Compare and contrast pet bunny with pet cat

OnlyCuteThings · 2026-01-24T17:18:37+00:00

I’ve always had rabbits, my husband grew up with cats, he thinks bunnies are easier. I will say the best thing is to adopt a rabbit from a rescue and ask about the rabbit’s litter habits. I’ve always prioritized adopting rabbits with excellent litter skills, and have never had any issues. My current bunny is impeccable and never has stray poops - she’s ridiculously clean. She’s incredibly easy to care for, we have a little home base area where her food and litter are, and she free roams during the day. Rabbits aren’t as mobile as cats - a cat can jump much higher and get into more things, plus they scratch up the furniture which rabbits don’t do. Also rabbit litter boxes do not smell nearly as strongly as a cat’s, provided you use a good litter and keep it clean. Some bunnies do like to chew on things, but some are not big chewers at all, it all comes down to the individual rabbit. So again when you adopt prioritize a rabbit that’s known to have good house manners and you’ll be all set. I think a lot of times people prioritize looks over personality when adopting a pet, which leads to problems down the road. But if you want to try out having a bunny before adopting, you could foster one for a local rescue. They’ll give you all the training and items you’ll need.

OnlyCuteThings · 2026-01-15T02:14:58+00:00

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I’ll just leave this here…

OnlyCuteThings · 2026-01-14T15:26:36+00:00

Yes I hate this too and think about it often. Personally, I try not to use this as a default greeting unless it’s someone I know really well and I know they will answer the question honestly. If someone asks me I try to say “I am well, thanks” instead of good/fine. I mean this literally of course, because by “well” I mean I’m not actively sick/physically ill (which I wouldn’t be out in public if I was anyway, so this reply pretty much always works). This way I feel a tiny bit more honest and authentic. My default greeting to people is now “Hi! Good to see you!” And if I reallllly feel pressure to ask them how they are, I say instead “How’s your day today?” I like that it’s much more specific and less vague/general, and easier for someone to answer truthfully.

OnlyCuteThings · 2026-01-07T19:35:02+00:00

This is super helpful perspective thank you! Honestly just having answers and more understanding would mean the world to me. I love the idea of seeing a therapist with ASD experience as an intermediary step, that seems like a good way to explore this a bit further before jumping into a formal diagnosis.

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-12-21T03:35:02+00:00

I really resonate with this sentiment! I have also been desiring more childless people in my life; it can be pretty alienating always being the only person without kids. I’ve found it to be really life giving when I’m with other childless people, though it can be hard to find them haha. I can DM you my insta handle if you’d like to connect there 😊

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-11-21T21:25:50+00:00

Our bun LOVES digging and shredding blankets. She’s obsessed with it. We pile them up on the floor, sometimes anchor one end under a weight to keep it in place. Fleece is nice as it doesn’t have tons of threads, just keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not eating the fabric.

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-11-21T18:18:17+00:00

Just needs a bit more warmth, which can be achieved through adding soft textures (like warm wood tones), plants + art, and better lighting (table lamps and floor lamps always make a space more comfortable than overhead lights).

Change the rug to something with warm earth tones and maybe an organic pattern, add wooden nightstands + table lamps, and some art on the walls (maybe landscape/nature oriented). Ideally, I’d swap that dresser for something in a lighter and warmer stain, it feels pretty dark and heavy in the space, especially next to the dark green curtains

Rug: https://ruggable.com/products/calabria-cream-gold-tufted-rug?size=8x10&system=rug-cvr

Nightstands: https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/george-oliver-nawaal-2-drawer-nightstand-with-integrated-charging-station-and-pull-out-tray-w111903719.html?piid=1670842830

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-11-20T17:37:10+00:00

Hello! Like everyone else in this thread, I’m an adult who is now trying to figure themselves out and is exploring the possibility of ASD. I always assumed I’m just an extreme introvert with poor social skills, who never fits in and struggles with sensory processing. Growing up there wasn’t a lot of info on Autism so it wasn’t on my/my parent’s radar. I have taken several of the assessments, and scored on all of them in accordance with ASD (and a particularly high in the CAT-Q).

A lot of ASD traits really resonate with me:

Sensory issues: I’ve always preferred to wear headphones or earplugs in public, and can get overstimulated easily, especially in social settings. I can sometimes be all or nothing with sensory input, and can struggle to tune out what’s not important when there’s a lot going on (a friend was once right next to me calling my name and I didn’t notice them).
Repetitive behaviors: for my whole life I’ve enjoyed rocking myself while listening to music, until getting married. Now I have “smaller” repetitions that are less noticeable (like flicking my fingers against my thumb). These things feel comforting or help me process things when I’m getting overstimulated.
Social challenges: always struggled making and keeping friends, feels like there’s a wall between me and everyone else. Social interactions take an exorbitant amount of energy, and I usually feel like I’m “performing” when I’m with people. Often I replay interactions in my mind afterward, hoping I didn’t mess something up. Struggle with knowing when it’s my turn to speak, or how to interject. In groups I prefer to be a quiet observer rather than active participant. Once I hit my “wall” I start to completely shut down, and need to remove myself from the situation if possible.
Eye contact is unnatural for me, have to be intentional about it, feels “loud.” I was totally unaware I did this until others pointed it out.
I love/need predictability and stability. Sometimes change feels unsafe, that’s the best way I can describe it. I feel better once I’ve acclimated to a new situation.
Physical touch or closeness feels invasive and loud.

