cat germs

bunnychild · Feb 18, 2012

Hi everyone! I heard recently that if cats come in contact with rabbit food it can spread a germ that kills rabbits. I mentioned it to some rabbit savy people but they had never heard of that, so I thought I would ask here to see if anyone here has.

Thanks for your help

Watermelons · Feb 18, 2012

It has more has to do with the bacteria in the cats mouth in combination with the cat creating an open wound in the animal. Ever hear of Cat scratch fever?
Please keep an eye on the pair at all times. Supervised company only. If the accident does happen and the cat creates an open wound in the rabbit (scratch bite, etc.) Wash it out immediatly, with rubbing alcohol if you can.

Cat scratches and bites can cause severe infection even leading to sepsis or death in people as well if the right bacteria was present and the wound was not cleaned and was left to fester.
There is more of a worry for outdoor cats, or cats that are fed raw foods. Cats that do not groom themselves properly (clean their toes) and other similar situations.

MagPie · Feb 18, 2012

Yeah cat scratches/bites are not pleasant. Speaking from personal experience.

bunnychild · Feb 18, 2012

but will they poison the food if they come in contact wiith the food

ZRabbits · Feb 19, 2012

bunnychild wrote:

but will they poison the food if they come in contact wiith the food

I don't have a cat, but I do have a dog. I was concerned about their foods mixing, but my boys have found crumbs of Jake's goodies and they are doing well. No problems. Just don't allow either cat or rabbit to feed at each other station. You can't stop them from trying each other foods. All animals are curious. Heck, Jake eats hay now.

Just observe. Lots of people have cats and rabbits together. Dogs and rabbits together. Rats and rabbits together. They can live in harmony as long as you watch over them.

K

Watermelons · Feb 19, 2012

Nothing wrong with a kitty touching bunny food

My handicapped cat likes to try and chew on Loki's ear, if that fails he goes back to eating their hay.

Indoor cats aren't exposed to the same type of bacteria as outdoor cats are and typically aren't a worry when it comes to anything slobber related. Outdoor cats typically have more prey drive and shouldn't be around a bunny anyway, but still around the food is fine... unless they pee on it.

Touching the food wont affect them, even if the cat was an outdoor cat, bad bacteria in the mouth, slobbered on a bunch of bunny food, then left... then the bunny ate it. Unless the rabbit has a whack of GI ulcers, the most that situation will do is give the bunny a minor upset tummy if the food was left to "sit" for awhile before the bunny ate it. Entering the GI tract is alot different then an open wound. This is why its safe to injest toxins like venom, but its alot different when they are injected into you.

LakeCondo · Feb 19, 2012

Cute picture, Watermelons.

MagPie · Feb 19, 2012

I've never had my cats try to eat the rabbit pellets, it doesn't appeal to them. They do try to eat the hay, since cats will eat grasses now and then. My rabbit, however, loves to go to town on the kitty food. That I keep out of his reach when he's out and about.