Help! My outdoor cat caught a baby rabbit, which I rescued from him. The poor thing is absolutely terrified and has an injury. I was afraid Charlie the cat was going to catch the rabbit again as it was cowering under a bush, so I managed to catch it and have it in an old guinea pig cage. The rabbit is about 6 inches long, I don't think it's nursing any longer, though it is definitely a baby. The cat tore some fur away from the rabbit's hind quarter and it has an abrasion. I have the rabbit in a quiet dark place, with a box to sit under with food and water. If it makes the night, does anyone have suggestions? I know that cats can be treated for minor injuries with triple antibiotic ointment, can rabbits also? Would the best thing be to let the rabbit go tomorrow if it lives through the night?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!


Danielle

I've always used triple antibiotic ointment on my dogs. I'm sure you could use it on the rabbit as well. I hope he makes it. Sometimes its the shock more than the injury that will do these poor creatures in. If it's just a scratch, I'd treat him and let him go.

Good luck.

Hi ddm
If your uncertain about how old the Rabbit is and what to do about it's wounds, then I would look in your phone book for your nearest wild life Centre/hospital. :)
To me six inches seems a tad small for a weened Rabbit they can give you advice on how to proceed with this. :)
You can also take it to a vet as most vet's won't charge for treating wild animals so there is no bill to worry about. :)
They may even come out to you to take the Rabbit to the centre where it will be well looked after and released back into the wild after treament and wieght gain. :)
rgrds
broxandval Fishiedude

ddm, just last week, a rabbit got caught in our chain link fence. And I mean, he was REALLY stuck! I thought he would eventually be able to wiggle himself out, but hours later, I realized that was not happening. When my husband got home, the two of us managed to untangle the rabbit from the fence. His head was stuck, his hips and his foot. It was a real mess, and so was he from trying to free himself. He was missing the fur on his back and was bloody.

We have a place 30 minutes from here called Lake Metroparks Penitentary Glen. It's a nonprofit park system that rehabs wild animals, so we took him there. Like B&V said, check with local vets or law enforcement, and you might be surprised to find a rehab place in your area. Good luck!

The rabbit made it through the night, though the poor thing is still terrified. I will try and find a wildlife rehab place as was suggested. I'm afraid if I try and handle the rabbit, him/her may have a have a heart attack from fright. Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions! I will keep you updated.



Danielle

Yes, absolutely try to find a wildlife rehabilitator near you. They can do wonders. At 6", a cottontail (if that's what it is) is weaned. They grow up very fast. Did you see this photo of me holding a weaned cottontail that hopped out of the nest when I was a kid?
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/photos/mammals...bits/bunny2.jpg

Rabbits are hyper sensitive and can in fact die of heart attacks. My mother's friend had a rabbit, and then she got a ferret. The ferret got out and tried to get to the rabbit but couldn't; the rabbit died without even being touched.

I hope Charlie can become indoors. We have one outdoor cat (who showed up years ago) who rarely comes in. My parents won't let her live indoors because she refuses to use a litter pan unless confined in a small space. She was declawed by her previous owner (unknown person), and she's a small cat, and, yet, she is an expert at killing animals. Adult birds, baby birds, white footed mice, voles, moles, shrews, chipmunks, two flying squirrels, adult gray squirrels, baby squirrels, cottontail rabbits including one full sized adult(!), one wood rat once, and more in her life. If not for her, I wouldn't even know we had flying squirrels or wood rats! So, while I agree domestic cats should all be indoors, I am among the guilt ridden who has an outdoor cat (although not my choice).

I am happy to report that the baby rabbit was turned over to a wildlife rehab center who felt he/she would be fine in a few days.

I wish Charlie the cat and his mother who both live in my barn could live in my house, unfortunately 3 of the 5 people in my family are very allergic to cats. Charlie's mother showed up in my barn and had kittens. I was able to get all of the kittens adopted but one. The mother cat is feral and not adoptable. They have a very nice shelter, have been spayed,neutered and had their shots, and plenty to eat. In a perfect world all house cats should be kept indoors, as we all know this is not the case, so one can only do our best. I have had break-away collars with bells on the cats in the past and that reduced the animals they caught. I have been meaning to replace the collars they lost, and this was a wake up call get the new collars.

The declawed cat who showed up at your house is very lucky to have found you. Without you the poor thing would have starved to death.

Thanks for everyones help and concern.

Danielle

Hi ddm
We are really please that the baby rabbit is going to be fine :) these wildlife rescue centers really know their stuff but if like here in the UK are run as a charity. :)
They are often manned by unpaid volunteers and are chronically underfunded so if you can as a thankyou to their good deeds try and do a yard sale or something like that to help with their running costs :) (or if you have some spare time volunteer your services to help in what they do). :)
Many years ago as a child I used to do volunteer work in a bird sanctuary and it was reward enough too see birds released back into the wild when they recovered from their injuries :) ( though sadly some would never be able to survive due to the loss of a wing) but lived long and happy lifes in the local park, in the case of water fowl on the park lake and for other birds in a large enclosure safe from preditors :)
rgrds
broxandval Fishiedude
PS we just love a happy ending and you have just made our Sunday morning Thanksdude
PPS Robyn (loved the photo). It's good that some people as kids looked after wild animals rather than others who would think nothing of taking a BB gun/Air rifle UK and shooting them, half the birds that couldn't be released at the sanctuary had been wounded by pellets. Thanksdude

Hello Robyn and DDM

I don't think you should should be feel guilt ridden because of your outdoor cats. You're making the best of an unfortunate situation. What bothers me are the people who get a kitten at a shelter or pet store with every intention of letting it be an outdoor cat. In most cases the cat is well fed, and the killing it does is instinctive. Even Bryn Barishnikat at play is practicing skills which if he ever got outside would be very useful.