Companion rabbits are among the most misunderstood pets, with welfare frequently compromised by inadequate space, inappropriate housing, social isolation, and failure to recognize their behavioral complexity.
Companion rabbit welfare is compromised at almost epidemic levels due to the gap between their actual needs and the conditions most owners provide. The traditional image of a rabbit as a small, low-maintenance pet kept in a hutch is almost entirely incompatible with rabbit behavioral and physical welfare. Rabbits need space to run and binky (a joyful jumping behavior), social companionship from another rabbit or substantial human interaction, hiding spaces for psychological security, and appropriate foraging material. Dental problems, often rooted in inappropriate diet lacking adequate hay, are prevalent and frequently fatal if untreated. The emotional responsiveness of rabbits, who develop strong bonds with owners and other rabbits and show measurable grief when companions are lost, reflects a cognitive and emotional complexity that most owners do not anticipate when acquiring rabbits.