AIBU / irrational? Or is DH right?

[SandunesAndRainclouds]

Our lovely pet rabbit was killed overnight. We are assuming fox but can't work out how it got in or out of the run.

We also have 2 cats - they have a cat flap which is always open and they are free to come and go as they please. I want to keep them in at night now, just to be on the safe side. DH thinks it's unnecessary and they will be fine.

We back onto fields which are being built on as a large housing estate so I wouldn't be surprised if fox dens are being disturbed and other wildlife are not living there as prey so they obviously look for food elsewhere.

AIBU / irrational to keep them in? Or am I over reacting?!

A fox would have taken the rabbit out. Possibly mink? Rats?

We have a fox who regularly visits our garden. He and the cats completely ignore each other - although they do give evils if one gets to the best spot under the damson tree first

@SandunesAndRainclouds

If it was m25 killer there would probably be part(s) missing and it would be a clean wound.

He has been known to attack rabbits. If you do think it matches you can inform them.

I've seen a very healthy looking fox in the fields behind this afternoon, so with their habitat being displaced by the new housing estate I wouldn't be surprised if they're taking out domestic pets.

Bunny was a big lad too, same size as our cats almost! Really beautifully marked brown and white with the softest of ears 😢

Our neighbour's dogs have been going crazy in the garden over the last couple of days, wouldn't be surprised if they scared it off which is why it didn't take it all. Not a very nice sight, and not one I'll forget. I won't be getting another bunny, I couldn't go through this again.

My friend had a fox get into her chickens, it decapitated all of them but didn't eat them.

Whatever it was didn't leave any mess behind other than the body. There's some small marks on one side of the run where the wire was covered with plastic (to keep the run dry) but that's it.

Poor bunny

@toomanycats99 there's no evidence of a person being in our garden. The gate is locked and wouldn't be easy to get over, the back is barbed wire then lots and lots of bushes / shrubs etc which are all in tact. You wouldn't know how to get to the back of the houses here unless you were local so I doubt very much it was a person.

Id keep them in at night.
We made our elderly cat an indoor cat ( now all ours are indoor) he adapted very well.

At least I hope we haven't had an intruder

Cats are mainly in and asleep at night anyway, but I think for now I'll keep them in and see how they are. They will soon let me know if they're not happy!