This is what happens when a cat grows up with a rabbit

You might think that these two species would have a hard time getting along, as one is a predator and the other is a prey, but the video below shows that early socialisation can work wonders. You've never seen such a cute pair as this cat and rabbit friend.

Here's some great footage of the first days of a lifelong friendship between a rabbit and a cat. The tiny kitten follows its much larger friend everywhere. Have you ever seen or experienced anything like this?

Ancient instincts drive tiny predators

Although the tiny predators were well adapted to social life, they needed their hunting and other instincts to live with humans. It is no coincidence that they often cling to their instinctive behaviour patterns even when interacting with humans. Some of these seem like really nice gestures. Driven by their territorial instincts, they even rub up against the feet of guests in our homes to mark them with their scent, which many people identify as a sign of friendship. Also an instinctive form of behaviour, though perhaps less pleasant, is the dawn patrol. Being crepuscular animals, their most acute periods are at dusk and dawn.

These whiskered little friends are the most successful and efficient predators in the animal kingdom, even though they spend four-fifths of their day sleeping.

Is the cat a predator and the rabbit its prey? Not in all cases

And although indoor cats are driven by the same hunting instinct as their outdoor counterparts, they are much less likely to act on this instinct. This is why it is so important to play with them a lot. It's best if these toys imitate hunting for them.

The cat is the hunter and the rabbit is the prey

And although hunting is in their blood, when they grow up with a bunny, the latter leaves the role of prey and the cat sees it more as a companion, as the pair in the video below are bionic.

If your cat is outgoing and regularly brings you presents, consider it the greatest possible honour. Bringing home the loot is a kind of gift, a kindness from your cat in return for food and care. But don't think that your relationship is specifically based on primal instinct. We've presented several studies in the pages of Love my Catz, one after another confirming that our favourite purring furbabies have voluntarily bonded with humans out of a sense of reciprocity.