Cat x Rabbit?

[Galaxymeow]

So, I’m definitely not getting a rabbit anytime soon and I don’t really want to get my hopes up or anything, but I think a bunny may be a good idea. The only things that make me wary are:

– Prices (They aren’t too bad, but vets is ehh)

– Destruction

– Getting along with my cat

I know cats and rabbits can be bonded and I’ve seen it before. So here’s the story

I adopted my cat, Poof, as a kitten, somewhere around 2009-2010. At the time we also had a toy poodle named Meggy. When we brought Poof home, Meggy and Poof became best friends. They played and slept and did almost everything together. Meggy was an elderly dog and Poof was a kitten (She is now full grown as you can probably tell). The following autumn 2010 Meggy was put down because she had heart and lung problems that were slowly killing her. For almost two years Poof was without a companion. Now, you would think she would have forgotten. She’s just a cat right? It was just a dog she knew for a while right? No. That would be wrong. We have videos still of Meggy travelling with us and “telling us stories”, or vocalizing. Poof will run, full out to the screen with hope in her eyes, looking all over the room for Meggy. This is almost 4 years later.

It breaks my heart. We have another dog now who is a 2 year old aussie. Poof does nutlike her that much at all. They can’t play together without Kona (My new dog) squishing Poof, or someone getting hurt… She’s just too big.

I got an idea. Perhaps a rabbit would be a good companion for Poof? Obviously it’s not JUST for Poof. It would also be a part of our family. I don’t even know if the rabbit would fully be mine. My brother loves animals as well, and although he’s almost two years younger than me he’d be pretty willing to learn proper care and such, and he would always listen to my advice. 

I have a DIY hamster cage with 5 square feet of space, and there will be a second level beneath it (But not connected) this summer. There may come a time (Most likely) when I am not owning two hamsters, and the bottom space is empty. The rabbit would most likely be free ranged in my room, and if my brother agreed, his room too. He might get a separate hutch, but the cage that I have (If it was just mine or something) would contain some fleece at the bottom, the litter tray and hay rack, and the food and water bowls, and some toys.

I would make sure I had no where in the room for the bunny to get under or anything. I would also try to potty train it the best I could.

Is it a good idea to get an older bunny? The reason is, I know the can live a long time and stuff, and I kind of want a tamer animal. Is it a good idea?

Help

[Hazel]

I wouldn’t do it. If you want a rabbit for yourself, that’s fine, but if you primarily want a companion for your cat, I think a second cat would be a better choice. As you said, cats and rabbits CAN become friends, but there’s no guarantee that it will happen. And even if it does, it won’t be an actual “bond”, it will be more of a coexistence. Cats are predators, rabbits are prey animals. They speak completely different languages, each one’s behaviors are completely alien to the other. Dogs and cats are both predators, that’s why they get along better, they are more similar to each other. For example, cats and dogs enjoy a game of chase, a rabbit on the other hand would be terrified if the cat played with it in that way. You would never be able to leave them alone together, they would always have to be supervised, even if they got along well. So as a companion for a cat, I don’t think a rabbit would work out the way you want it to.

[Sr. Melangell]

There is no way on this earth I would put a cat near Olly, I like cats, to look at, but I’m allergic to them, if you were to get a bunny and he got scratched he could get an infection, like the cat could scratch bunny’s tummy and you might not see it and bunny gets an infection, when you find out bunny has an infection it could be too late or your cat accidently scratched to deep.

[Sr. Melangell]

I just read your cat has been there a while so he might not like a rabbit being there because cats are very territorial.

[Canada_bun]

I understand that cats and rabbits have been able to get along before, but like everyone else, I will not recommend it.

For one, cats play differently from rabbits. All the chasing, pouncing, etc. that are normal to a cat may scare a rabbit, especially one that is in a new environment (your home) a lot.

Also, rabbit are super fragile. A paw swipe from a cat may injure a rabbit and leave abscesses you’re not aware of, and in turn cost a lot in vet bills and detrimental to the rabbit’s health. (I gather from your post that you’re concerned with financial stuff)

You could consider putting covers on your cat’s claws to prevent this – I forgot the actual name for the product. It just covers the cat’s claws so the cat wouldn’t hurt the bunny.

