Cats & Rabbits
Cats and rabbits can become great friends. Of all the interspecies relationships,the cat - rabbit friendship seems to be the easiest to introduce and the most considerable in attachment. Some rabbits seem to prefer the company of a cat to the company of one of thier own kind.
A common scenario is the rabbit that bosses the cat around. Unless your cat is quite a bit smaller than your rabbit, or unless your rabbit is truly nasty, let the two of them work it out on thier own without undue intervention.
Cats are predators and therefore may view the rabbit as their prey. this is especially true if the cat is quite a bit larger than the rabbit. Take this into consideration when you are contemplating adopting a animal. "Pets of equal size have a better chance of getting along", but this is not the rule; many pets of different sizes have become great friends.
The cat may chase the rabbit, and this can have terrible consequences if the rabbit gets frightened. If this is the case, read the "Dogs & Rabbits" section, and use the same strategy for introducing animals under the cicumstances of being protected by the cage. This may be necessary if your rabbit is timid and shy and your cat is bossy.
Before making physical introductions, trim the nails of both animals to lessen the chance of injury. Have one person hold the rabbit, you hold the cat. (wear long sleeves and pants,if your animals get scared and try to get away, you may be scratched). You can have each on a halter and leash, if you feel they need to be controlled. the lead is not a correctional tool, use it only if you need to seperate the animals. Let the animals smell each other while thet are being held. If all is going well, let them down to interact. They may begin to play together. Cats and rabbits often play chase, hide-and-seek, and follow the leader. If they are engaged in a chase game, decide if it looks friendly or if intervention is necessary. If they are taking turns chasing, it is a game, if one looks frightened, stop them and sperate them for awhile.
Some cats and rabbits share such deep friendships that they will sleep together, curled up in the rabbit cage or a cozy corner. If your pets are this bonded, you can leave them together unattended. They have definitely become loyal companions.
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/1451/bunpets2.html
- - - - - - -
BTW, I have never seen nor heard of any aggression of any kind between rabbits and cats, either here at home or even in as backyard at night with feral cats and some stray bunnies (who were later rescued).
....April
