Rabbits are the third most commonly kept companion animal in many countries yet among the most welfare-compromised, due to widespread misunderstanding of their complex needs.
Rabbit welfare is compromised by the persistent misconception that they are low-maintenance pets suitable for children. In reality, rabbits are complex social animals with demanding physical, social, and dietary needs. Keeping a rabbit alone in a small cage without adequate exercise, companionship, or hay-based diet causes chronic suffering from loneliness, boredom, and painful conditions like dental disease and GI stasis. The high surrender rate reflects the gap between expectations and the reality of rabbit care. Better education at point of sale and adoption, and higher welfare standards for rabbit housing, are urgently needed.