Does anyone know anything about bunnies?

[BjsBestGirl]

My stupid lazy fat cat decided to try and find his own food. He found bunnies. He hurt one, but I got there before he could get any more. They're new born bunnies, i'd guess aabout a week old. I brought them inside and wrapped them in the bedding from their nest. I dont want to keep them. I just want to nurse them for a couple weeks; 'till they're a tiny bit bigger so they can take care of themselves. Does anyone know what to feed them? Any ideas of what to do? just keep them warm and fed? There's four of them including the hurt one.

 

[zrachie]

Hello there...I am not sure of the name, but if you have a local farm supply store, Tractor Supply, Agway, something like that they have droppers and a mix you can use. HTH...also not sure if you tried googling it...probably a bunch of info out there. Good luck with your little bunnies.

Forgot to mention, sometimes local vets take them where I am.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

If those are wild rabbits you likely just sealed their fate. They need to be with their mother. They are the single most difficult animal in creation to try to rehab. Ask me how I know. Take them and put them back! Seriously, that is the only chance they have and it is a slim one.

 

[BjsBestGirl]

I am not going to put them back. Their mom put their nest right in my front yard. They're likely to not do so well inside, I know, but I guarantee they'll die with my cats! I can see him right now out my window searching the nest for the rest of them. If I put them outside, on top of the tornado warning and severe rain, they will be with my cat, it will be a death sentance. So im not looking for anyone to tell me to put them back, just want to know what to do to 'make sure they live' from this point on. Thanks to everyone who is helping.

Christine

 

[chickensioux]

If possible, I would try to find a wildlife rehabber in your area if you have them. Calling a vet could get you on the right track to finding one. If you decide to try to raise them, just keep in mind that it will be difficult. You could try some kitten replacement milk. Sometimes that can be found at pet stores or at a vets office. They would need to be fed about every 2 hours around the clock. The less you handle them the better, only to feed. Keep them in a warm, quiet place, away from human contact and noise to best insure their survival. First choice to me would be a rehabber. Good luck.

 

[crazyaboutchickens]

ask a vet now online ....

http://www.justanswer.com/brands/Vet...FZdM5QodZk4Msg

hope that helps

 

[BjsBestGirl]

I dont know if there are any places like that around here. Im in northern arkansas. The closest vet is 44 miles from here. I can call though. It wont hurt to do that.

 

[Avla]

They will most likely not live without their mother, let nature take it's place the next time you see a wild animal.
The mother has set up that nest in that place for a reason, you wouldn't want someone taking your children/animals - besides, it's against the law to keep native wildlife. If you are worried about your cats supervise them while they are outside.
Now that you have taken them out of the nest the mother will most likely not return.

 

[JestersEye]

Wild eastern cottontails are very hard to rehab successfully... I've done it, but I had a close call with one that must've choked when it was first learning to eat solid foods. Anyway, even if you are able to get them to nurse (btw, goats' milk is the best substitute for WILD rabbits) they may still fail to survive to adulthood because baby bunnies need to ingest their mother's cecal pellets as they mature, in order to develop the correct balance of intestinal bacteria. Adult rabbits also continue to reingest nutrients through their own cecal pellets, to maintain proper digestive health. Here is a link to Wikipedia with more information on this process if you want to learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit

If at all possible, you should bring the babies back to the spot where you found them. It's okay if you don't see the mother around. Mother's only nurse their kits once or twice a day, usually around dusk. They leave their kits unattended in a safe place and will visit the burrow only rarely, so that their scent won't arouse predators and lead them to the nest-site. I only rahabbed the two orphans I found because of flooding that caused their mother to abandon the burrow.

If you do decide to care for them, feel free to email me for advice or additional information on the topic.

Shari

 

[BjsBestGirl]

They are farm cats. They live outside and are not even allowed in our house. They survive this way for the most part. But I wasnt about to just let them die! It's this or ill shoot my darn cat.