• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.
  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Baby Rabbit Brought in by Cat

I need some help. I'd like to know if what I'm feeding this bunny is ok? This is totally unexpected. I usually let the cats outside to play. To my surprise, one of our cats brought in a baby rabbit. It is very small and can fit in the palm of my hand. I tried finding the rabbit nest and mother and nothing. I left the baby bunny in the backyard for over an hour in the chilly wind, but no other bunnies revealed themselves. I brought it because it looked cold, hungry and tired and now housed it in our cat kennel. A relative who happens to live nearby and own a 3yrs rabbit themselves gave me some hay and a bit of pellets. So I gave the baby that along with a water, grapes and I contructed a makeshift litter box. I tried to feed it with a nursing bottle KMR (kitty replacement milk) but the little ****** won't take the bottle. I just came back from the market and bought baby spinach, alfalfa and oats after someone giving me tips.

If anyone have any tips, advices, do's and don't's, please let me know.
 
Is there not an animal sanctuary/rescue nearby who could either give you advice or take the wee baby?I could be wrong but it sounds like it is too wee for bigger food.Where do you live,area wise?
 
Last edited:
Oh my! Is there no rescues around your area you could take it to? Can't you pop out to the pet shop and buy a play pen with a cover to keep it in so your cats cannot harm it in any way? Can you nip out and buy bunny mix to feed it, too?

Post pics then maybe we could help some more :roll:
 
WHere are you? There are lots of people that could take it. Do you have rabbits of your own? It may need some milk if it is still small, or a small amount of hay or grass if it is older. A rescue centre is the best idea though.

- if it is eating the things you are giving it and it is pooping then it should be ok :)
 
Last edited:
Are you in the UK or the US?

How old is the baby? Are it's eyes open/is it fully furred, how big is it?

Depending on it's age it may nolonger be drinking milk, if it is it won't know what a bottle is so it takes some practice to get them to use it. If it's older than 3 weeks it can drink from a bowl.

Foodwise, just give it fresh grass plus hay if you have any. It won't be used to veg/fruit/rabbit food so they may upset its tummy.

Keep it in a secure box (they can jump) and see if you can get hold of a wildlife rescue.

Tamsin
 
I just noticed ****** covered up the word b-u-g-g-e-r. Is that a bad word in the UK? I'm in Canada, Winnipeg to be exact. Never owned had rabbits before and this was probably the last thing I have ever expected. Anyhow, we named the critter "Lucky" since we don't know if it's a boy or girl. How can I tell? I think Lucky is fully furred, eyes wide open and a little bit over the size of a credit card and there is quite a bit of droppings from the food that we gave it. Do I just pick the grass from my backyard or front lawn? Will that do?
 
I just noticed ****** covered up the word b-u-g-g-e-r. Is that a bad word in the UK? I'm in Canada, Winnipeg to be exact. Never owned had rabbits before and this was probably the last thing I have ever expected. Anyhow, we named the critter "Lucky" since we don't know if it's a boy or girl. How can I tell? I think Lucky is fully furred, eyes wide open and a little bit over the size of a credit card and there is quite a bit of droppings from the food that we gave it. Do I just pick the grass from my backyard or front lawn? Will that do?

:lol: yeah that word means something bad in this country!! *hint, it might happen to a person if they were in prison* :roll:

You won't be able to tell the sex yet it's not old enough. If it's fully furred and it's eyes open it's older than 3 weeks. Grass from the garden is fine, along with your hay. Introduce pellets slowly a few at a time and then get him to a rescue centre if you don't want to keep it.
I doubt it will be able to be released so will have to be kept as a pet now as they can't get reintegrated into their colonies once they've left.

If it stops pooping it needs to go to the vet, but it sounds like its doing well. Just make sure it eats plenty of hay and gets water and poos and wees :)

- it may still want milk, but will probably take it warm from a bowl now, or a syringe if you can manage it, although it will probably end up going up it's nose! :lol:
 
Last edited:
Yes, that word is likely to be bleeped!!

Hay, grass and the odd dandelion leaf, plus fresh water will do until someone with more experience with babies gives you more info.

Good luck with your rescued littl'un
x
 
You could also maybe put a wee teddy or toy in with Lucky as he/she will be missing all her brothers and sisters,she will probably cuddle into it,just watch she/he doesn't chew it.Wee soul.
 
Thanks for all your tips and help.:D I feel a bit relieved now after comments that my bunny shows signs of good health. However, I do still plan on taking it to the vet. I'm pretty sure Lucky is staying since my mom said it was ok and I have a soft spot for animals. I hope soon, I can get a real bunny pen so Lucky can live more comfy
 
Is it a Cottontail rabbit? If so I don't recommend keeping it as a pet. Although it probably seems okay now it's very small and still scared from being caught. Cottontails are a different species to domestic rabbits (domestic rabbits are the same species as European Wild rabbits). Cottontails do not make good captive pets.

Tamsin
 
Hello :wave:

I would just feed the little one lots and lots of hay, fresh grass and the odd dandelion and would stay away from all the other veggies at the mo while he/she is so young as they may upset his /her tum. Young rabbits are very prone to mucoid enteritis which is a killer in baby buns and is brought about by a change in diet, stress etc.

How is the little one today?

Best wishes,

Nicola and Harvey xxx
 
If it's a wild rabbit, any vet clinic has a free obligation to take care of it, you don't have to pay anything, just drop off the bun.

Since you have no experience in feeding a bun, the best bet is to drop it off to a vet. If you have time, call around first, a vet hospital has "exotic pet specialist" that knows a lot about bunny than a regular clinic. A vet doesn't know every type of animal, rabbit are contemporary animal, only vet who attend exotic pet training knows how to deal with it.

In short, you want to drop the bun off to a vet hospital, which should have at least 1 specialist on rabbit vs. a regular size clinic, who may not have a specialist on board.
 
Back
Top