It’s a question that has been asked for centuries: can cats and rabbits live together?
The answer, as with most things in life, is not black and white. There are pros and cons to living with a cat and a rabbit under the same roof.
In this post, we will take a closer look at both sides of the argument so that you can make an informed decision if you are considering adding a rabbit to your home that already houses a feline friend.
We will also show you some very important tips, and a step-by-step process on how to introduce a cat to a rabbit.
Can Cats and Rabbits Live Together?
Although cats and rabbits wouldn’t naturally get along, it is possible for them to live together, and even bond, but this can be extremely difficult and there are a number of factors that need to be considered.
As cats are predators, they would consider rabbits as prey and should never be left together unsupervised.
Even if they appear to be friends or getting along, don’t let this fool you. The natural instincts from either the cat or rabbit could kick in at anytime, which could end up in disaster.
To increase the odds of a better relationship, it’s always best to introduce a cat and a rabbit from a young age.
Important Things To Consider
Slow Process
The introduction process can be a very stressful experience for both a cat and rabbit. It’s important to be patient and go as slow as needed.
All Interactions Should Be Supervised
Never leave a cat and rabbit together unsupervised, because both animals are capable of hurting one another.
Know Your Pets And Their Natural Instincts
It’s important to know how each animal behaves, and take their natural instincts into consideration.
A cat ‘s natural instinct is to hunt, and will generally show this behavior by stalking and pouncing. Cats are also solitary and independent creatures.
When it comes to the instinct of a rabbit, you will need to be aware of territory and dominance.
Although cats are also territorial and like to mark their territory, rabbits are extremely territorial.
Rabbits also live in groups that have a dominance hierarchy, which means fighting for dominance as a common behavior.
This is important to remember because a rabbit may display this aggressive behavior over a cat to establish dominance.
Pet Personalities
All cat owners know that every single cat has their own individual personality, and no two cats are the same.
We have three cats and three are completely different and unique in their own ways.
Some cats are more territorial than others, some are more aggressive, and others are just completely chilled.
Rabbits also have their own personalities as well and no two rabbits are alike. Some rabbits will bite anybody who enters their personal space, others may not mind.
Because of this, it’s important to understand your rabbit’s personality especially if you have a cat in the house that could potentially harm them.
If you’re lucky enough to have both a cat and rabbit that are very laid back and mellow, this drastically increases the odds that they will get along.
Confident Cat, Frightened Bunny
One of the most difficult pairings is the confident/aggressive cat and scared rabbit combination.
This pairing is difficult due to the fact that an aggressive cat may not back down from any prey, even if they are larger in size.
A scared rabbit will turn and run, and a cats natural instinct will be to chase it. There is always a chance your rabbit could get severely injured or even killed by an aggressive cat who will do anything it takes to catch them.
Dominant Bunny, Frightened Cat
On the other hand, a bossy bunny and a scared cat can also have problems.
Bunnies like to take charge and if they see a fearful cat, they may become aggressive in order to try and assert their dominance.
The scared cat will then likely cower away or hide which will only make the bunny more dominant. This pairing is not ideal as it can lead to fights and injuries.
The good news is that even if a rabbit chases a cat, that will generally stop once they have made their point and not continue to chase until it ends up in a fight.
Cat And Rabbit Introduction From A Young Age
By far the easiest way for cats and rabbits to live together is to introduce them when they are both young.
If you have a kitten and a baby bunny, they will generally be curious about each other but not aggressive. They are also likely to enjoy playing together as both cats and rabbits love to play!
Introducing two babies is the best course of action because they will not have any previous negative experiences with one another (like being chased or bitten), and this will be the normal way of life for them, they will not know any different.
Size Matters
When it comes to introducing adult cats and rabbits, size matters.
An adult cat is usually much larger than a baby bunny, and an adult rabbit can easily overpower a kitten.
This could lead to serious injury for the bunny, so it’s best not to take any chances.
There’s less chance of a cat attacking a rabbit if they are around the same size.
Adult cats and rabbits should only be introduced if they have been living in the same house together for a while and are already familiar with each other.
Even then, it’s always important to keep a close eye on them just in case things get too heated!
How Do You Introduce a Cat to a Rabbit?
1. Create A Stress-Free Environment
The initial meeting between a cat and a rabbit can be a stressful experience for both animals.
To make it as stress-free as possible, create a calm and quiet environment before introducing them.
This could mean putting the cat in a room by itself for a while or keeping the rabbit in its cage.
Both the cat and the rabbit should also be well-behaved and in a calm state. You can achieve this by making sure they are both well-rested and fed which will put them in a better mood.
2. Neutral Territory
The initial meeting should be in neutral territory for both pets that is both spacious and quiet. This ensures that no load noises are going to startle either animal in what is already a stressful experience for them.
