Cat and Rabbit Households

It is common to think cats and rabbits cannot coexist peacefully since cats possess the predatory nature while rabbits the prey. Since cats have never been fully domesticated, they often have active prey drives. That being said many indoor house cats have adapted and show decreased levels of prey drive. Some cats breeds (Bengal, Egyptian Mau, Savannah, Ocicat, Bombay, Highlander, etc.) are highly reactive exotics with strong prey-driven instincts. Other breeds are highly adaptable to indoor home lives. Conversely, certain rabbit breeds (Continental and Flemish Giants, dwarfs, Lionheads, New Zealands, etc) are more likely to be brave and assertive and therefore less fearful of a predator species. Large breed rabbits may also be of less interest to a cat as they do not see them as prey due to their size.

Setting Up For Success

Making sure the home environment is suitable for both species is critical. Taking a tour of the interior spaces one plans to allow cats and bunnies access to, evaluating potential hazards, and rabbit- and cat-proofing them will ensure safe living. Rabbit and cat proofing include the use of exercise pens or baby gates to close off spaces and create boundaries and removing items that could be harmful if ingested.

Reading Body Language

Cats and rabbits communicate both vocally and visually. Knowing how to identify when a cat is agitated, angry, scared, or in activated hunt mode is important before introducing a bunny into their environment. Cats use their ears, tails, feet, backs, and eyes to indicate they have gone into hunting mode. Once they lock in on a target, they stalk it with intention to hunt, kill, and consume it. They use vocal cues to express emotions of agitation, anger, and obsession: hissing, ecking, growling, and yodeling. 

Rabbits also use their ears, tails, feet, backs, and eyes to express emotions, present intimidating posture to a threat, and show intense alertness in the face of danger. Bunnies can either retreat to a safe hiding place when threatened or warn a predator against attacking by showing visual cues.

Training

Training is most effective with gently encouraging modification and redirection while supporting an animal’s natural instinctual behaviors. Positive reinforcement training tactics in particular will lead to a quicker and healthier relationship between the cat, rabbit, and the pet owner. To reinforce positive interactions, short daily sessions of closely observed contact is recommended. If a positive interaction takes place between mixed species, verbally praise them and, if the opportunity presents, reward them with a small food bit and/or petting. Animals respond better to positive motivation than harsh corrections. Any time a negative behavior ensues, i.e. a cat charges or swats at a bunny or a bunny lunges at or boxes a cat, the offender should be redirected and given another opportunity to positively interact and engage in, and then rewarded for doing so. Redirecting the animal to a different activity, one that is incompatible with the undesired act, switches their focus to something positive. It is best to drain both animals of energy prior to sessions. A fifteen minute aggressive play session with cats will reduce the chances of them acting hostile toward bunnies. Cats must satisfy their daily need to stalk-hunt-kill-consume. Through a play session, they can meet that need if a small morsel of food is given when they capture and bite the toy prey.  Likewise, a nice play session or enrichment activity with bunnies before an interchange with cats is beneficial. 

Utilizing a common enjoyable activity such as play and exploration can bring species into a simultaneous fun and positive experience. Using a large box maze or arrangement of tunnels and untreated boxes, condo furniture, and pop up ball pits can build connections and bring the cats and rabbits together as a team. Concurrent play sessions help engage their bodies and minds while directing focus on the activity instead of one another.

In both cats and rabbits, the reason behind aggression needs to be determined first before continuing interactions. Often, aggression stems from lack of confidence, lack of stimulation, or predatory aggression. Lack of confidence in some cases might be from unfamiliarity and fear. Just allowing each animal to smell the other’s scent using bedding, toys, or some other item that has absorbed scents aids them in acquiring the necessary intel to begin to understand the other species. Scent swapping will build knowledge and knowledge builds confidence. Providing adequate stimulation is as simple as daily play sessions or enrichment activity sessions for each. If true predatory aggression is observed, future interactions should be either closely monitored or prevented.

It is important to keep young rabbits or baby rabbits away from cats of all ages. There is a chance that the cat will view the young rabbit as prey due to size. However, once fully grown, most rabbits and cats cohabitate peacefully with little to no problems.

Handling Agression

Health Considerations

Both cats and rabbits are vulnerable to certain parasites: fleas, ticks, worms, and mites. All are easily treatable with prescription medications available through a veterinarian. Cat saliva contains a variety of bacteria that can be harmful to bunnies. Likewise, scratches or bites from a cat can lead to infections or abscesses. Cats can also be susceptible to abscesses from rabbit bites. If cats are allowed outdoors it is possible they can act as a fomite and transfer RHDV to a rabbit. Tularemia is an uncommon infection that can be transferred to and from cats and rabbits or from certain insect bites. Cats who hunt outdoors are susceptible to tularemia as well as to carrying it to an indoor rabbit. Most of these issues are easily remedied by keeping both bunnies and felines indoors and practising biosafety home measures. Regular vaccinations are recommended for both species. Rabbits and cats should not share litter boxes. Many cat litters are toxic to rabbits and rabbits should not come into contact with cat feces due to health risks.

It is important for each species to have separate places of refuge where they feel safe and that their highly valued resources (food, water, litterbox, etc.) are plentiful and won’t be taken. Giving cats a tall climbing tower and special beds, scratcher tools, and space exclusive from bunnies is a good idea until strong bonds are formed. Conversely, providing bunnies with hidey houses, furniture, litter box setup, toys, and beds is ideal. They both need neutral common areas where they can cross paths and bonding sessions can take place.

Other Considerations

Anticipating issues before they happen is a great practice. Both bunnies and cats get their feelings hurt, hold grudges, and not easily forgive. Observe their behavior separate from one another compared to while together to identify potential issues.