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Photo by Lea Málková from Pixabay
New bunny owners need to know this!
Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse don’t get along most of the time. They often fight even with the simplest thing. Tom always runs around the house trying to catch the mouse that definitely won’t match his size. Although you see them in all the episodes fighting, there are still times when they agree with each other.
Does this apply to real-life animals? How about bunnies around dogs and cats?
Is there a chance that these pets will get along?
We’ll help you find out!
Bunnies and Cats
If you brought your cat first into your home before the bunny or vice versa, there are things you need to consider to ensure that they will live together harmoniously.
Bunnies and cats have similarities. They both may show aggression and playfulness. Now, let’s talk about introducing them.
Bunny House
Bunnies are territorial, so introducing a kitten wouldn’t be easy. Felines love to stalk and hunt. Expect that they will not approach each other immediately on the first day of introducing together. They will both have an observation of the other animal and the place.
Given that bunnies and cats are territorial, Rabbit CARE TIPS suggests putting them in an unfamiliar room with your supervision. Let them observe each other.
Or let the bunny stay in its home while the cat is free observing. The same is true with your bunny; let it observe while the cat is in its cage to prevent the two from fighting.
If you see signs of aggression, quickly separate them until they both calm down. Introduce them for the second time around and observe. You should have keen eyes to know what will happen next.
If they don’t show signs of aggression, that’s great. You can do the same routine the next day until they can tolerate each other’s presence.
Let’s make this clear.
It’s not guaranteed that a bunny will not show dominance anytime, even if they bonded already. Provide them a separate place to hide in case the other attacks unpredictably. Satisfy your cat's prey drive by playing to divert its attention from attacking your bunny.
Bunnies and Dogs
Let’s say you already have a dog in your house before you get a bunny. What you need to do is to assess your dog’s personality. Some dogs are gentle towards strangers or smaller animals and some dogs have a high prey drive.
Put the bunny in the cage with a box where it can hide and let the dog sniff and get familiar with the new family member.
Dogs have these characteristics where they get too excited and playful. They will disregard the bunny’s size as long as they can play, which can be dangerous for the bunny.
Put your dog on a leash when you want to introduce them without the cage. In that way, you can control its movement and keep it quickly away from the bunny when it shows aggressiveness.
What Are Other The Things You Need to Consider?
Another important thing that you need to consider before getting a bunny and other pet animals is the vaccine. It’s vital to get them vaccinated to protect them from any diseases.
While other pets, like dogs and cats, get vaccines to protect them against rabies and other diseases, rabbits also need vaccination against Myxomatosis and RHD/RHD1.
Aside from vaccines, we always emphasize neutering and spaying our pet rabbits. In this case, neutering or spaying your cats at home is better. This will help to lessen aggression for both pets.
Disclaimer: We are not professional veterinarians or medical doctors. We created this blog based on our experiences with pet rabbits. We volunteered hours in the rabbit shelter, did extensive pet product research, and asked experienced peers. The purpose of this blog is to provide information about properly taking care of rabbits. Please know that it is still best to visit the vet regularly. For medical emergencies, contact a rabbit-savvy vet. Always observe your rabbits around new products or environmental changes.
Final Thoughts on Bunnies Around Dogs and Cats
Bunnies around dogs and cats can be exciting when you picture them in your mind as a pet lover.
When you have pets at home, remember that satisfying their individual needs is essential. Supply everything they need, including their quality food, toys, litter box (for rabbits and cats,) and cozy home.
Play with them because it’s beneficial for their growth and gives them a good perception of the place where they live.
We certainly don’t want our bunnies and other pets hurting each other. If you think you can’t handle them in one household, have one pet instead.
Visit HoppScotch.bun for more helpful blogs. We’ll help you in taking good care of your bunny!
If you are a new bunny owner, do not forget to include litter training in your bunny’s routine. Our BUMBOX will be a great help for that!
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