Please Help (rabbit traumatized by cat, will he be ok?)

[namehere]

I feel completely and utterly terrible. I have recently adopted a new rabbit around a week ago. He’s still been shy but has been making progress. I let him roam the upstairs sometimes while making sure my cat and dog stay downstairs. I don’t know what I was thinking today and left my door open for my rabbit to explore. My cat rarely comes upstairs and usually makes noise so I am aware of his presence. I thought he wouldn’t come up here, I was stupid and naive. Suddenly a few minutes later I hear lots of noise. My cat is chasing the rabbit.

I rush into the room and immediately put my cat up to where he cannot get out, I do the same with the dog even when she wasn’t involved. The rabbit hides under the couch until I get him out, and check him over for injuries. I see nothing until I look at his back left foot, blood. I thought it was a scratch until I look closer, and it seems his nail ripped off. Which from my search is better than a cat scratch but still bad.

I read to apply pressure with a wet cloth and do so, and then leave him in his enclosure safely so he can calm down.

I feel like a horrible and stupid person. I know I messed up. All his progress has probably been reversed, and what if he is forever traumatized because of my stupidity? And his nail must hurt so bad. I just need advice in the current moment. How to help his nail mainly, and how to make him feel better and safe again.

We weren’t that close before this but I know it’s been reverted even more so now. Will he be okay? Or will he now forever be scarred by this?

Do I need to find a better home for him? Someone else that could better look after him? I will never let this occur again, but this has already happened. I am at a loss for what to do overall. Someone please just help me.

 

[namehere]

I noticed a place on his chest of fur out of place. He won’t let me get close but I don’t think it’s blood, but am still very worried. He’s begun hopping around and exploring more as well as grooming himself. Still does not really want to be around me, which I understand. Have not seen him eat or drink yet which I believe is worrisome. Still worried if that spot on his chest his something else. Other than being spooked though he seems okay. Even his toe seems alright. Still paranoid because I know that can quick contract diseases and such, will keep an eye on him for the rest of the night.

 

[Moonshadow]

When it comes to the nail, it will probably heal itself on its own. I’d personally be more worried about the chest fur and possible wounds underneath.

If you have someone with you in your home to help you, it would be good to try to get a closer look and make sure your bunny doesn’t have any open wounds. Wrap him in a towel and have one person hold him (on a flat surface) and another do an inspection. If you’re by yourself, maybe try to get him in a cat carrier (to look from the front if he doesn’t bite) or a open topped bin or box that’s fairly small with high walls so you can do a quick inspection without him jumping out getting away.

In the meantime, keep trying to push water and hay. A bunny that eats and drinks normally is one that isn’t in immediate danger.

If he’s alright overall, this experience probably won’t traumatize him for life. Bunnies usually adapt fairly well to environments but it may take some time and your bunny needs to know he has a safe area/zone thats his.

But make SURE that your cat and dog are completely blocked off from getting to your rabbit from now on. From this attack, your cat has already decided the bunny is “prey” so it’s unsafe to leave anything to chance and it’s better to be safe than sorry with the dog. Some cats and dogs get along fine with buns I but that’s if they haven’t already established the bunny is prey. Once a cat has that prey-predator dynamic idea, it’s practically impossible to change its mind.

My cat for example views rabbits as friends/playmates when she was young (played chase with my first bunny, Bandit). After playing she sleep on top of a chair and he’d lie on his side underneath the chair she was on top of. My cat’s about 18 now and views our new current bun as a young energetic annoyance to avoid (though he wants to play with her and keeps running up to her). Meanwhile she has always viewed mice as prey and still somehow finds and kills them (killed two last month). She’s an indoor cat and randomly finds them, we stop her, and try to let the wild mice go, but she always finds them again a month or two later.

 

[namehere]

When it comes to the nail, it will probably heal itself on its own. I’d personally be more worried about the chest fur and possible wounds underneath.

If you have someone with you in your home to help you, it would be good to try to get a closer look and make sure your bunny doesn’t have any open wounds. Wrap him in a towel and have one person hold him (on a flat surface) and another do an inspection. If you’re by yourself, maybe try to get him in a cat carrier (to look from the front if he doesn’t bite) or a open topped bin or box that’s fairly small with high walls so you can do a quick inspection without him jumping out getting away.

In the meantime, keep trying to push water and hay. A bunny that eats and drinks normally is one that isn’t in immediate danger.

If he’s alright overall, this experience probably won’t traumatize him for life. Bunnies usually adapt fairly well to environments but it may take some time and your bunny needs to know he has a safe area/zone thats his.

But make SURE that your cat and dog are completely blocked off from getting to your rabbit from now on. From this attack, your cat has already decided the bunny is “prey” so it’s unsafe to leave anything to chance and it’s better to be safe than sorry with the dog. Some cats and dogs get along fine with buns I but that’s if they haven’t already established the bunny is prey. Once a cat has that prey-predator dynamic idea, it’s practically impossible to change its mind.

My cat for example views rabbits as friends/playmates when she was young (played chase with my first bunny, Bandit). After playing she sleep on top of a chair and he’d lie on his side underneath the chair she was on top of. My cat’s about 18 now and views our new current bun as a young energetic annoyance to avoid (though he wants to play with her and keeps running up to her). Meanwhile she has always viewed mice as prey and still somehow finds and kills them (killed two last month). She’s an indoor cat and randomly finds them, we stop her, and try to let the wild mice go, but she always finds them again a month or two later.

