Can my rabbits get diseases from cats or chickens? And Can i breed step-related rabbits?

Question

Hi there. The neighborhood cat looks like it has really goopy eyes and i was wondering if my rabbits can catch it? Also I have a chicken that has mareks disease - also wondering if my rabbits can catch it? And i got a rabbit from a rabbitry and i am planning on buying another one from there - i was wondering because they have the same father if it is safe - i know you can breed a father to daughter and all that but i was just making sure.

Thanks

Jesse

Also i dont know how to reply(if you even can)

Answer 1

Rabbits cannot catch Mareks disease that is an avian disease. Only birds an get it. If the cat is not in your rabbitry then you shouldn't have to worry about it. if the cat is in direct contact with your rabbits then I would try and find a way to keep it out. Cats can scare a rabbit to death.

Rabbits that have the same parentage be it one or both parents should not be bred to each other. This is done only to intensify the good traits but also can make the bad traits worse.

If you wan to begin breeding try and find a rabbit of the same breed with a good pedigree to use in a breeding program.

Also if you have a chicken with Mareks it really should be put down. it can make any other birds sick and it will suffer a painful death as Mareks is not curable.

Answer 2

Rabbits can catch things from other animals including cats, just depends on exactly what was wrong with the cat.   I'm not sure about marek's disease but I've never heard of it transferring to rabbits or other domestics.  

It's OK to breed related rabbits but not really recommended.   You'd have to make sure that they are genetically stable and desirable as any genetic problems and genetic good points will be enhanced by breeding in.

Answer 3

The breeding should be fine. I am kinda 50/50 on it. Maybe get a rabbits from a diffrent litter if you are breeding.

And do not let the chickens with the rabbits. The chicken p**p can get the rabbit sick. And the eyes on the cat should be take care of. But the sickness can not be passed on the the rabbits.