My bunnies are scared of outdoor cats. How can I protect them?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I recommend bringing as much of the outside in as you can. For example, bring some of their toys or bedding that they've had outside to the inside of your house, so that it is familiar to them. If you think the inside of your house will be noisy, you can buy them a white noise machine to help drown out any strange noises they may not be used to, and eventually wean them off of this. I hope this is helpful!

Hi, it is best to keep rabbits inside at night in very hot or very cold weather. They can go outside in nice weather and back inside at night. Predators love rabbits, since they have no way to fight back if another animal wants to eat them. Also, outside they are prone to get fleas, ticks, and other external parasites on their bodies. They can also get internal parasites from eating brush and dirt. If you live where dogs and cats go, I would only allow your rabbit outside in a very secure cage. Make sure it is large enough for the rabbit to get exercise, has shelter, and food and water available. It also should go underground a half a foot so predators cannot dig under the fencing. So in light of the set up it takes to safely keep a rabbit outside, it is better to keep them indoor where they are safe. Rabbits can be leash walked with a small harness for outdoor activity. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Hello. Yes, it is safe to bring them indoors when it is especially cold & wet. They would do best in a cooler part of the house, even the garage, but they will adapt nicely when out of the worse of the weather. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The possible things that he could be exposed to outside include cat fights, cars, dogs, and possible infectious diseases that can be transmitted to him. I recommend that you have him completely vaccinated, neutered if he not yet and dewormed so that he is less likely to get infected and affected by anything. Good luck and have a great day!

This sounds potentially quite dangerous as Bun Bun could suffer trauma or predation while out on her adventures. I would recommend keeping her in a rabbit enclosure or a closed room inside your house, especially when you’re leaving the house and not supervising her. She can free roam when you’re there to keep an eye on her, but if you’re opening the door to leave or having people over, she should be confined. This will prevent her running out the door again. As for not remembering your sister, she probably does but may still be on high alert from her outside events and may need some time to calm down and respond more normally to people. As a prey species, rabbits are always on high alert for dangers, and the chemicals in her body need some time to adjust to the change in scenario.

Hello. It is not cruel to keep a rabbit indoors if you supply a good environment, proper diet, & plenty of activities & stimulation. You can take her outdoors for short periods & only allow her to graze grass that is clean & never sprayed with fertilizers or herbicides. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If you believe that Boston Bunnelby may have been injured by his cage, I recommend bringing him to your veterinarian. He/she can perform a full physical exam and look for evidence of soft tissue or skeletal injury and treat accordingly, if needed. If he is otherwise moving around as usual and acting normally (eating, drinking, urinating, defecating) normally, I would not be concerned. I hope this is helpful!