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Multi-species house: Cat and rabbit as pets together?
I really need advice from someone who knows a lot about pets, please I don't want any answers that are just "good guesses". Two weeks ago, I adopted a ten week old kitten. I also have owned an indoor rabbit for a year, but he is almost two years old. Both animals are male. The cat fights with the rabbit, which is a given, as cats are predatory animals. I cannot tell how the rabbit feels about the cat. I keep the rabbit locked in his cage when I am not home, and when I sleep. When I let the rabbit out he does his mostly normal business, and the kitten tries to play with him, pawing and pouncing at him. The rabbit does run, but not to his cage, just a couple feet away. Sometimes the rabbit will approach the cat. I’m not sure if this is out of curiosity or playfulness, but once the rabbit approaches the kitten it’s game time. To me, the kitten seems too aggressive with the rabbit. So I have the following questions which are all related to the cat and the rabbit. Also, I do plan on getting the cat fixed and declawed for the safety of my rabbit.
How do I know when I need to step in and interfere with their fights and teach the kitten that playing is okay, just not too rough?
How can I bond the cat and the rabbit?
The cat has been entering the rabbit’s cage anytime I am not in the room, even if just for a second, the rabbit doesn’t seem to mind, but I read online that the cat should not enter his territory. The rabbit doesn’t seem to mind the company, but his feelings are kind of hard to read. Is this okay?
Sorry if this is too long, I wanted to make sure that I included enough information.
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you need to step in when the bunny starts getting terribly hurt and teach the cat that playing with the bunny is okay , but that starting to claw him is too playful and that playing with him is okay as long as there is no hurting each other
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Hey there, I have had kittens for a while now and we have had alot of practice at introducing species :)
Firstly declawing the cat is a good idea, just in case things get a bit out of hand. To bond them, the pet you've had longest gets the driving seat really. you should hold the kitten, let the rabbit come to you and have a sniff, once they both seem at ease around each other use a small room where you can see everything and just let them play, put some toys down for the kitten to keep amused. Make sure you are ALWAYS around.
The point about the cage is that like humans, animals like a "secure spot" it's sort of like us being chased home by someone, finally getting in and finding another stranger waiting for us, or at least someone leaving a mark they had been in our house. Scary. So yeah, the rabbit may not mind atm but it could distress him if he needs some peace, remember, the cat will smell like a predator to him as well. For this reason I'd try and keep the kitten away.
Fighting is interesting though, we have cats and dogs, they can look after themselves easily enough and the dogs know best. A cat and a rabbit is a bt different as you have a genuine food chain now. I've seen rabbits and cats get along fine, usually house-cats. Now, it's the cat you need to watch out for, and they have some good tell-tale signs of when to step in.
If you know what the "hunting" pose looks like, crouched down a small distance away from the rabbit bum up in the air slightly and the paws ready to pounce at the right time, would be a time to pick up kitty and lock him/her away for a bit with some toys, of course, that's an extreme.
The problem is, cats are hard to train. they do as they like, and often, they get carried away playing, claws come out by accident and instinct takes over to "scratch and bits" just cos, well, they're cats haha
My best advice would be, as the owner, you know your pets best. You will recognise bunny getting scared, agitated or nervous, this equally plays on kitties instincts. Do what you feel is best, and use treats as well, when they play nicely, or leave each other alone more or less, reward them both. feed them together, keep them together, and your kitten should see the rabbit as a sibling more than prey :)
Hope that helps, and best of luck x
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