I did my best to look at his chest, and from what I could currently tell there was no blood. I felt around and it didn’t seem to hurt him. He’s been hopping around fine, and i’ve been watching and neither his foot or chest look to be hurting him. He did also eat some pellets as well as drink water, possibly ate some hay. Now he’s sitting, I think he wants some sleep but is probably scared.

I’ll be watching him tonight to see if anything changes, but from what I know and have been told this is all good news so far. If nothing does change would you suggest still seeing a vet? I’m not sure when I could get him to one, but I could try if it’s needed for him.

Are there any other signs I still need to look out for that you know of? I know they can hide injuries and seem fine while something is wrong, I just don’t want to believe everything is alright too quickly, but he is getting annoyed with my hovering lookovers.

 

[JBun]

If there's any chance your cat made contact and could have bit or scratched your rabbit, a very thorough check over your whole rabbit is absolutely necessary. If you're unable to do this, I would urge having your rabbit checked by a knowledgeable rabbit vet, first thing tomorrow if at all possible. Cat scratches/bites can become infected and prove fatal to a rabbit very quickly, even the lightest of scratches can do this. So you just don't want to miss anything if it at all could have occurred.

Otherwise, it's just making sure your rabbit continues to eat, drink, and poop normally. And any odd changes of behavior like your rabbit suddenly becoming lethargic and not eating, would be a sign there could be something wrong and you would need to get your rabbit to an experienced rabbit vet immediately.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Veterinary_emergencies
https://rabbit.org/rabbits-and-cats/
https://rabbit.org/vet-listings/

 

[nicolekline97]

Unfortunately if you have an animal like a dog or a cat they may want to catch or play hard with the bunny and not think it is sweet, You may see dogs or cats in the moment seem to not care about a bunny/rabbit or appear to adore it but they just cannot be fully trusted and need to be separated. We use gates to help keep the larger animals out of the rabbit space. We keep the rabbit in her crate or supervised by an adult or responsible child. Accidents happen but just try to prevent them.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

Cats tend to carry disease. Any tiny scratch, no matter how small, is a vet emergency. Get the rabbit to the vet ASAP! Cats carry a bacteria ( Pasteurella multoceda) in their mouths and claws that cause serious infections. This bacteria is a natural flora on the cats body but can be deadly to other animals. I worked as a microbiologist in the past so please trust me and get your rabbit done help soon. Good luck!

 

[healersheart]

I’m so sorry that happened. It sounds like you are a great bunny mom; accidents happen sometimes. Have you tried introducing the cat and dog to your new bun? I would think the cat’s reaction was maybe a little more about something new and unfamiliar being in the house; maybe if he was desensitized to the bunny, it would be safer than having to be so diligent in keeping them apart. We spent about three weeks slowly getting our dogs used to the bunny so that now they basically ignore each other except when everyone is on the couch together, and then the dogs let the bunny crawl on them and cuddle.

 

[kirstmac1980]

I feel completely and utterly terrible. I have recently adopted a new rabbit around a week ago. He’s still been shy but has been making progress. I let him roam the upstairs sometimes while making sure my cat and dog stay downstairs. I don’t know what I was thinking today and left my door open for my rabbit to explore. My cat rarely comes upstairs and usually makes noise so I am aware of his presence. I thought he wouldn’t come up here, I was stupid and naive. Suddenly a few minutes later I hear lots of noise. My cat is chasing the rabbit.

I rush into the room and immediately put my cat up to where he cannot get out, I do the same with the dog even when she wasn’t involved. The rabbit hides under the couch until I get him out, and check him over for injuries. I see nothing until I look at his back left foot, blood. I thought it was a scratch until I look closer, and it seems his nail ripped off. Which from my search is better than a cat scratch but still bad.

I read to apply pressure with a wet cloth and do so, and then leave him in his enclosure safely so he can calm down.

I feel like a horrible and stupid person. I know I messed up. All his progress has probably been reversed, and what if he is forever traumatized because of my stupidity? And his nail must hurt so bad. I just need advice in the current moment. How to help his nail mainly, and how to make him feel better and safe again.

We weren’t that close before this but I know it’s been reverted even more so now. Will he be okay? Or will he now forever be scarred by this?

Do I need to find a better home for him? Someone else that could better look after him? I will never let this occur again, but this has already happened. I am at a loss for what to do overall. Someone please just help me.

I really hope your rabbit is OK. My family rabbit sadly and suddenly passed away earlier this month. He was only 3. And the vet said it was his heart. Sudden, like a heart-attack. We are absolutely heart-broken. I do not know for sure but my heart and head are telling me that a cat that we recently took in did it. Not intentionally, but I believe that it was just an instinct thing. Sadly it is just a fact of life. But I do not want Sam's death to be in vain and felt I had to write something to let people be aware... PLEASE DO NOT HAVE A CAT AND A RABBIT IN THE SAME HOUSE AT THE SAME TIME.( LOVE AND MISS YOU EVERYDAY,SAM.XX)