- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
If you’ve only ever had cats but want a rabbit, you’re likely wondering if these two pets can share a home and get along? While cute and cuddly, cats are still predators, and rabbits are prey, so are the odds immediately stacked against this interspecies pairing becoming best buds? Not necessarily. “Many cats and rabbits get along well, but the most important thing to remember is that ‘unlikely friends’ videos and Instagram accounts are not the norm,” explains Emily and Lizzy Cassell, rabbit behavior specialists and founders of Empowered Animals Behavior and Training, LLC.
Driven by their strong and distinctive personalities, Haley Selen, a Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist, says that a cat and rabbit’s relationship runs on a spectrum ranging from friends to frenemies, where an especially predatory cat will actively hunt the bunny or a territorial rabbit will aggressively target the cat.
Read on as we explore how to set your cat and rabbit up for success by sharing valuable tips about how to introduce a rabbit to a cat, what’s the safest approach to introducing them, and what caregivers can realistically expect from a cat and rabbit relationship.
Can Cats & Rabbits Share a Home?
Generally, the Casells said the best way to keep rabbits and cats safe is to ensure they each have spaces where they can get away from each other. “Rabbits can be free-roam, just like cats, so they can interact in common areas but should be able to retreat to their own spaces without the pursuit of the other,” they add.
For both animals to experience the least amount of stress, fear, and frustration possible, rabbits should have an X-pen or room that is off-limits to the cat, and the cat should have an area that the rabbit can’t reach.
While cats and rabbits share many similar behaviors, including their love of grooming, routines, and pets, ultimately, one is a predator and the other prey. Domestication has reduced some of the predatory behavioral patterns in cats; however, the Cassells said, “No matter how friendly they seem, it is always possible for an accident to happen.”
Finally, the Cassells said it’s crucial to always supervise cats and rabbits when they have access to each other, and any time a human isn’t around to watch them, they should be kept separate with a solid door between them, not a baby gate or playpen that can be scaled easily.
How To Introduce Cats & Rabbits
Remember: cat/rabbit introductions require close supervision, no matter how friendly either animal is. Overall, the safest approach and process for reducing stress for cats and rabbits while introducing them is to go slowly and patiently. Every animal is an individual with their own personality; there’s no single timeline, and the introduction process could range from a few days to even months.
Below, our experts discuss tips for a successful kitty-bunny meeting.
Take it slow
Selen and Molly DeVoss, a Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist and founder of Cat Behavior Solutions, suggest starting with the same slow introduction process for cat-to-cat introductions.
This means keeping the rabbit in a separate room and gradually exposing the two in a shared space while rewarding good, calm behavior. For cats, DeVoss encourages pet parents to choose a special treat to motivate them to go beyond their comfort zone when it comes to rabbits.
Establish safe spaces
The Cassells recommend starting introductions in a neutral territory space where both animals can get away from each other if needed. While you might already know how to set up a cat-safe room, rabbits need one too. Garages, attics, and spaces without proper insulation are not suitable for rabbit rooms because they’re very sensitive to temperature. Heatstroke can be fatal for rabbits; they can get it from even mild 85F temperatures.
With that in mind, here’s some essentials to set up a rabbit room.
- A hutch, Wendy house, rabbit condo, or playhouse for your rabbit to sleep and relax in and retreat to if they need space
- Comfortable, dry, and clean bedding like soft straw, newspaper, or wood-based pellets
- Soft, malleable flooring like nonslip cotton mats or short fiber rugs with rubber backing; wood, tile, or linoleum flooring doesn’t provide enough support or traction for your rabbit’s feet and can cause problems with their joints
- An exercise area, such as a large X-pen
- A litter tray or litterbox with rabbit-safe litter
- A hay rack, food bowls, and at least one water bowl per rabbit
- Toys and enrichment like cardboard boxes, willow balls, fabric tunnels, snuffle mat food puzzles, stacking cup or key ring baby toys, and containers or litter trays filled with hay, shredded paper, or rags for your rabbit to dig in
Get the right gear
DeVoss and Selen suggest starting with supervised visual introductions with a solid barrier that neither animal can jump over. Watch your rabbit’s and cat’s body language; end the session if either display stress or predatory behaviors. If the rabbit freezes or flees, it could trigger and reinforce a cat’s predatory behavior.
