From: toddl@county.lmt.mn.org (Todd Lehman)
Newsgroups: rec.pets,rec.pets.cats
Subject: Introducing only-bunny to two new kittens
Keywords: bunny,rabbit,cat,kitten
Date: 12 Apr 92 01:58:51 GMT
Article-I.D.: news2.1992Apr12.015851.13458
Organization: University of Minnesota

Hi, we share an apartment with a 2-year-old Mini Lop (Woody) and were just
adopted by two 10-week old kittens (Oscar and Carmen) three weeks ago.

Woody is generally pretty cool and easy going, except when it comes to sharing
the best spots in the living room. ;-)  We haven't had any fights yet, just a
couple quick nips and growls from Woody.

It's been two weeks since we first let them out together.  The kittens
(especially Oscar) are still cautious.  I guess it's because Woody doesn't play
like a normal kitten, and has big ears, no tail and no sense of humor. :)
Woody says Oscar and Carmen don't smell like normal bunnies, but he'll be
willing to live with them as long as they stop running past him in fifth gear.

Woody spends the night in a dog cage (22" x 42" x 27"), the kittens currently
spend the night in the bathroom (they actually seem content there) until we can
figure out how to let them have roam of the apartment while trusting them not
to spook Woody all night (he spooks easily at night).  We plan eventually on
giving the kittens roam of the entire apartment, bedroom included, when the
time is right.  We made a split-level wooden structure for the Wood Man so he
can hide from monsters at night.   And he *loves* his cage -- even though the
door is open for 12 hours a day, he must spend 6 to 8 of them in his cage.

Woody's favorite pastimes before the kittens came home were as follows:  
sacking out in the middle of the living room, watching TV, cleaning himself in
his litter box, getting his face petted (he tells me now this is number one),
and chinning everything to make sure it smells right.  Now his favorite
pastimes are getting as much attention as possible, watching the kittens try
to kill each other (sic), and getting as much attention as possible.

I forgot to mention -- Woody has been an only bunny for about a year.  We found
another home for Guinness, a female Holland Lop, after a year of fighting.
(Guinness had been an only bunny for eight months before Woody appeared on the 
scene.  She was always very temperamental, even before Woody, but we still miss
her every once in a while. ;-)   Both bunnies were neutered, but we probably
didn't know what we were doing because two rabbits should be able to get along.
Woody's personality changed incredibly for the better when Guinness left, and
he says he doesn't miss her at all (Guinness didn't take prisoners).  But now
I'm getting sidetracked...

Anyhow, I suppose things aren't going that badly, but we just don't want to
make stupid irrevocable mistakes.  For example, one evening we were playing
with all three on the bed and Woody became jealous (kittens are just too cute).
In a flash he hopped to the head the bed and decided that the pillows didn't
smell enough like him and soaked one of them in pee (sometimes chinning just
doesn't make enough of a statement) and that "Oh, by the way, the other bunnies
are not as important as I am."

We took the hint, and asked Woody to draw up a list of House Rules.  He 
dictated this list:  "(1) This is my house.  (2) No matter where I am, I expect
kittens to stay at least 2 feet from me when passing, unless of course I am
trying to sniff them.  (3) When I feel like being petted, that supercedes any
attention the kittens may desire or need.  (4) I get to be the last one to bed
and the first one up in the morning.  (5) And Oscar, that spot under the
occasional table is _mine_.  Any violation of the above rules entitles me to
growl at and nip at the offending party."

So...we have a few questions, maybe someone can answer...

* Does anyone know whether bunnies can seriously hurt kittens?
* Does anyone know whether cats can hurt a fully-grown, 10-pound bunny?
* Has anyone ever introduced a kitten or kittens to a bunny before?

Thanks,

Todd, Aileen, Woody, Oscar & Carmen
toddl@county.lmt.mn.org