Playful Cat with Bunnies – Can they play supervised?

[Kat9055]

I have 2 rabbits, a Netherland Dwarf (Barnaby) and a Holland Lop (Penelope), and a pure-blood Ragamuffin cat (Loki). They are currently all housed separately (Penelope is getting spayed next week) and they are all full-grown. 

First off, my cat. He is a polydactyl (yay thumbs!) and 2.5 years old. I rescued him when he was 9 weeks old and he was emaciated (only .7 lbs) and immediately had to go to a critical care animal hospital. He has never been outside without a leash and refuses to kill spiders or bugs, just bats at them gently (he does eat flies). Ragamuffins are supposed to be a gentle breed (which is why I got him), so I hoped he and my house bunny could co-exist, but he is too playful, so the bunnies have a huge indoor hutch (I am converting a massive entertainment center) and 2 xpens, instead. He is now 13 lbs and is loving, but VERY playful. He likes to run around and dash on and off of things, but he never uses his claws (not even with bugs), he actually curls his paws into little fists to bat at things and likes picking things up using his “thumb”. 

My rabbits and my cat like each other a lot and they will cuddle on either side of an x-pen or watch/sniff each other, but when I let the cat with the rabbits (2 xpens for a play area), the female wants to go up to him and cuddle and will follow him everywhere and the cat wants to bat her bum to make her jump. He hasn’t ever tried to bite them or used his claws near them and he stands very still and both rabbits get close to him, but then he always hits their butts and they run away (which he really likes watching, but has never chased them). Penelope especially always comes right back to him (he doesn’t move).

I am looking for advice because the girl bunny wants to snuggle with/LOVES my cat, but when they are trying to get used to each other I think I interfere too quickly and separate them, which confuses them. Penelope is more skittish, but less so with animals than humans (been that way since I got her 14 months ago). I don’t want them to associate being together with getting me nervous or getting in trouble, but I also want them to be safe, so I am never further than 2 feet away. 

The boy rabbit is a little more calm and he and the cat chill with each other fine despite his small size (the cat will still “boop” him too, but he comes right back). I still keep them separated by the x pen usually since I don’t know how much he appreciates being booped. Loki will try SO HARD to stay with Barnaby while I am at work (I separate them when I am not home), even hiding inside Barnaby’s cage so they can keep playing.

Do others have experience with cats batting their bunnies (without claws) or trying to make them run? Or just really playful cats in general? Is it possible I am interfering too quickly with Penelope and Loki?

 Penny and Loki Squirrels like Loki, too

 

Sneaky kitty hiding in hay (he wasn’t supposed to go into the cage)

[Lopz]

Hi Kat, I do not think that your rabbits appreciate your cat batting at their bum. If you are okay with a spray bottle or some other way to tell Loki “no” I think they could be together short amounts of time if CLOSELY watched. Find a way to get your cat to stop batting at the bunnies, though, as that is more of a predator and prey thing, and could stress you rabbits out. If you fix that though, I think your cat and rabbits could be good friends!

[Kat9055]

Thanks for the reply! I definitely keep a close eye on them, but I will try the squirt bottle or time-outs (he learns from time-outs in a kennel fastest). I never had any issues with my other cats/bunnies getting along (I have had 3 previous bunnies one at a time), not even ones that caught their own “treats” outside and were indoor/outdoor, so this is new to me. My other rabbits were a few pounds bigger, so maybe that makes more of a difference than I thought.

[Kat9055]

[Lopz]

I am glad I could help. My rabbits were found abandoned near where I lived, so that is how I got attached to rabbits! Penny looks a lot like my three rabbits, mostly Lucky and Lil’Bud. I would say that small rabbits are certainly my favorite! They live longer, and are known to be quite expressive of their feelings compared to larger breeds! I have heard of kenneling dogs, but never cats.. that would be good to try with my cat Stripes if he ever acts up. He acts like a dog and will follow me wherever I go!

[Kat9055]

Haha yeah, Loki and the bunnies all get time out when they are bad. I had to buy a timer so I don’t leave them in there too long (5-10 minutes). As long as you are consistent, it works!

[Lopz]

I know it is not good to punish rabbits by tapping and yelling, but I had never thought of time outs! That is amazing that it works!

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