Getting a new pet is always a fun and exciting time, no matter how old you are and what animal you're introducing to the household. Yet when there are existing pets involved, the whole situation can get a little sticky and there are some rules that need to be followed in order to ensure a smooth transition for both animals.

House rabbits and cats are very different in many ways apart from one; they're both territorial. Unfortunately this can make introducing them both quite difficult, especially as the cat is the natural predator and if the cat is your existing pet it can be hard for them to accept the new addition, rather than just eat them! Don't despair, though, there is definitely a way for it to be done and if in the end they refuse to get on then the worst case scenario is that they each live in different rooms.

Firstly, if possible, teach your cat not to stalk inside the house. If they bring dead prey into the house take it straight outside and tell your cat (sternly) that outside is the place for killing. As a result, when the rabbit is introduced puss is less likely to think 'yum' and more likely to think 'that's another cat/human'.

Bring the new animal into the home in a cage or carry case, set them down on the floor in a quiet, calm room with your cat and just let the other party investigate the locked away pet for a while (perhaps one hour). Assess both of their reactions; is the cat very scared to approach the new bunny, or is bunny straight up to the bars and sniffing the new kitten's nose? If there is fighting going on then separate and in a stern tone, tell both parties off. Put them at opposite sides of the room and just keep trying until they get it right. Reward them with treats for friendly behaviour.

Let the existing pet have one night in their home while the new pet stays in a separate room or inside their cage. This lets both of them get used to the sounds and smells of each other in the house and get used to the idea of having another furry person around.

Over the next few days, allow both cat and rabbit to be introduced slowly. First take the new pet out and hold them, for the existing pet to investigate. The next day, put the new pet on the floor, but be ready to grab them if fighting starts. If either one hides for a long time, don't worry; they will return in their own time. Eventually you should grade the exposure from 10 minutes to half an hour, one hour, two hours and so on. You might not want to leave them unsupervised together for a few weeks or even months.

Don't have too many expectations from your existing pet and new pet; often rabbits take the upper hand and boss the cat about. It's surprising but because rabbits are such social animals, sometimes their ability to establish a hierarchy very quickly makes it easy for the cat to just say 'okay, have it your way, I just want a snooze'.

Stan Tian

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