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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat and rabbit
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Question
I own a male cat which I rescued from the street when he was 5 months old (he hasn't been neutered yet) he's been the loveliest and most affectionated cat from the first day he entered the house (he's an indoors cat now). He is around 1 year old now. Yesterday I was given a little bunny as a present and the cat has been acting weird since then. He has even scratched my face when he had never done anything of the sort. In the morning I let him play with the bunny and smell it, I have the bunny in my room and the cat in the rest of the flat, however I'd like to let the bunny run free. In the afternoon I let them play again and the cat started playing quite rough and scaring the rabbit, tried to play like if it was a ball and throwing himself all over it. Is there any possibility of them coexisting in the same flat? I am expecting too much from my cat?
Laetitia,
First I would get the cat neutered. That will calm him down.
Second, do NOT leave the cat with the rabbit! A rabbit is prey to a cat. That results in the cat being a constant threat to the rabbit.
Cat and rabbits who have been raised together from birth, or an early age, have a good chance of being friends and getting along. But even then cats have been known to attact the rabbit they were raised with unexpectedly.
Use caution when they are together!
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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