Cavalier raiding rabbit feeder? Slow feeder fix

A Cavalier raiding the rabbit's feeder is a really common problem — they're clever, food-motivated little dogs, and hay-based feeders are practically an invitation. Before we sort out a solution for keeping him away from the rabbit's food, it's worth knowing that dogs eating too fast — whether it's their own dinner or stolen rabbit pellets — are at increased risk of bloat, which can be life-threatening in larger breeds, and vomiting and digestive upset in any size dog. A good slow feeder can genuinely halve eating speed. To point you in the right direction: how fast does he eat his own meals, has he had any vomiting or digestive issues, and is the rabbit's feeder wall-mounted or floor-level?

Thirty seconds for a full meal is very fast for a Cavalier, and the vomiting is almost certainly connected — he's gulping air along with the food. That's worth addressing properly, not just for comfort but because Cavaliers can be prone to digestive sensitivity anyway. The rabbit raiding is a separate habit loop he's built — once he's found a reliable food source, he'll keep going back. What are you currently feeding him, and is the rabbit's enclosure in a room you can close off, or is it open-plan?

That's the right instinct — if he has his own engaging food puzzle, he's much less likely to bother the rabbit's setup, and you solve the fast-eating problem at the same time. For an 8kg Cavalier eating dry kibble, I'd recommend the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl in the small size. It has a maze of ridges that forces him to work around the pattern rather than just scooping, which typically stretches a 30-second meal out to three or four minutes. It's dishwasher safe, sits flat without sliding, and the small size is sized well for a Cavalier's shorter muzzle — he can reach into the grooves without frustration. It's widely available on Amazon UK for around £10–12. The enrichment aspect is a genuine side effect: using his nose and problem-solving to get his own food tends to settle dogs down and reduces the scavenging urge elsewhere.

It's a fair concern, and some dogs do try it at first. The Fun Feeder has a fairly low centre of gravity and rubber feet that grip carpet and hard floors well, so most small dogs don't manage to flip it. If he's persistent, feeding him in a corner or against a skirting board gives him nowhere to push it. You could also wet the kibble slightly — it sticks in the grooves better and makes the puzzle a bit more satisfying, which tends to redirect the energy into solving it rather than overturning it. Give it three or four meals and he'll usually settle into the rhythm.

Yes — even with the slow feeder keeping him occupied, it's worth removing the temptation while he's adjusting. The simplest fix is a baby gate with a small cat-flap cut-out or a purpose-made rabbit-run gate that the rabbit can pass through but he can't. That gives the rabbit her space back and stops him practising the raiding habit while the new feeding routine takes hold. Once he's reliably engaged with the Fun Feeder at mealtimes, you may find he loses interest in the hutch anyway — a lot of the drive is boredom and opportunity combined.