Following are selected posts to the Holisticat (TM) Mailing List on the subject of feeding rabbit. There's a lot of information here, and the posts are arranged in ascending chronological order. If there is a particular word you're looking for, it's probably best to utilize the "Find in Page" function in your edit menu!

Happy hunting :)

Sandy A writes:
<<Naomi,
Rabbit is great for kitties!  It's wonderful that you have a good local source. I have a friend in rural England who also gets rabbits really really cheap.  I'm so envious b/c it is very expensive here:(
I am afraid of flukes from raw rabbit meat so unless I am sure of the source, I cook the meat. I end up buying it at an organic grocery store for mucho bucks a lb just so I know where the critters came from, and so I can feed raw.  I grind the bones along w/ the meat, no sweat.  Rabbit bones grind easily in my VillaWare grinder <yay>>>

I didn't know about the flukes.  Thanks for the warning - will have to investigate further.

Naomi

Here's what I got on another list (permission granted to forward):

"Vick, This is for the seafood, but I think you can apply the same to meat.

Controlling parasites

The process of heating raw fish sufficiently to kill bacterial pathogens is also sufficient to kill parasites. Guidance concerning cooking and pasteurizing to kill pathogens is provided in Chapters 16 and 17. Regulatory requirements for retorting (low acid canned foods) are contained in 21 CFR 113. This Guide does not provide further guidance on retorting.

Freezing (-4°F (-20°C) or below (internal or external) for 7 days or -31°F (-35°C) or below (internal) for 15 hrs) of fish intended for raw consumption also kills parasites. FDA's Food Code recommends these freezing conditions to retailers who provide fish intended for raw consumption."

Vick and the kitty company: Skippy, Sam, Max and Jezebel

There is a disease you can get from handling raw rabbits called Tularemia, people here in West Virginia call it "rabbit fever".  It
causes a flu like illness and is treated with antibiotics and can be fatal in rare cases.  The bacteria enters your skin through a small scrape or cut and in some cases is even transmitted by insects.  My medical book doesn't say if freezing will kill the bacteria or not but to be on the safe side I would wear gloves whenever handling raw  rabbit.  I don't know if cats are affected by it or not.
Tami