Sounds like something worth trying, and I'd probably be leaning more towards Zootopia as well.

Although, I should probably ask something at this point: What's your stance on religious characters?

You see, one character concept I had in mind was a rabbit priest of Frith (the one from Watership Down) using the predator affairs to recruit more followers.

"Feel no shame for your claws and fangs, for you are the Elil, sacred hunters each granted a unique gift by Great Frith himself. It is you who keep the world in balance, so that no people will reign uncontrolled."