Rabbits are among the most commonly kept and most poorly understood companion animals. Misconceptions about their needs lead to widespread preventable suffering.
Rabbit welfare suffers from a persistent cultural myth that rabbits are low-maintenance starter pets suitable for children and small spaces. In reality, rabbits have complex social, dietary, environmental, and veterinary needs that are frequently unmet. The result is endemic dental disease, GI disorders, obesity, and chronic social isolation across the pet rabbit population. Many rabbits spend their lives in outdoor hutches with insufficient space, wrong diets, no companions, and limited human interaction — a welfare emergency at scale that is largely invisible because rabbits silently endure conditions that would visibly distress dogs or cats. Reform requires consumer education, breeder regulation, and veterinary guidance that accurately represents rabbit complexity.