Rabbits are the third most commonly kept companion animal in many countries, yet their welfare is more frequently compromised than that of dogs or cats due to persistent myths about their needs.
Companion rabbit welfare suffers from a collision of mythologies: rabbits are perceived as low-maintenance starter pets for children, as animals that enjoy being held and cuddled, and as content in small hutches with minimal space. The evidence contradicts all three myths. Rabbits are prey animals that find restraint stressful rather than comforting; they require large spaces and social companions; and they need daily care and attention comparable to dogs and cats in terms of welfare-critical monitoring. The gap between perceived and actual rabbit needs has created a large population of welfare-compromised animals kept in conditions that cause chronic suffering. Improving rabbit welfare requires a public awareness campaign that fundamentally reframes how rabbits are understood, and retail standards that make appropriate housing the norm rather than the exception.