Rabbits are among the most poorly housed companion animals, and welfare standards require much more space and complexity than traditional hutch keeping provides.
Pet rabbit welfare is one of the most persistently poor areas of companion animal care. The traditional wooden hutch — standard equipment sold in pet shops — is inadequate for a species that needs space to run, dig, jump, and socialise. Rabbits in restrictive housing develop physical problems (spinal curvature, obesity, GI stasis) and psychological problems (fear, boredom, chronic stress) that are invisible to owners who rarely observe their pets during peak activity hours. The welfare solution is straightforward in principle: pair-keep rabbits in large, complex environments with daily free-range time, tunnel systems, digging areas, and foraging enrichment. Owner education at the point of purchase — including accurate space requirements before sale — is the primary prevention lever.