rabbits with cats (and a dog)

Question
Hello, I have a 4-yr-old mini rex who has been an only pet since I got him, when he was 5 months old. Now I'm getting married, and my husband will be moving into my house with 3 indoor cats, and we're wondering what we can do to ease this transition.
 The rabbit lives in a large outdoor cage in the summer, and we've seen him nose-to-nose with a local stray cat at the bars of the cage, apparently not frightened (although the cat runs as soon as he sees us). But in the winter, we move his cage into an enclosed porch and let him come into the kitchen during the evenings; he comes in through a pet door. He seems to like being with us, although he's always been skittish and doesn't like being petted - he'll put up with it if the other hand is holding some carrot peelings, but that's about it.
  The cats are old and fairly sedentary; two are 12 years old, and the other is 7 and very shy. They'll be moving into the house during the summer, when the rabbit's outside. Do you think it will be a problem, letting them get used to the house before the rabbit is introduced next winter? I'm hoping they don't become territorial and see the rabbit as an intruder.
  Also, there's a large dog (husky/chow mix), who will also be part of this move. He currently lives almost entirely outdoors, in a fenced-in area. He's 12 years old, but still pretty frisky, and I'm worried that the rabbit will be terrified about having the dog nearby all the time -- I have a small yard, and the rabbit's cage can't really get too far away from the dog's fenced area. Whenever people come down the nearby street walking their dogs, the rabbit gets very tense, and will thump if they get close. It would be great if they could get used to each other and keep each other company outside, but does this ever happen between full-grown dogs and rabbits?
  Thanks for any advice you can give.
Claire

Answer
As long as the rabbit stays caged and the cats do not get into the cage you are OK.  I do not suggest allowing the cats and the rabbit free roaming time.  Also the rabbit is fine even better off outside in the winter.  Having access to the inside keeps him from adjusting to the cold and leaves him more suseptable to colds and such.  The dog will be an issue.  Rabbits can get so scared they actually give themselves a heart attack.  Make sure the cage is as far away from the dog as possible and make sure the rabbit has a box or enclosed area to get away from what makes him nervous (you also want to make sure there is a solid spot for him to sit on to get away from the dog should it get to the cage --- I have had dogs rip off my rabbits' feet through the cage before).  All rabbits are afraid of heights which is why he doesn't like to be held, most rabbits never like to be held at all.

Hope this info helps.

Brenda