3. A Safe Enclosure
A Cat And A Small Rabbit
Before bringing the rabbit near to the cat, make sure that the area it is in is enclosed and safe.
If this means putting it inside a cage or even just containing its movements somehow, then so be it.
This will prevent any potential injury to the rabbit if they were to get startled by sudden noises or movement made by the cat.
It’s also a good idea to ensure the cage has hay, water, and treats which is going to make the rabbit feel even more comfortable.
A Kitten And Large Rabbit
If you are introducing a kitten and a large rabbit, the same precautions apply. Make sure that the kitten is safely behind some kind of barrier. You could even use a cat carrier, and place some treats inside.
4. Scent Familiarization
The first stage of the interaction should be transferring scents which enables both animals to get familiar with the smell of each other. Here’s how to do it:
- Take a clean towel or cloth.
- Use this to stroke down the cats back.
- Do the same with the rabbit.
- Do this process several times.
- Let both animals smell the cloth until they get used to the scents from one another.
5. Interaction
In this step, the rabbit should be kept in the cage whilst the cat is let loose.
This enables them to interact with each other and let your rabbit get used to the presence, behavior, and movement of the cat.
This step will also enable you to tell if both animals are taking an interest in one another or not.
You should initiate this interaction at least once a day for around an hour. It’s very important not to rush this process. Take as many days as needed. If either animal gets stressed, just go backwards a step and try again.
As previously mentioned, both cats and rabbits are all very different with their own unique personality. Some will get used to each other immediately whilst other will take weeks.
6. Monitor Their Behavior
It’s important to be present at all times during the interaction of both pets. This enables you to monitor their behavior, and prevent any accidents from happening.
If the cat and the rabbit are not interacting very well, never force anything! Just be patient, take as much time as needed, and let the process happen naturally.
7. Let The Rabbit Out Of The Cage
The final step is to release the rabbit out of the cage to enable both animals to come face to face without any barriers.
Again, both pets should be in a relaxed state, and you should always be there to supervise and ready to intervene any bad behavior from either one of them.
To be extra cautious, you could even add a step in between which is to place your cat in a cat carrier, and then release the rabbit.
This enables you to see how your rabbit reacts the first time of being released around your cat.
Can Cats Get Sick from Rabbits?
Toxoplasmosis is a type of parasite that can be found in cats and rabbits.
This disease can cause diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, seizures and even death if not treated immediately.
Keep your cat out of places where there’s a risk they could come into contact with rabbit feces or urine.
Make sure their litter box isn’t too close to the rabbit cage as well! Cats should always have access to clean water at all times but keep it away from any waste products like feces which may contain toxoplasma gondii parasites (toxo).
If you notice symptoms like lethargy or lack of appetite then take them straight away for veterinary attention so those problems don’t get worse over time.
Another problem is fleas which can jump from rabbits to cats, and vice versa. If a rabbit is sick, fleas and ticks can pass the infection onto your cat.
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, the signs of fleas on a rabbit include biting, licking, chewing, or scratching itself.
One of the biggest concerns is a bacterial infection called tularemia, also know as rabbit fever. This can be passed on by coming into contact with a rabbits fluids, which is why it is so important to keep both animals clean.
Symptoms can be extreme from showing no symptoms at all to death.
It’s important that you keep flea treatment up-to-date for both pets so they don’t get infected with this deadly disease.
A cat can also get infected with respiratory sickness from a rabbit . This is caused by a virus that is spread through the air and can be fatal if not treated.
Common Questions And Answers
Do Cats Attack Rabbits?
With these two animals being natural enemies in the wild, a cats predatory hunting instinct means that they will more than likely attack a rabbit. Even if the pair appear to have bonded, a cat can still attack at any time.
Do Rabbits Attack Cats?
Due to rabbits being extremely territorial and naturally fighting in groups for a position of dominance, a rabbit is just as likely to attack as much as a cat would attack a rabbit.
Can Cats and Rabbits Live Together Conclusion
Can cats and rabbits live together? They certainly can, but there are a lot of factors to take into consideration.
If you have a cat and are considering getting a bunny, the best way to introduce them is slowly.
The more time that they spend together in close proximity without being able to fight or scare each other, the better chance your new furry friend has of becoming friends with your resident pet.
Cats can get sick from rabbits through direct contact, so make sure any droppings stay off limits for both animals by confining their interaction areas to opposite sides of the house when introducing them.
It’s important not to put these two pets in an environment where they will be scared or feel threatened because this could lead one animal attacking the other out of fear.
Do you own both a ct and a rabbit? We would love to hear from you! Send us your pictures and let us know if you had a good or bad experience in introducing the two pets.