Last thing and most important, I think “a tamer animal” isn’t exactly a good description for a rabbit, even older ones. I think this kinda falls in line with the myth that rabbits are easy to take care of. My bun is like a cross between a dog and a cat – curious but detached, etc. Point is, they probably won’t be as tame as you want them to be –

plus, if the cat never encountered a pet rabbit in her life, her instinct will probably tell her “prey!” Not a pretty scenario.

I hope I didn’t come off as harsh. If so, I apologize. I just wanted to make sure you’re well-informed and don’t end up with something you don’t want and disrupt your cat’s life. She’s an awesome cat, by the sound of it, affectionate with an elephant’s memory.

Oh I almost forgot: adopt don’t shop!

[LittlePuffyTail]

My cats and rabbits pretty much co-exist peacefully but they are definitely not friends. For the most part, they just ignore each other. My cats are very wary of my 2 rabbits because my Bridge bunny used to chase and attack my cats. He put the fear of bunnies in them. If the bunnies get to close to my cats while they are laying down, they usually leave the room.

While I do hear of stories once in a while about bunnies and cats being buddies, even snuggling, I would say that this is definitely not the norm. I think most cats and bunnies can co-exist but you have to remember this is a prey and predator situation. It’s not likely to result in a friendship.

I agree with the others. If you want a friend for your cat, another cat is your best bet.

[kathybunny]

I had 3 cats when I got my bunnies. They are fine together. Sometimes the cats want to play with them. I honestly never thought about a scratch. I’ve never seen anything where I think the bunny could get scratched but I suppose it is possible.

For me, I could never leave the bunnies out all the time. My one is very destructive. Chews wood trim, cords (they are all wrapped with plastic conduit stuff) and they will still chew thru that. Last thing to be chewed and ruined was my HDMI cable (wasn’t wrapped tho). Gone thru several computer cords on both laptops, phone chargers, printer cord and I had to replace a corner in my carpet b/c she dug thru it. I have to be in the room when they are out and listen for them to be naughty. It’s more my female but the male will chew the plastic on the cords too. I make sure I pick up everything before I let them out.

[charliegirl]

I guess my 5 cats and bunny are the exception. We have had Tokki for a little over 3 months and have had no issues with cat on bunny aggression. The first day my younger male cat Mojo (who is now his snuggle buddy) was a little too interested but now they are fine. 2 out of the 5 cats love the bunny they snuggle and groom each other all the time. The 3 older cats will occasionally sniff him or come eat lettuce with him (yes my cats are strange) but luckily no swatting. The cats do get their claws clipped weekly.

[Little Dove]

I have a cat with separation anxiety and a new rabbit. Both are in the same room and my cat is more or less unfazed by my rabbit. They frequently boop noses through the bars (rabbit is currently in a small cage until next month, it was unexpected house rabbit lol) and the biggest problem is my cat likes to pull my rabbit’s hay through the bars and eat it. I guess this is a case of ‘I want what he’s having’, haha!

However, how well a cat and rabbit will mix is very… Unpredictable. It depends a LOT on the experiences both have had with the other species, their temperament, and things like that. While the cat may be blase about the rabbit in neutral territory, that all changes when they’ve been put on your cat’s turf – cats are territorial, as are rabbits. You also have to remember they ARE prey and predator and while your cat may be sweet as sugar, it doesn’t mean she won’t have predatory instincts. My Milo is very laidback and he’s not really a ‘normal’ cat in that he doesn’t do many ‘cat’ things except sleeping a lot. Otherwise he’s a big lug that wants love and attention. He doesn’t even really scratch things up, either, and doesn’t really like ‘pounce’ games so I don’t think he came with much of a ‘hunter’s manual’ programmed in. In fact, he prefers to fetch ‘pompoms’ and bring them back to be thrown again.

If you decide to get a rabbit, it should be done because you want a rabbit, not as a cat’s companion. I do think another cat would be a better idea as with all species, each has different social protocols. Rabbits are more direct and confrontational socially, cats are less so. The cats will understand one another better than a rabbit will. Should you decide to get the rabbit, do keep your cat’s claws capped with the plastic covers or keep them trimmed back to the curve so she can’t scratch new bun.

Regardless of what you do, I wish you the best of luck!

[Author]

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