Rabbit advice!

[JoandMax]

Hi

We have acquired a rabbit today at short notice, weren't planning on it but she's here and we want to do our best for her.

She's always been kept outside and has access to a big enclosure if she wants (not in UK and it's lovely and warm all night) but isn't ever shut in. She's big, the size of an average cat and around 6 years old.

I've stocked up on hay for her enclosure, leafy veg, carrots and apples.

Main area of advice is we have a cat, quite a territorial one! What's the best way to introduce them? I want them to be able to be out in the garden at the same time, the rabbit has come from a house with cats and they never bothered each other apparently. Am I being naive in thinking they'll live happily alongside each other?!

Any other essential advice for a rabbit is gratefully received too x

We got our rabbit later than our cats and they have just accepted him as one of "ours" rather than prey, iyswim. What did help was that our rabbit lived in his hutch with attached large run initially, so when he was new and unfamiliar they couldn't get to him, and now he has his hutch plus free run of the garden, they are completely used to him. The female cat is a little scared of him, and I have seen the male cat swipe him once or twice if he gets too close, but never any fighting. The rabbit has no fear of them at all!

See if you can litter train her if she isn't already: our bunny uses a litter tray in his hutch and a flowerbed when he's out and about, and it helps enormously that he's not leaving little gifts everywhere

Thanks that's good to know they can live in harmony.

I think I'll keep the rabbit in her cage then when they're both out for now, I'd hate for anything to happen to her!

Can you not get her a run?

We might build a run, nothing available in shops here. Ideally they'll get along though as she's been used to having full access to a garden for years

Don't give her many carrots or apples as they're both high in sugar. Best sticking to green stuff.

Welcome to the world of bunny owning! Bunnies should have a companion, RSPCA guidelines say not to have them on their own as they become depressed, could you look into rescuing another bun? If you takes yours along to a rescue centre they will usually bond them for you too so you take home a suitable neutered boy bunny. As for runs my set up is attached, I have 2 runs from amazon (£50 each) and some builders flexible pipe from B&Q to join them, they have full access to this all the time, their hutch and a smaller run is attached under the roof area. Bunnies also need lots of areas to hide, 80% of their diet should be hay, you can pick brambles, cow parsley, roses etc to feed her rather than buying veggies and they should have pellets not museli, hope that helps!

That's a great run!!!

We've had a good few days with her, she's eating and drinking well and happily hopping around the garden. The cat seems to be fairly unfazed...... They've had a good sniff of each other and lots of time outside together while I'm there so looks like a friendship may have formed!!

There's no B&Q equivalent here and we can't get Amazon but DH is going to go and see what he can find this weekend from local places and maybe make something up if needed.

I didn't realize that about them being depressed, she's been alone the last few years but will keep an eye for any options. Unfortunately this time of year so many people are leaving so there's always pets left behind.........

Here's some pictures of her, she's gorgeous!