Cats and Rabbits/Guinea Pigs

[JaffaSnaffle]

I am in the preliminary stages of considering getting a pair of rabbits or guinea pigs, however, we have a cat.

My daughter loves rabbits and has done since she was very small. However, I was reading with interest other posts about rabbits being reluctant to be handled and would also consider guinea pigs. My daughter is very young, (3.5), but her interest is not a passing phase. Her pre-school has 2 guinea pigs, and she loves them very much. Over the last year, staff at the preschool have commented on how good she is with them, both in terms of being gentle and caring for them/feeding them etc. I know that she would be good with them, and I am prepared for the work involved.

The complicating factor is that we have a cat. She is 10 years old, has slowed down considerably recently, but in her youth was a fearsome predator. She has caught a few wild rabbits, although not for many years. I cannot help but think that the combination may be a recipe for disaster.

Has anyone experience of cats with pet rabbits or guinea pigs that could offer any guidance please? I do not want to have the rabbits stressed by the cat, and I most certainly do not want a situation where they are killed. Am I being silly to consider them as pets?

Given the age of your DD I would not get rabbits. Guinea Pigs are much more interactive and love to be held on laps (rabbits don't). If you can, go to a rescue and adopt a pair of piggies. They probably won't be babies but this will make them easier to handle.

As for the cat, so long as it can't get to the pigs it should be fine. My pigs are often out in their run being watched by neighbouring cats and they don't bother about them. If anything they are quite curious about cats. My rabbit, however, is well aware of the danger and thumps like mad (at most cats - he likes one particular cat and seems to want to play with her ).

Slightly different as had the rabbits first but we have two cats and two outdoor rabbits.
We got the cats as kittens and as we have fairly large rabbits the kittens were scared of them.
The rabbits definitely show the cats who's boss and they leave each other alone.
Growing up we always had a cat, rabbit(s) and guinea pigs. The cat hated the rabbits but wasn't very interested in the guinea pigs. Wouldn't have left them unattended together but apart from that were fine.

I know some of you do have cats and guineas and it works...possibly better if guineas were in situ first?

But i wouldn't risk it, it really doesnt seem kind especially for house guineas who may be very fearful and stressed out by having a predator at close range for all the reasons fluffy says above.

sorry but i really dont get cats at all!

My mum had house guineas and her indoor cat ( Ragdoll) never took any notice of them at all .The cat was resident first and does chase toys / spiders etc . I would also steer clear of rabbits with small children .

We've had cats (young hunters who do kill wild rabbits), rabbits and guinea pigs, all together, for years. Cats and guinea pigs have always been absolutely fine, the guinea pigs don't seem to move fast enough to interest a cat. Cats can go in guinea pig pen without any stress or problem. Our cats and rabbit were OK together, but the rabbit was big and opinionated, in fact he was hard work and we rehomed him and I would also recommend guinea pigs over rabbits, they are 10 times easier.

Next door's dog has killed 2 of our guinea pigs, over 2 raids, and still tries to get to them now, so clearly dogs and guinea pigs are not a good idea (we have forgiven the dog cos we like dogs and it's just being doggish). but cats and guinea pigs seem fine, though we have a daily clearance of small birds/shrews/mice and the odd wild baby rabbit, the products of our 3 young cats, they don't go near the pigs.

I would make sure that guinea pigs were in a secure run when out and any cages and hutches are well secured, my three cats are very interested in them and would definitely have a go at them if they got the chance. The guinea pigs are definitely not bothered by them sitting by the run though. My rabbits on the other hand will come and rub heads with one of the cats through the run and are not at all afraid of them and the cats have never tried to hurt them. I would definitely go for guinea pigs for small children though, they are much more cuddly and easier to handle.

Thank you all for your posts. I am nowhere near to making a decision as to whether to get guinea pigs or rabbits, but yesterday we went to the animal rescue centre near us, and I had a good conversation with the lady there about what it would all involve. I am going to think about it for a while, and all your comments have been very helpful.