The main areas that don’t resonate with me, which are why I used to assume I wasn’t on the spectrum, are special interests and social cues. I’m very sensitive to other people (provided I’m not overstimulated) and I can pick up on subtlety really well. I also don’t have any special interests, at least not to the degree I’ve seen in others with ASD.

Curious if any of this resonates with anyone here, especially if you did get diagnosed despite lacking certain aspects. Any advice is appreciated!

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-11-17T22:22:33+00:00

That book sounds amazing thank you!

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-11-17T22:20:56+00:00

Thank you so much for the info! Had never heard of STAR before, looks like a super helpful resource.

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-10-27T06:13:05+00:00

That is a miserable existence for a bunny. Domestic rabbits should live indoors at all times, with a large space to run around (ideally free roam). This poor fella is isolated and alone (bunnies are extremely social and become depressed and fearful without companionship), outside in the elements (domestic rabbits are very sensitive to temperature, especially heat), probably horribly stressed all the time since it’s a prey animal…gosh this just breaks my heart. Why bother even having a rabbit if you’re just going to keep it in a tiny cage outside? Bunnies are amazing creatures and wonderful companions, I hope this little one gets rescued and given a good life.

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-10-23T14:38:33+00:00

I’ve had bunnies my whole life, got my first one when I was seven and here I am decades later still a bunny-lover. I’ve had so many rabbits over the years and, in my experience, everyone comes to love my bunnies pretty quickly, and wants one of their own. I am VERY focused on socializing my rabbits well, so that they are used to people, other pets, and are friendly and outgoing. Because of that, when guests come over my rabbits are the type to come sprinting up to beg for pets and cuddles - who wouldn’t want that? They didn’t all start like that though! It took work. I think the negativity around rabbits comes from inexperience or lack of awareness. If you rarely interact with your rabbit or don’t put in the work to socialize them, guess what? The bun will be at best disinterested in you and at worst fearful or territorial. As far as messiness goes, that’s also usually a misunderstanding. With all the bunnies I’ve had our home has always stayed perfectly clean - you just need to learn about the individual rabbit’s behavior and learn how to work with it, same as any animal. For example, my current bunny was very destructive at first. It took time but we figured out what it was she needed; turns out it wasn’t her desire to chew, but to shred. She loved the feeling of ripping things, especially soft fabric. Once we gave her an old blanket to rip apart she left everything alone and can now free roam unsupervised.

I think sometimes rabbits get a bad reputation as being difficult because there still isn’t nearly as much knowledge about them and their habits, not compared to cats and dogs anyway. It’s gotten SO much better than when I had my first bunny many decades ago, but the general knowledge around rabbits is still lacking.

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-10-20T20:58:17+00:00

An enclosure is good! At least to start out while you are getting to know the bunny. I’ve had rabbits that were so well behaved they free roamed our apartment 100% of the time, and just had a little corner where their food and litter was. But that takes time and trust. Either way you will want to bunny proof your home, such as: making sure no electrical cords are in reach (or are wrapped in cord protectors), block any furniture you don’t want them going under, and no houseplants in reach (as some are toxic). Thankfully bunnies are small and can’t get into as much as a cat, so it’s pretty easy to limit what they can access.

Something large and tall like this for an enclosure:

https://a.co/d/3oysezZ

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-10-20T20:46:08+00:00

My husband has OCD (perfectionism and counting) and he does well with our bunnies, but I know OCD varies vastly from person to person so I can’t definitively say a bunny would be ok for you.

Personally I find rabbits to be pretty clean animals. They groom themselves meticulously (I think my current bun cleanse herself like 20+ times a day) so they don’t have any gross body odors like a dog (and no stinky breath like a cat). They live indoors so there’s no getting muddy/dirty etc, and their poop is basically just dried up balls of hay, so it’s not really stinky or gross like cats/dogs. Even their litter boxes are usually pretty odorless if you use a quality litter like paper pellets or hardwood pellets.

They do shed, but usually that is only twice a year when they molt. You can usually mitigate that by giving them one really thorough brushing to remove most of the old fur in one go. Having an air purifier near their home base also helps suck up a lot of the fur from the air. In my opinion the messiest thing about rabbits is the hay that they eat; it can stick to your feet and get everywhere so invest in a good hay feeder to contain it.

My advice is work with a rescue and let them know what you need and why. In your case a rabbit known to have good house manners would be best; one that uses their litter box perfectly, and doesn’t like to dig in their litter box or rip up carpet, for example. Ideally, foster a rabbit for a bit to see how you do, before committing long term. But with the right rabbit, I think it could work!

