MaxAndMolly
Young Bun
Hi. Advice please on risk from predators.
Our two have been with us for three years now. We try to give them free runs in the garden at least once a day, for as long as we can semi-supervise them. But in the last couple of months we seem to have gained two cats in the neighbourhood who are showing too much interest in them. Both have shown signs of actively stalking them. We’ve had to chase them away a fair few times. Twice we’ve caught one of them sitting on the run / hutch when they’re locked away, just watching them up close. And when they’re out, sadly our two are too tame and trusting to seem that bothered. They go ‘on alert’ a bit. But we’ve found them sitting as little as 8 feet from one of the cats at least twice.
Now, as if the cats weren’t enough, red kites seem to have reached Guildford, and one was swooping over our garden for an hour yesterday. Again, the rabbits seemed unaware, and I had to put them away. (The kite was completely unbothered by our presence, staying close overhead even when we all went out).
We already know that we can’t take risks. However, the rabbits have to continue to have free runs, even if they have to be more closely supervised. So, I guess, the only real question is, in those moments when our backs are turned, how much of a risk does the RU Community think either cats or kites actually are to rabbits? Are they in daily mortal danger, or would it be a rare occurrence for either predator to actually strike? Also, even though we see Max and Molly as horribly tame and unstreetwise, would they prove to be faster to run / better equipped to defend themselves than we assume?
All advice and insights welcome.
Thanks,
Family of Max and Molly
Our two have been with us for three years now. We try to give them free runs in the garden at least once a day, for as long as we can semi-supervise them. But in the last couple of months we seem to have gained two cats in the neighbourhood who are showing too much interest in them. Both have shown signs of actively stalking them. We’ve had to chase them away a fair few times. Twice we’ve caught one of them sitting on the run / hutch when they’re locked away, just watching them up close. And when they’re out, sadly our two are too tame and trusting to seem that bothered. They go ‘on alert’ a bit. But we’ve found them sitting as little as 8 feet from one of the cats at least twice.
Now, as if the cats weren’t enough, red kites seem to have reached Guildford, and one was swooping over our garden for an hour yesterday. Again, the rabbits seemed unaware, and I had to put them away. (The kite was completely unbothered by our presence, staying close overhead even when we all went out).
We already know that we can’t take risks. However, the rabbits have to continue to have free runs, even if they have to be more closely supervised. So, I guess, the only real question is, in those moments when our backs are turned, how much of a risk does the RU Community think either cats or kites actually are to rabbits? Are they in daily mortal danger, or would it be a rare occurrence for either predator to actually strike? Also, even though we see Max and Molly as horribly tame and unstreetwise, would they prove to be faster to run / better equipped to defend themselves than we assume?
All advice and insights welcome.
Thanks,
Family of Max and Molly