Do Rats Eat Rabbits?
Do Rats Eat Rabbits – As a General Rule to protect your rabbits. To keep your rabbits safe, it is important to be mindful of the rats that can enter their enclosure and carry off any young kits. The simplest way to get rid of Rats is to remove their food source. Put Food in sealed containers, and clean up excess food. Build your cages to be wild rat proof. The rat may pick the kit up by the scruff and carry it away somewhere safe, where it will kill and devour the helpless young
Do Rats Get Along with pet rabbits – Pet Rabbits and Pet Rats do generally get along. Individual personalities are involved in both species, but there is no innate aggression in either Rabbits or Rats toward the other one. Do Rats Eat Rabbits?
Do Rats Get Along with Rabbits – Rats and Rabbits will protect themselves when threatened. They both may bite, and scratch if they are scared or hurt. They both are somewhat territorial. But Pet owners that have both domesticated Rats and Pet Bunnies, testify they do get along.
We will examine the Pros and Cons of keeping them Both Together as Pets
Pet owners do not generally keep them in the same cage. That might be pushing it. But generally during their playtime, exercising together they do not show any aggression toward each other.
Do Rats Eat Rabbits
Rats do not eat Rabbits. A Rat’s normal Diet consists of generally whatever they can find. They prefer fruit but will eat any scraps, garbage, Rabbit Feed.
You can also Read our Guide –18 Ways to Make Money by Rabbit Farming—Extensive Guidelines for Rabbit Farmers
You always see movies of people or animals being attacked and eaten by rats, this is just in the movies for effect. A starving animal will be more aggressive to survive. But you generally find Rats ( Wild Rats) around food sources. If there are no Food sources available, the Rats will move on.
rats harm rabbits
Check Out Amazons Educational Resources on Raising Rats
That is why many Rabbit, Chicken, Pheasant Farmers can greatly reduce the overpopulation of Rat Nussence by just denying them access to any food sources.
Rats diet
- Grains
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Fruits
- Smaller Animals
- Insects
- Rat Pellet Food – Pets
Rabbits Diet
- Oat hay
- fresh Fruits
- Vegetables
- Carrots
- Timothy Hay
- Rabbit pellets – 1/4 Cup per 6 lbs of Rabbit
Rats Natural Predators
- Man
- Owls
- Hawks
- Eagles
- Foxes
- Bobcats
- Snakes
- Cats
Rabbits Natural Predators
- Pet dogs
- Pet Cats
- Foxes
- Owls
- Hawks
- Eales
- Weasels
- Ferrets
- badgers
- Snakes
Do Wild Rabbits Keep Rats Away
No, Rabbits do not go after Rats. But in Nature their Food sources are different. Rabbits spend 6-8 hours a day munching and grazing on grass. Rats have no interest in grass, They prefer fallen fruit, garbage, the thing that are dead, very easy meals. They do love corn and rabbit pellets. Chicken and Birds and squirrel feed.
So in nature, they are not companions. Domesticated Rats and Domesticated Bunnies can become best of friends, at the least are usually very tolerant of each other.
How Do You Keep Rats Away From Rabbits
There are many ways to keep Rats away from your Bunnies. Here are some easy suggestions to keep them at bay.
They are going after the Rabbit’s food, Possibly the Rabbit’s babies.
- Rat proof your Rabbit cage – make sure the wire mesh size you are using for your rabbit cages are small enough to keep them out
- Elevate your Rabbit Cages
- Clean up daily any food spoilage, or spilling that your bunnies do every day.
Remember – No Food No Rats
- Catch them with traps, rat Traps – Small cage Traps – Glue Traps
- Adopt a Ratter – a cat that loves to catch Rats
- Adopt a Rat Terrier
Would a Rabbit Kill a Rat
Yes, there have been instances of Rabbits killing rats, but it is very rare. If the Rabbit is being territorial, protecting Babies, that will trigger aggression. If the Rat corners them. Generally, bunnies are very docile creatures. Rats are too, they will avoid conflict, not aggressors. But all animals presented with the right circumstances will try to protect themselves.
Are Rabbits Afraid of Rats
Rabbits are not afraid of Rats, they will easily be in the same area as rats and pay them just passing notice. They will watch and smell each other. If they are in a playful mood it is common that they will chase each other.