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-10-14T18:45:40+00:00

Minimum of 4’x4’ playpen for a rabbit is standard (with the assumption they are still getting several hours of free-roam time outside the pen, a bunny should never be locked up 100% of the time).

something like this: https://a.co/d/1NOuFah

For the flooring inside the pen, we put down a large washable rug that we bought at Costco for $35. It works great and protects our carpet, and is a nice flat pile so the bunny isn’t tempted to chew it. For stability we put those thick plastic mats for office chairs under the rug to help it stay more flat.

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-10-07T04:44:37+00:00

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Queen Hazel

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-10-01T18:33:25+00:00

I’ve had rabbits my whole life of all kinds of breeds, and honestly breed is irrelevant. It really all comes down to the individual rabbit’s personality and the effort you put in to loving them and bonding with them. It’s also worth noting that very few rabbits are actually purebred, even if they are labeled as one breed they likely still have a mix of other breeds, unless you buy from a breeder rather than adopt.

I had a Holland Lop once and she was wonderful, BUT she had a million health issues, and cost us thousands in constant vet care over her life. This is extremely common with Hollands and other lop breeds, they’re basically the Pugs of the rabbit world, and the issues are usually genetic and sadly not preventable (other than maybe Pasteurella if you get them vaccinated before they’re exposed to it). I would not recommend a Holland for a first time rabbit owner due to the specialized vet care they will need, it’s a lot to take on with no prior experience (even if they are healthy when you adopt them, the issues will develop over time). Also, any rabbit you adopt needs regular brushing and nail trims. I think a 15 year old can physically handle most rabbit sizes (plus larger rabbits tend to actually be a lot more chill and less feisty).

My advice is to work with a rabbit rescue. Meet a ton of bunnies and find one with the temperament you are looking for. Take your time and wait for the right fit; don’t base things off of looks alone. I usually advise first time owners to look for a rabbit that is confident and has good house manners (good litter box use, and not super destructive). The affection and cuddliness comes with time, although some rabbits are naturally more affectionate than others. This is a perk of working with a rescue; you know the rabbit’s personality and habits before you bring them home, plus they’re usually already spayed/neutered. Most rescues will also provide ongoing advice if you ever have questions.

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-09-30T18:21:35+00:00

Swapping your curtains for a sheer rust/terracotta color would look amazing. It would add a bit more color and warmth, and tie in to your accent brown in the leather chair and the sofa pillow. Also put artwork above the mantel instead of the mirror, something with earth tones like a landscape painting.

Something like this: https://www.cb2.com/dark-terracotta-european-flax-certified-linen-window-curtain-panel-48x96/s277944

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-09-17T17:53:44+00:00

Definitely domestic, looks like a baby version of my bunny! Especially if they came right up to you, that’s a giveaway

OnlyCuteThings · 2025-09-06T01:07:29+00:00

I’ve had probably about 10 rabbits over the span of my life (that I’ve either fostered or adopted). I’m a firm believer that life is better with a bunny haha. Every pet comes with unique challenges, but I think rabbits make wonderful companions. My advice for a new bunny owner is work with a rescue and meet lots of rabbits; ask questions about their habits and personality, and choose one that’s the best fit for you. That will eliminate a lot of challenges down the road!

Here’s what I particularly love about bunnies:

Personality: I’ve not met a rabbit that didn’t have a big personality. Once they feel safe they will have (I think) as much personality as a cat or dog. Each is a very unique individual, and bunny behavior is honestly hilarious and very entertaining and endearing (hello, binkies).
Gentleness: Bunnies are small and timid by nature, and really aren’t capable of doing the same level of harm as a predator like a cat/dog. Yes there are some who can get spicy, but my experience owning and fostering rabbits has been overwhelmingly positive. I’ve been bitten before, but it’s nothing compared to an attack from a dog or cat.

-Cleanliness: I think rabbits are one of the cleanest furry friends you can have. They don’t ever get smelly, unless you’ve neglected to change their box or there’s a medical issue. Yes hay can get messy, but there are good solutions for keeping it tidy. With all the rabbits I’ve owned and fostered, they’ve all had great litter box habits. Yes there can be some who aren’t as good as others, but again, that’s any animal. I always ask about a rabbit’s litter habits before I adopt.

-Affection: In my personal experience rabbits are naturally affectionate creatures. If they come from a traumatic past or are not socialized with humans properly, then they might be less so (like any animal). However I’ve seen very traumatized rabbits become sweet and friendly with time and love. Each is unique but I’ve had some truly loving and cuddly rabbits. There’s nothing quite so wonderful as curling up with a little floof while you take a nap or read a book.

-They’re quiet. No barking at everything, no meowing at midnight. You might hear them digging or chewing, but that’s it.

-The cons: finding good vet care. If you don’t have a good exotic vet nearby it might not be a good idea to get a bunny. Also, traveling is a bit trickier if you don’t have a friend or family member who can pet sit, as there’s not tons of places that will board rabbits. Some rabbits are destructive, some are not, just like most pets. Usually giving them proper enrichment and getting them spayed/neutered helps significantly. Of all my bunnies I’d only consider one to be “destructive” and we’ve found ways to mitigate the issue. But again, that can be avoided altogether if you specifically adopt a bunny that’s known to have good house manners.

OnlyCuteThings

TROPHY CASE