Bunnies with other pets

[fancybutterfly]

Hello!

I have been looking through the index for a topic about bunnies and introducing them to other pets, specifically cats. Has anyone ever experienced this? And/Or, is there a past thread/link that I missed that already cvered this?

I am nervous about this because cats are also very territorial.

Thanks,



Marybeth, Boband Zeus (2 bunnies who not sure 'bout kitties! :tears2

 

[Wabbitdad12]

Are your cats declawed?

I introduced my cats and rabbits during supervised times. My cats were a little curious, but pretty much ignore the rabbits now.

 

[fancybutterfly]

The cats will have to be declawed....



Thanks!... the cats ignoring your buns gives me hope! :highfive:

 

[RandomWiktor]

*Cringe* Please read up on what a declawing surgery entails. Have participated in performing them myself, I feel they are a grotesque mutilation that violates veterinary ethics. I've seen post-op complications, chronic pain, behavioral changes, the whole nine yards from this allegedly benign procedure. Not to mention many kitties become more inclined to bite post-declaw with their main defense taken away - which is a MUCH bigger problem for your rabbit's safety. I realize this is a contentious issue among cat owners, but I feel it is a moral imperative for me to relay this information, as I've seen far too many negative effects of such a surgery.

Keep your cats claws very well trimmed, buy SoftPaws to cover the claws, etc. if you are worried about scratching. I would introduce your cat and bunny very carefully and only heavily supervised. Are the cats and buns currently in a situation where they can see and smell each other? Can the cats view the rabbits when they are out loose?

 

[fancybutterfly]

I don't care for the idea of declawing either! However, if the cats and bunnies are

to live together, perhaps it might be in the best interest of all four animals. The animals have not been introduced as of yet. I am just thinking ahead. They will have the opportunity to see eachother and smell eachother out to see their reactions, BEFORE we jump into declawing.

 

[TinysMom]

My two cats are not declawed and they pretty much ignore the rabbits now whenever they're out for playtime. I don't see a need to declaw the cats for the sake of the rabbits if you supervise them well until they get familiar with one another.

 

[fancybutterfly]

Phew!!! I like the sound of that!:bunnydance:



Thanks!

 

[CiaraPatricia]

You don't need to declaw the cats, the cats probably won't do any damage to the bunnies with their claws anyway. It's the teeth that would do damage.

Just keep an eye on them when they're together, and never ever leave them play unsupervised. Even if they're used to each other, cats are predators and bunnies are prey.

Please don't declaw your cats, there's no need really. You can trim them or file them down. There's no need to really though. The worst they'd probably do is take a swipe at the bunny, and probably miss or just scratch fur, or just make a tiny scratch.

My cats got used to my first rabbit really easily, and now they just see my new rabbits as just 2 more members of the family. Just my kitten jumps out at them and wants to play, but they're not scared. The two rabbits knew a dog before I got them, but didn't know any cats, but took to the cats straight away.

They can be together in the house and the cats take no notice at all. I hope yours will get on well, I bet they will.

And I don't think the cats will be territorial to the rabbits, because they can tell that they're not other cats, and so aren't a threat to them. Well that's how it works with mine anyway (5 cats, 3 dogs, 3 guinea pigs and 2 rabbits all living happily together)

 

[irishbunny]

Whether the cats are declawed or not doesn't really make a difference as they still shouldn't be allowed loose in the same room together unsupervised. Cat's teeth can do a lot of damage too

I find cats generally don't go near the rabbits anyway, especially if they are adults. My cats used to go up to my rabbits, but my rabbits wouldn't run away from them and just run up to them and sniff them or chase them so the cats got scared of them pretty quickly.

 

[fancybutterfly]

Thanks for the info!:wave:

What I am worried about is that the cats are allowed everywhere and as cats do, they jump up onto things. So even if I keep the bunnies separate, the cats can get to them. I don't want to have to close a door to the 'bunny' room, especially since they are free range buns.

