Getting a new Cat

[RebeccaUK]

I am hoping to get a new cat from the rescueshelter on Saturday but I'm terrified about introducing him to therabbits. The cat I want is quite old but was dumped on thestreets after his owner realised he was ill and would need vetcare.

My rabbits are often in the house and have the run of several rooms inmy home and I would love to be able to introduce them to the cat whenhe comes. Does anyone have any tips on how to do this orindeed whether you think it is a good idea? I would hate tohave to keep them separate all the time and would love for them tobecome friends or at worst just ignore each other as they go abouttheir business. What are your thoughts?

Sorry for posting a new thread on this issue - I did do a search butcouldn't find an old post that matched my situation to help.

Any help, ideas or experiences would be much appreciated.

Rebecca

 

[bluebird]

I think it is a bad idea.an older cat is goingto be set in its ways.you wont know if it can get along with rabbits ornot till its too late.bluebird

 

[Shuu]

I would put the cat in a carrier and let therabbits go to it. If it's being excessively aggressive, let them haveseperate rooms. If it doesn't seem to care, move on from there.

 

[mygrl2k3]

I have older cats and whenI broughtthe bunnies home, they didnt pay much attention.. If anything thebunnies chase the cats and they run. How old is thecat? The older the harder to probably rehome.

Cristy

 

[BunnyLover]

I don't have any experience withbonding/introducing cats and rabbits, but thislink might helpyou when you do.Cats

Congratulations on thenew cat!

Alyssa

 

[seniorcats]

We have 18 cats and 5 rabbits. For 17years we have always had multiple cats and rabbits andhavenever had a problem with the cats bothering/chasing/harrassing/huntingthe rabbits. If anything, the rabbits scare the cats andchase the cats.

I volunteer at a cat shelter and my husband and I take in seniorcats. Right now, 10 of our cats are seniors. Mostwere adopted around age 8 to 12. As far as the rabbits go,the seniors could care less and they totally ignore therabbits. Of the younger cats, I have 2 19 pound Maine Cooncats who ignore the rabbits, 1 19 pound special needs attack cataggressive towards humans. He doesn't like strangers but hasnever bothered the rabbits in any way.

Some of our younger cats are champion mousers out in thebarn. They also totally ignore the rabbits when they are inthe house. I think it's because the house rabbits do not actthe same as the wild rabbits outside. Two of our cats love togroom the rabbits and sleep with them. It's common to seeJerri Harriet or Nutmeg curled between 2 rabbits. It's alsocommon for Wilbur bunny to run to Nutmeg, put his head and get itwashed.

The link Alyssa gave you for bonding is a really good one.Based on the experiences in our house with many cats and rabbits overmany years, you should not have a problem.

Please keep us posted on the adoption. I would love to hearhow the introductions work. I think it's wonderful that youare giving an older, special cat a chance at a good home.

Ann // seniorcats


I forgot to say that the rabbits have free run and are with the cats inside the house 24/7.

 

[m.e.]

I've had the same experience as Ann: the cats are very much intimidated by the rabbits

Our situation is a little different, as our cats were raised with therabbits, but even though they are now much bigger than the bunnies theyhave never once tried to chase, bite, etc.

I think it's wonderful that you're adopting an older cat, they get passed over so often Let us know how things work out!

~Emily and the Fuzzbutts~

 

[samandshawn]

Good luck, I hope all goes well for you, and everyone can live happily

 

[Iwuvbunbuns72]

I dont know how they would work with an oldercat but i introduced mine to my kitten, all went well until Lucydecided she didnt like him and charged at him and bit him on the foot.Ever since that day he wont go near them.

Id try putting the cat on your lap and sit in the floor while your bunsare playing and see if he shows intrest in them..or seems like heswanting to swat or pounce at them.

Good Luck Introducing them

 

[Kricket]

RebeccaUK wrote:

My rabbits are often in the house and have the run of several rooms inmy home and I would love to be able to introduce them to the cat whenhe comes. Does anyone have any tips on how to do this orindeed whether you think it is a good idea? I would hate tohave to keep them separate all the time and would love for them tobecome friends or at worst just ignore each other as they go abouttheir business. What are your thoughts?

Hello Rebecca! I have an elderly cat, and he is used to otheranimals (dog, other cat...). He is rather scared of mybuns! He IS curious, and tries to sniff them, as soon as hedoes, and they sniff back, MAN! I never knew my old cat couldmove so fast! He will run like the wind from them!He has never shown a hunting instinct towards them, but I would NEVER,EVER leave them unsupervised!

Do you know if this cat is ok with other animals?Cats? Dogs?? Is it a friendly cat? Doesthis cat have it's claws? Take baby steps, slow and shortintroductions. You will be able to tell almost immediately ifit will be an easy bonding or not.

Please keep us posted! Hugs! Krick

 

[RebeccaUK]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all your posts and your comments.

Bluebird's post definitely had me worried but everyone else seems to think it might be ok so I don't know what to do now!

I will try the cat in the carrier thing and let the rabbits sniff - I'mpretty sure my buck will be really curious and go over as he is brazen,my doe will probably be terrified of this new thing at first but thencuriosity will get the better of her.

The cat is 12 years old - so getting on a bit - the shelter have hadhim for about 8 months because he keeps getting overlooked as peoplewant younger cats so I'm feeling really sorry for him and want to givehim the chance of another home, the shelter think in his oldhome he had contact with numerous other cats but he's scared of dogsand I doubt he's ever been in contact with a rabbit. He doeslike to chase things and plays with a big catnip mouseregularly. The cat has claws and he's not the most friendlycat - probably due to his bad experiences with humans he does seem todistrust us and be a bit bad tempered at times but I think he's lovelyanyway.

I would never leave them in the house together unsupervised - duringthe day when i'm at work the rabbits live in a large fully enclosed runin the garden and the cat would be free to come in and out via acatflap. Wehn i'm home the rabbits have access to three roomsand can run freely between them.

 

[mygrl2k3]

Is this a no kill shelter? If you takethe cat would they take him back? If its a no kill shelterthen I would say its worth a try.. Meaning if you really had to youcould give him back and he wouldnt be any worse of a sitation that heis now. I of course don't mean send him back at thefirst sign of trouble just if its really wont work and you don't thinkyou could keep him.

!2 years is kind of old, but I have a 15 year old cat, and she is justnow showing signs of old age.. Mostly she is picky, won't eat dryfood. Good luck with your decision and of course wewant pictures if you get him.

Cristy