Contrary to popular belief, wild rabbits are the tempting snacks of the predators – foxes, badgers, and birds of prey (hawks/owls). However, where your pet bunnies are concerned – it’s domesticated rats who pose the greatest threat. You may even sometimes wonder, do rats eat rabbits? These pests are one of the biggest threats to domestic rabbits.
Rats are such a problem because they are often more in number than your average rabbit and will use their size to intimidate smaller rabbits into submission. They also have razor-sharp teeth – capable of inflicting severe wounds through neck tendons, cheek pouches, etc.
The pet care market surpassed $232 billion in 2020 and is poised to expand at over 6.1 percent CAGR between 2021 and 2027. Here in this article, you can find a few ideas for how you can protect your rabbits from rats.
How to Keep Rats Out of Your House?
First of all, make sure that there is no hole in the wall where a rat might make its way through. Use steel wool to block up any holes and gaps – this stops rats from getting inside.
You’ll be surprised how small holes can be, but they are big enough for rats to get into.
Use Moth Balls
Mothballs are not just used to keep moths at bay; they also seem to have the opposite effect on rodents!
Rats and mice do not like mothballs, so you may consider placing them around your cabinets and any outbuildings to help keep them at bay.
Keep Your Pens Clean and Dry
Rats love the smell of rabbit urine (much as you hate it) – as such, they’ll come looking for areas that smell like that. Try to ensure that your cabinets are clean and dry and also, you change the bedding regularly. Cleaning your rabbit’s hutch with some diluted bleach or vinegar can also help to deter rodents.
Use Peppermint/Citrus Oil
Rats may be more attracted to smells like urine, but they also hate strong smells, especially oily like peppermint oil! You might like to try sprinkling some peppermint oil around your cabinets as well as inside them.
If you don’t like the thought of using strong smells and essential oils, then feel free to make use of natural citrus-smelling oils (lemon/orange) instead.
Traps and Repellents
One other thing that may be effective in deterring rats is to place traps around the cabinet. You can buy humane traps explicitly designed for this purpose, or you may improvise.
If you have a pet rabbit that has fallen prey to a rat, then there’s no need to bin it – wash it and use it as bait instead.
Rats Love Grass – Cut it Short!
Hopefully, now you know the answer to the question, do rats eat rabbits? To keep them away, cut the grass on your lawn. Rats tend to hide in long grass, so maintaining a short lawn will help keep them at bay.
Ensure the Run is Secure
If you’re planning on building a run for your pet rabbit, then make sure that it’s secured. Rats will dig underneath the wire mesh of the run to get in, and they can also jump over or chew through smaller holes.
Keep an eye on openings and check them regularly. If they start getting bigger, try to close them up with wire mesh.
Use Fox Urine
Another possible deterrent is to try spraying your rabbits run with fox urine (available from most garden centers). The urine smell sends a message to rodents – letting them know that they are not welcome. While this may be effective, it may also cause problems if you have other pets.
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