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Every time anyone asks if cats and rabbits can get along okay, I'm always reminded of these Youtube videos:


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC4blr88jCw&feature=fvw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC4blr88jCw&feature=fvw[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUOkq-p9-pg&feature=related]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUOkq-p9-pg&feature=related[/ame]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irGctTDJoGY&feature=related

Includingthese funny ones:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWCac37h3Qw&feature=fvw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWCac37h3Qw&feature=fvw[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU0RLz8ZO04&feature=related]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU0RLz8ZO04&feature=related[/ame]

I'd be wary putting adult cats together with baby bunnies. But I can't see an adult rabbit having much trouble with your average adult house cat.

Rue

 

[funnybunnymummy]

I forgot this one:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAqtYumy-E&feature=related]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAqtYumy-E&feature=related[/ame]

Hehehe!

Rue

 

[Yield]

fancybutterfly wrote:

The cats will have to be declawed....

 

Thanks!... the cats ignoring your buns gives me hope! :highfive:

i don't know much on the interacting between buns and cats since we had to give our cats away to close friends (not my choice.. wish i could have kept them) but i do know some about declawing.

i got one, and only one of my cats declawed. they severely messed up my cat's paws. she had extra skin hanging that looked like extra toes, but definitely weren't. it wasn't natural, and the extra skin just seemed... grotesque and annoying for poor Tabby ): so i'd be careful on the decision on getting your cats declawed.

just wanted to let you know

as all the others said, its mostly the teeth that do the real damage. make sure you watch them at all times if you choose to socialise them i wish you luck!

 

[fancybutterfly]

Thank you. I don't want to get them declawed, as it is unnatural.



Neither giving away the bunnies nor the cats is an option. Knowing that cats are predators, we thought wehad no choice but to declaw. But, I am grateful to be corrected!!!



Thank you all for your input!

 

[undergunfire]

My 6 month old kitten's favorite place to hang out is in the bunny room. I have a rabbit who free ranges (no cage) in there and Quil (kitten) likes to chase him. It's been less and less often, so I think he will grow out of it. Morgan (rabbit) will box and grunt at Quil, which makes Quil back off a bit. This has been going on for the past 3 months and Morgan isn't injured in anyway because I keep Quil's nails really short. I have 2 other (adult) kitties who leave the buns alone.

 

[JeffS]

My (perhaps poor) understand is that declawing cats can tend to make them more violent. If someone cut off my fingers I'd probably be mad too.

 

[Wabbitdad12]

I have never had a problem with my cats being declawed. Their personality never changed.

 

[bigwigbunny]

Here are some photos of my rabbit with my cats. The siamese had never seen a rabbit before, my other cat was used to rabbits.

In my experience it is best to select a rabbit closer to your cat's size. I think the larger size makes them more menacing to the cats and less like a snack.I have never had smaller rabbits but I would be concerned they'd be more delicate although I did have a larger mini rex. Something territorial of its cage would actually chase and beat up your cats. An active rabbit would possibly be chased but wouldn't mind it and would sit down if it didn't want to be chased. A loungy rabbit wouldn't run if the cats tried to chase it. Rabbits don't seem to be fearful of cats at all for some reason.

My cats have claws, I would never declaw a cat for any reason.

It took my siamese about 3 weeks before he was %100 around the rabbit. I supervised multi animal time and broke up a couple instances of the cat sitting on the rabbit and pulling fur out, or grooming the rabbit too much. After that the amusing part of having a new pet wore off and I can leave them out together unsupervised.

My biggest problem is the rabbit sitting in the cats litterbox and not letting them come in and the cats eating the hay in the rabbit cage.

 

[fancybutterfly]

Thank you so much for sharing your story!



My bunnies are mini Holland Lops, about 5 lbs. The cats are pretty big. The boy cat is a love bug and I hope he'll take to the buns. The female cat, I can't quite figure out yet...

I am also worried about any diseases or thinkgs like that.Both cats and buns will go to the vet before they meet.



Again, thanks to all for your info! It's been very helpful!

 

[undergunfire]

I don't believe cats and rabbits can share diseases, but fleas, ticks, things like that...yes. I don't think there is a need to bring all animals into the vet, unless they are due for their check ups anyway . I never brought any of mine to the vet once bringing them home, unless it was for a spay/neuter.