Beyond a visual barrier, the other essential gear for introducing a cat and rabbit is a leash and harness. If both animals are relaxed and curious when they approach the barrier and the cat watches the rabbit move around without stalking or attempting to chase them, you can remove the barrier and put the cat in a harness with a leash. Leashing your cat is better for their and the rabbit’s well-being.
While all of these precautions might seem superfluous, the alternative is confining one or both animals to a small crate or cage; confinement is incredibly stressful for cats and rabbits because they’re trapped and unable to hide or leave.
Lastly, Selen emphasizes that before moving on to this step in the introduction process, make sure your cat is comfortable in the harness. If they’re not, the harness can actually suppress behavior, and the cat could act totally differently around the rabbit once it’s removed.
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What Happens After a Successful Introduction?
If the introduction goes well, the cat and rabbit might enjoy spending time cuddling, napping together, and even grooming each other. However, be vigilant if they decide to play. The Cassells explain that because cat play resembles predatory behavior and rabbit play resembles predator avoidance, it may be more likely to escalate into rough play from the cat and lead to accidental injuries.
Ultimately, the Cassells said the final outcome of a successful introduction could look different for every cat and rabbit. “Both may be comfortable never sharing space, both may be comfortable with a barrier where they can see each other but not share space, both may be comfortable sharing space sometimes but not always, or both may be comfortable sharing space most of the time,” they explain. “All are successes!”
Cats & Rabbits Troubleshooting
Beyond predatory behavior from the cat, here are some other potential problems that can spring up in a cat and rabbit relationship.
Aggression, boxing, or biting
Armed with sharp teeth, claws, and strong legs, aggressive rabbits typically engage in boxing— swatting with their front paws— and biting behaviors that can seriously injure soft and sensitive areas like noses, lips, and eyes. Bunnies don’t just “snap,” though. Like cats, they are very expressive with their ears, tails, and bodies and give off ample warnings when they’re about to strike.
Look out for behaviors like:
- Growling
- Lunging
- Swatting
- Standing up on their hind legs
- Thumping or stomping hind legs
- Pinning ears back
The Cassells say unspayed and unneutered rabbits have higher instances of aggression. Instinctively, rabbits are going to defend their chosen territories from anyone, no matter the species. However, the Cassells say that even fixed bunnies can respond with aggressive behavior and resource guarding when they feel like a cat, another animal, or even a human is encroaching on their space.
For especially intense resource guarding and aggression, the Cassells recommend consulting a professional rabbit behavior specialist.
Disease
“The dangers that come with cats and rabbits living together are similar to that of any animals living together, with the most common concerns being transferring parasites and infectious diseases to one another,” said Dr. Paige Adams, a small animal veterinarian at Etowah Veterinary Hospital.
Fleas and ticks are the most common parasites from cats to rabbits or vice versa, so proper prevention is critical. Upper respiratory viruses are also highly contagious. For these reasons, pet parents should stay on top of getting their pets their recommended vaccines and other preventative care.
Dehydration and litterbox avoidance
While cats and rabbits can share water bowls and litterboxes, it often causes more harm than good. For one, Dr. Adams says sometimes bunnies are messy drinkers and prone to getting junk, like bits of hay and other materials, into water bowls. Meanwhile, cats prefer their drinking water to be very clean; this can make getting them to drink enough water challenging. Dr. Adams suggests keeping numerous water bowls and fountains around the house.
When it comes to litterboxes, Dr. Adams says to continue using this rule of thumb: have as many litterboxes as each cat and rabbit plus an extra. However, if the cat and rabbit share a litterbox, make sure the litter is safe for both species. Rabbits are more sensitive and can’t use clay, pine or cedar wood shavings, or scented litter.
Additionally, many cats are very particular about their litter box and how clean it is. If they’re stressed by the condition the rabbit leaves the litterbox, they may urinate or defecate outside of the litterbox. In most cases, it’s best to have separate litterboxes for each species.
