My parents raise rats (they have about 70 at the moment). Their exact response when I told them that I got a bunny was something along the lines of, “don’t ever bring it here, they don’t get along with the rats.”

I didn’t think to get any reasoning behind it, but I’m sure there is something that would make them say that. It could also have something to do with the respirtory defect/disease that most domestic rats carry. Maybe its communicable to bunnies? That could be a good reason if it is, considering its one of the number one killers of rats.

[Lion_Lop_Lover]

I had some customers into work that tried to place their rabbit with their rat and the rat jumped onto the rabbit’s neck and tried to bite it…so…
maybe not?

[MooBunnay]

I would be concerned just due to the delicacy of a rabbits skin that they wouldn’t withstand the rat bites very well, I think you’d have to be very careful with the introduction, maybe just do it while holding the rat, because I’d imagine its hard to separate a rabbit and rat if they start fighting!

[BunnyLiz]

Thanks for your thoughts guys, i think im just gonna stick to having seperate playtimes. it would make me way to nervous lolz. and since they can sense your nervousness they might not end up being exactly cuddley

[Scarlet_Rose]

I think that is a great idea.

[Ana]

Before I got my bunny, I was going to get rats. I’d like to clarify something many people are saying here: rats do not like to bite, and are the least bite-worthy rodent. If they seem interested and are not eing aggressive, I don’t think it’s so dangerous. Of course, you know your rats and your bunny and their personalities– that’s prolly the biggest factor. Rats are just as territorial as bunnies (they even have an equivalent of chining), so as long as no one feels their space is threatened, I don’t know why there would be a problem. Cats and buns can be friends, cavie and buns, and cats and rats and cats and cavies… so why not rats and buns?

[BunnyLiz]

thanks furbaby- i would definitly only try it with one of my rats, the other one is blind and deaf and has permanent damage from head tilt. he doesnt even like to be held by me. the other basically tries to jump out of the cage every time i open it. and i have NEVER been bit or nipped. im not sure.. maybe ill try it..

[Jesslyle]

I have 3 boy rat and a boy house rabbit, they have free roam time together, and they aren’t really that bothered about each other past a sniff around each other. Zero aggression even in each other’s cages or pens, and also mycoplasma is not transferable from rats to rabbits in a way that is harmful as it cannot develop into an infection in rabbits even if it’s in the lining on nasal passages. Also, my rabbit has pesturella and the rats do not even aggrivate that. And my rats also are old and rescues so they have resp infections often as they get older ? hope this helps.

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