Can Cats Kill Rabbits?
Cats and rabbits can generally live peacefully together in the same household; however, cats are predators and can pose a serious risk if left unsupervised with a rabbit. It is not uncommon for cats to kill and eat small animals like these, so it is important to take proper safety precautions to prevent any harm befalling your rabbit.
Understanding Cat Predators
Cats are instinctively hard-wired to hunt and catch small prey, even when they are well-fed pets. Even friendly house cats have the potential to become predators, and attacks on small animals such as rabbits can be common.
Risk Factors
Rabbits pose a greater risk of being attacked and killed by cats if they are:
- Unsupervised – Keeping cats and rabbits separated when you are not present can reduce the risk of attack.
- Corner Areas: Keeping rabbits out of corner areas is important as cats may often stalk them there.
- Incompatible Cats: Cats that are naturally aggressive, poorly socialized, or overly- excited can be a risk when present around a small animal like a rabbit.
Safety Precautions
There are various steps you can take to help keep your rabbits safe from your cats:
- Separate Them: Ensuring your pets remain separated is key when you are unable to watch them. Provide separate living quarters or a secure caging system for your rabbits when cats are around.
- Neuter Your Cats: Neutering cats can greatly reduce their hunting instinct, and can make them more suitable for cohabiting with rabbits.
- Train Your Cats: Training your cat to accept the presence of a rabbit can help make coexistence possible.
- Avoid Unfamiliar Cats: Unfamiliar cats can become aggressive when in the presence of a rabbit, and should always be avoided.
Overall, cats and rabbits can often live together in harmony, but it is important to practice the right precautions. Monitoring or separating the two when you are not present, and making sure all cats present are neutered can help minimize the risk of attack.