It is not wise to keep them in the same pen, but during exercise, playtime, and Free-Ranging they will associate with each other. For those that raise chickens and other birds, the Rats do not attack the birds they are just a nuisance, eating up a lot of the food. And they breed so rapidly that they can quickly become quite numerous.
Do Rats and Rabbits Cohabitate
No, Rabbits and Rats do not Cohabitate or live together, not in nature and it is not wise to do so with your pets. Your Rabbit needs his own dwelling a place of refuge, rest, and where he can sleep.
Rats also need their own cage and place where they can build their own nest. Both Rats and Rabbits can get quite defensive when breeding and also when having their young. Rats and Rabbits are fine together, just give them both a place they can call their own.
Rats and Rabbits are Animals that Cannot Vomit
True, Rabbits, Rats, Horses, and Frogs are animals that are not physically able to vomit. In Rats cases that is one reason, Rat Poison is so effective. Once it is down it is down.
Rats cannot Vomit, they cannot Burp, and as far as we know don’t experience heartburn. They have very strong muscles in their esophagus, that move the food down into their stomachs. The muscles in their stomach are too weak to force anything back up.
This is the case with all the animals listed above except the Frog.
People and other creatures when something is bad, don’t agree come back up and out, not so with these little guys.
Can Rats Make Rabbits Sick
Yes, They can but look at this with some common sense. Wild Rats have. Many times the opportunity to contract diseases from being in the wild.
But a Pet Rat is in a controlled setting and environment. The chances are rare that in this domesticated environment that he will make your Bunny Sick.
Here is a Short List of Diseases that are shared by both, Rats and Rabbits.
- Rat Bite Fever – this infection is carried by the natural Flora in the Rats mouth. This is Rare in the United States. It affects less than 10% of all rat Bites. Rats, Rabbits, Dogs, Cats, mice, squirrels, and gerbils can get and also spread this Infection.
- Leptospirosis – Bacterial Disease – humans get it from contaminated food and water from Rat Urine and feces
- Salmonellosis – Pet Rodents, This is found in the stool of infected animals and people. People get it from ingestion, especially susceptible are children and the elderly.
- lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV) – this is found in wild Mice that can pass to your pets. Pregnant women are susceptible to this one
- Monkeypox – Virus first found in Monkeys, but also found in Rats, Mice, and Rabbits. This is a virus so it can be spread through the air.
How Do You Get Rid of Rats When You Have Rabbits
There are several ways to get rid of Wild rats if you are raising Bunnies. The simplest way to get rid of Rats is to remove their food source.
- Remove and clean up any loose, accessible food
- Secure your Rabbit Food in a Rat Proof Container – Plastic / Metal / Commercial Rabbit feed Bag they will easily chew through…..Thanksgiving
- Rats do not Like Onions
- Steel Wool in Rat Burro Entrances
- Owl Feathers – They are Rats Natural Predators
- Human Hair – From Hair cut or Barbershop
- Dried Cat Litter – Get from Friend that has Kitty
Can Rats Breed with Rabbits
No Rats and Rabbits come from two different families. They will not Breed in nature. They cannot Physically have any babies. Male Rabbits have been known to mount anything that will hold still….But it does not result in offspring.
Can Rats and Rabbits Live Together?
Rabbits and rats can live together, but they should be supervised at all times. It is very important to keep an eye on both animals because one may try to eat the other if given the opportunity.
They are cute creatures that look nice together in a cage or pen, but it’s also possible for them to fight with each other. For example, rabbits can scratch and bite when they are put in a situation where they feel threatened. Rats will fight back with their own claws to defend themselves.
Rats and rabbits may or may not get along together depending on the personality of each individual animal. It’s best if one is introduced into the cage at a young age because the other animal may get too territorial if put in with an older rat or rabbit.
It’s also imperative to keep both animals separate until they’ve grown accustomed to each other. If one of the rats is not happy, it will start chewing on things and can even cause harm to itself.
Final Thoughts
Depending on the environment and circumstances Rabbits attract rats, both being rodents. They can be companions or rats attack rabbits VS and be rivals.
