My kitty tried to become a bunneh murderer...

Yesterday, I walk outside and one of the strays who have decided they belong to me was chasing something around the yard. I figured it was a mole or some other such thing.

It was a baby bunny. He did not get to hurt it much and walked away as I approached. The poor little bunny was laying very flat on the ground, its little heart jumping a thousand miles a minute. My stupid cat tore a small hole in its back and scratched its nose.

Now I have a problem. I have a wild baby bunneh in my house. What? Was I supposed to leave it out there bleeding and hurt? No, he or she is sitting comfortably in a box of hay in my living room. So... what now? What do I do with the bunneh?

LOL @ Kevin. Chocolate is a good cat... he keeps the field mice away. But for some reason, I don't think he'd be able to handle a bunny much older than a few weeks.

@Poppy I called a vet this morning and they said to take it to the animal shelter; that they'd treat its wounds and raise it by hand until it could take care of itself. I called the animal shelter, and they say they won't do that. They claim I should have "let nature do its thing". Rabbit population has to be culled by natural means or they'll be everywhere and blah-de-blah. :/ Sorry, but if my kids had seen their beloved kitty cat viciously gnawing on bunneh remains, they'd have tripped the fluck out and I'd have had to fight their hysterics all evening (my kids love aminals as much as I do... which is why I live in a petting zoo).

It looks almost old enough to be able to eat on its own... I tried feeding it with an eyedropper and it wouldn't have any of it, but it drinks from the water dish just fine.

But it scratched my wrists and palms when I was trying to feed it. I'm assuming the nest is nearby, but I've looked in what I thought were likely spots and can't find a thing.

I dunno what to do with it. It can't live in a box of hay forever and my vet is being a butthead. I don't go anywhere else... I suppose I could, but I'm not sure of how reputable any of the other vets in the area are.

Meh, I dumped some peroxide on the scratches, followed by alcohol, so those are good to go. They aren't very deep, except a couple of them, and I've inflicted far worse on myself just by being an idiot.

If rabies were a factor, it wouldn't go near water or food, would it? I shaved up some carrots and chunked some tomato for it a minute ago and when I put the food in the box, it came out to sniff and see what was up. Of course, I could be wrong about the rabies part (about them being skittish of food and water, I mean) but I'm not overly worried about me. I just don't want my kids to get attached to the darned rabbit or we'll end up keeping it, wild bunny or tame bunny, they donnae care.

I grew up in the country and have raised all kinds of animals (including a deer fawn that got left behind by its mother... I'll tell you guys about that some time) that got separated from their mothers, but this is the first rabbit. I've owned domesticated rabbits, but wild ones are meaner--they tend to kick and such (Effie made good use of google last night) and as cute as it is, I don't want it to scratch my kids up.

ETA: Unfortunately, google also had buttloads of bad information on wild rabbit care, too. Which is why I'm asking here what to do with it.

Veinglory, that's a fine idea. I'll just keep it dark and quiet and watch it for a day or two.

Tell your momma thank you. Much appreciated, Rachael.

ETA: Vein, I think it may be. The web page icerose sent me to said if there was no white tuft on its head it was weaned, and there's no white at all on its head. I'll just offer it different stuff, grass, veggies, dandelions and such, fo a few days to make sure it's gonne get better and send it on its way.

Thanks guys. Y'all rock.