Rabbits are the third most popular companion animal in many countries yet among the most commonly neglected, with millions kept in conditions that deny their fundamental needs for space, social companionship, and complex environments.
Rabbit welfare in companion animal settings is among the most widely neglected of any common pet species. The gap between what rabbits need and what they receive is stark: millions of rabbits spend their entire lives in hutches too small to allow natural movement, without the social companionship of another rabbit, and fed diets of pellets and vegetables rather than the hay that their digestive systems require. Rabbits kept in isolation develop stereotypic behaviours, heightened stress responses, and chronic anxiety — welfare states that are poorly recognised because rabbits mask distress through freezing rather than vocalisation. The minimum hutch size recommended by welfare organisations — a space the size of a large car bonnet plus an attached run — is still far smaller than optimal. Bonded pairs of neutered rabbits show dramatically improved welfare outcomes: reduced stress hormones, more time in exploration and play, and lower incidence of abnormal behaviours.