Domestic or wild rabbit in my garden?

[leecamowol]

Since last Friday when at 8am I saw my cat sat next to a rabbit in my garden, the rabbit has not left my garden.

It is dark grey in colour and with a floppy year. Is this an escaped/stolen domestic rabbit from a surrounding garden or could it be a wild rabbit?

I've lived in the house for a month and the rabbit has only appeared since last Friday ... I don't know what to do as I don't think it can escape my garden as they're aren't many holes in hedges to escape too.

[B00]

If it got into your garden, i'm sure it will be able ot get back out again.

Have you tried to catch it?

[Robinia]

Have a look in your local newspaper in lost & found or newsagents windows etc to see whether anyone is looking for it. Or place an ad yourself.

[leecamowol]

On Friday morning it lay still when I went near it ... believe my cat had terrorised it so it was playing dead, she has caught rabbits before you see ... but it does run away now if I approach it.

The only reason I ask as I assume my cat has dragged it from somewhere as it was sat next the hedge that the cats use to come and go in the garden. And it is very dark grey and to be honest I've only seen lighter grey wild rabbits before. The fur is so velvet like and dark that I'm worried it might be a domestic.

[LoftyLottie]

Wild rabbits do not usually have floppy ears and are quite thin. Wild rabbits don't have velvety fur (in fact their fur is quite rough and patchy looking) and I have never seen them 'play dead'. Also a wild rabbit would find it's way out of your garden.

It sounds like a tame rabbit to me.

[B00]

Awww take it inside- the poor thing must be terrified, cold and starving :-(

The easiest way to catch it is to wait till it's nearly dark and go out with a torch and shine it in it's eyes, it honestly works!

[LoftyLottie]

If you can get close enough, try throwing a towel over the rabbit. It will quieten it and give you a chance to grab it.

[joggerjayne]

What's a "floppy year" ?

Could be 365 days.

Could be 363.

Maybe 367.

You just never know with these floppy years.

[LoftyLottie]

or Shut your cat inside and put some rabbit food in a bowl. If he/she is hungry it will come and eat and then you can try to catch it.

BOO you are a total softy. Like me!!

[leecamowol]

Thanks for the advice ... I've just had a lame attempt at catching in. It keeps coming half way up the garden when it feels safe (unfortunately my garden is 100 metres long!). So I went outside (with towel in hand) as soon as it saw me it ran back down and discovered the carrot I had chopped up for it.

Unfortunately it still ran away when I tried to go closer. Unfortunately at the bottom of my garden are small conifers and then a load of lose branches (almost like a beavers dam style) then the fence. It keeps running between the branches from one side to the other and I can't even get close enough to throw the towel.

Might have to try the dark, shining torch trick. But on seeing it again I'm convinced it's not wild.

[LoftyLottie]

Keep feeding it. It is probably very hungry by now. Perhaps you should put some food near your back door. If it is a pet rabbit it will respond to a soft encouraging voice. Meanwhile I would put some notices up in the area and make some enquiries.

Have you got a wooden box or something you can use as a temporary shelter for it. You could put some hay in and put the food in it as well.

[B00]

lol, yes Lottie, I'm a total softy as well :-)

I like the box idea, I really don't like the thought of it cold wet and hungry.

Still- the thought of you scampering about leecamowol in the near dark with a torch and towel is very funny!!

[jen78]

Awww bless it!

I found this about catching rabbits...

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/rescue.html

As mentioned above can you put it a nice warm, waterproof shelter so it doesn't suffer in the meantime and where possible prey can't get to it?

Try the local RSPCA, vets and rehoming centres in case anyone has reported it missing.

Some idea about foods it should and shouldn't have here...

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

[jen78]

There are some missing pet sites here...

http://www.amissingpet.co.uk/

http://www.nationalpetregister.org/

http://www.helplostpets.com/

http://www.ukpetsearch.freeuk.com/

http://www.pawtrax.co.uk/

http://www.foundandlostpets.co.uk/

http://www.missingpetsbureau.com/home/lost/reg ister.aspx

[tufty7]

Sounds exactly what you thought , your cat has been terrorising and bullying it , everytime it moves it probably grabs it , the rabbit is probably slowly dying from the puncture wounds your cat has inflicted on it from its filthy teeth, Cats ?? Mindless killers of hundreds of animals a year , whats the point of them then ??