melanietal
New Kit
Hi all,
We have 3 new rex bunnies (12-13 weeks old) and are keeping them in an outdoor hutch. We have a neighborhood cat (who we just recently-- about a month ago--found does have an owner)...for the last 3 years we have been feeding him on the back porch and playing with. He is a curious fellow and was like our pet without actually being a pet before we got the bunnies. He comes over every morning and evening for food and playing with the kids. Well, since we have gotten the bunnies I have been very stressed about the cat coming over. I lost a bunny to a cat attack when I was a kid so it is still an old trauma for me. The bunny I lost as a kid was free range though- going all around the backyard. Our present bunnies are in their outdoor cage and get supervised playtime with us 2 times a day in the playpen in the backyard. The first day or two the cat just sort of looked with curiosity at the bunnies from a distance. Then on day 3 he came close to the cage and was just watching. Day 4 he was crouching low by the age watching (looking a little hunter-ish) and yesterday he was watching from a distance and then slinked low in the grass and sort of ran close to our enclosed playpen. Today, he is waiting for food and I have not been feeding him anymore because he is feeling like a threat. They are safe in their cage but it still makes me uncomfortable. What should I do? Feeling very stressed here and torn because this was our "friendly" cat for 3 years and now we have our bunnies and never want them to feel threatened or have a chance at getting hurt.
We have 3 new rex bunnies (12-13 weeks old) and are keeping them in an outdoor hutch. We have a neighborhood cat (who we just recently-- about a month ago--found does have an owner)...for the last 3 years we have been feeding him on the back porch and playing with. He is a curious fellow and was like our pet without actually being a pet before we got the bunnies. He comes over every morning and evening for food and playing with the kids. Well, since we have gotten the bunnies I have been very stressed about the cat coming over. I lost a bunny to a cat attack when I was a kid so it is still an old trauma for me. The bunny I lost as a kid was free range though- going all around the backyard. Our present bunnies are in their outdoor cage and get supervised playtime with us 2 times a day in the playpen in the backyard. The first day or two the cat just sort of looked with curiosity at the bunnies from a distance. Then on day 3 he came close to the cage and was just watching. Day 4 he was crouching low by the age watching (looking a little hunter-ish) and yesterday he was watching from a distance and then slinked low in the grass and sort of ran close to our enclosed playpen. Today, he is waiting for food and I have not been feeding him anymore because he is feeling like a threat. They are safe in their cage but it still makes me uncomfortable. What should I do? Feeling very stressed here and torn because this was our "friendly" cat for 3 years and now we have our bunnies and never want them to feel threatened or have a chance at getting hurt.