Cats and rabbits:

While this might sound a little scary, bringing home a rabbit can actually be a good idea. In fact, rabbits often make great companions for cats, though they may establish a somewhat peculiar relationship. Cats and rabbits can get along well, playing together, chasing each other, and even grooming one another. Furthermore, they are not likely to develop any sort of rivalry since they recognize each other as different species, eliminating at the same time your cat's territorial behavior and any feelings of insecurity when another animal comes into what he defines as his territory.

Experts that the best type of rabbit to serve as a companion for your cat is one who is half-grown, mature, and of a medium to large sized breed. A rabbit any smaller may trigger your cat's natural prey instincts. Additionally, your rabbit must be housetrained in order for him to be able to live outside of his cage all the time. Make sure you devote some time to properly house-training your rabbit.

When the new rabbit arrives home, keep it locked in a cage or crate. Let your cat approach the crate, smell the rabbit, and become familiar with it. Your rabbit will also begin to become used to seeing the cat around without trying to jump on him. If your cat seems to get along fine with your rabbit while still caged, keep things as they are for about a week. During this period of time, be sure to occasionally confine your cat to a room so that your rabbit can be let out of the crate and allowed to freely roam the house. Once both animals have had successful encounters behind bars, you can try setting your rabbit free. Be sure to keep an eye on them for a couple of weeks until you feel that both have eliminated all barriers to establishing a great and positive relationship.

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