Is this unusual?

[LumLumPop]

I have a dutch rabbit named Meriweather Lewis. The odd thing about him is who he bonded with. Every time I try to bond him with Clark they try to attack each other so now I'm waiting a few months since they were recently fixed to reintroduce them. The odd thing is that Lewis has become best friends with my sisters 9 week old kitten Tommy! I think it's adorable but I'm also worried because Tommy likes to play. I'm worried that he might hurt Lewis! I know their spines are fragile so I'm worried that Tommy might accidentally hurt his best friend one day. Should I separate them? I really don't want to,they're so adorable together!

 

[kaosu]

My angora loves to wrestle and lay with the cats!...but Titan is 7+ lbs ..and larger than most the cats.

 

[JBun]

The biggest thing you need to be concerned about with cats and rabbits, is bites and scratches from the kitten. They can become infected and cause serious harm to a rabbit. But there are many people on here with cats and rabbits that have relationships.

 

[whitelop]

One of my cats and my rabbit have a relationship. LOL (Jenny, I liked the way you put that, it made me laugh.)
Anyway, my cat Smokey is like 14 lbs of crazy. Ellie is like 4 lbs of wacko. They love each other. Smokey lays in the floor in the kitchen and Ellie runs around her. Smokey, halfheartedly puts a paw out towards Ellie as she runs passed her. Then Ellie comes and puts her head under Smokey's face to be groomed, Smokey grooms her. Then Ellie grooms Smokey back. Its really cute to see. Ellie doesn't have that relationship with the other cats. The other cats tolerate her, but they don't love on her like Smokey does.
Ellie has been known to pull cat fur to make a nest though, so maybe thats why the other cats don't like her as much as Smokey.
Also, Ellie and my oldest cat fight over a box all the time. The cat thinks its hers and it was really for Ellie, but how do you say no to a 13 year old cat? I don't, so when she gets out Ellie gets in and digs. haha.

Like Jenny said though, you'll want to watch out for the cat scratching and biting your bun. Cats carry some nasty bacteria in their mouths and under their claws. Also, sometimes rabbits lose eyes to cat scratches. (I think Shya?) And sometimes the wounds get so infected that the rabbits don't make it. Or the rabbits contract something from the cats claws or mouth and that kills them. Not to totally scare you, but there is risk when you have cats and rabbits together. I would always monitor them when they're playing. Maybe you could help teach the kitten to not play so rough.

 

[LumLumPop]

Maybe you could help teach the kitten to not play so rough.

I do monitor them playing and frequently cut Tommy's nails. As for teaching him? Idk so far he's turned out to be as dumb as his foster Dad

 

[kmaben]

Yep Shya lost an eye to a cat scratch. He just stuck his paw out there to keep her away from him. He barely had his claws extended and kablamo freak accident right to the eye. We were standing right there too. Almost 1000 dollars later I have a one eyed rabbit with a grudge of epic proportions.

That's just one story. Some people have rabbits that were scratched by a cat and died a week later even with vet intervention. Others have rabbits that bonded with cats until the day one of them died of old age. People will get on here and tell you DONT DO IT. Others will be like eh it's fine.

Just know that it's possible. Be vigilant. Maybe get the cat declawed.

 

[LumLumPop]

Maybe get the cat declawed.

We're the no-declawing type of family XD our cats go outside occasionally when the weather is really nice so we feel they be at a disadvantage if we declawed them. I'm hoping his playfulness will ebb as he gets older? He's just a kitten right now.

 

[whitelop]

I think once you get the cat neutered, he'll get fat and probably calm down. My barn cat sure did, he went from being a lanky thing to looking like he's pregnant all the time! hahah. Yes, he's a HE and he's just FAT.
I don't have any of my cats declawed either because they spend a lot of time outside. Sometimes I wish they were declawed though, it would be easier on my furniture and they give the best back rubs when they're declawed! haha.

 

[LumLumPop]

Oh I bet! My favorite cat Charlie,we always joke that he walks on his toes or that he wears high heels! For some reason he can't retract his claws so everwhere he goes you hear 'click,click'

 

[missyscove]

Please dont declaw your cat!

Cat scratches and cat bites are serious for any species, including humans! I wouldn't allow any unsupervised interactions between the rabbit and the cat, and even with supervision I'd limit it.

 

[LumLumPop]

Please dont declaw your cat!

Cat scratches and cat bites are serious for any species, including humans! I wouldn't allow any unsupervised interactions between the rabbit and the cat, and even with supervision I'd limit it.

I promise I never will!

I'll take your advice and limit their interactions for 3-4 days and see how they react. I will update on how they react without being together. I'm a little hesitant because they grew up the past few months together so they're are very close and as of now Lewis is having an identity crisis and thinks he is a cat.

 

[LumLumPop]

Please dont declaw your cat!

Cat scratches and cat bites are serious for any species, including humans! I wouldn't allow any unsupervised interactions between the rabbit and the cat, and even with supervision I'd limit it.

I did separate them for a few days like I said I would,but they both got stressed out. So we kinda compromised and for maybe 45min-hour Lewis is in a cage with wider space between the bars so they can interact with each other but Tommy can't play fight with him. Do you think this will be okay until my hormonal cat can calm down?

 

[LumLumPop]

Sad news everyone...

Lewis has reached that age where he attempts to mate with everything near his size. This includes Tommy...so unfortunately the two "brothers" have to be separate because Tommy may bite or scratch Lewis because Lewis is biting him. I'm very sad to see these to separate,hopefully I can some day convince my Dad to neuter Lewis.

For now Lewis is content with his pink fluffy bunny "girlfriend" and Tommy is very close to Clark who loves all the attention. S both are happy but I'm still a little sad that they had to be separated...