Rabbits are highly social animals that experience genuine distress when housed alone, making the provision of a bonded companion one of the most important welfare improvements for pet rabbits.
Solitary rabbit housing is a welfare compromise so significant that it is now identified as the primary welfare problem for pet rabbits by many veterinary and welfare organizations. Bonded pairs engage in social grooming, play, and sleeping contact that are clearly positive welfare experiences. The welfare cost of social isolation in this highly social species represents preventable chronic suffering for millions of pet rabbits.