Rabbits are the third most popular companion animal in many countries but among the most frequently mistreated. Understanding their true welfare needs prevents common and serious failures.
Rabbit welfare in companion settings is chronically poor because pet store sales prioritize small hutches and muesli mixes that are profitable but harmful. Solitary rabbits in small hutches suffer from social deprivation, movement restriction, and dietary disease simultaneously — a combination that makes chronic suffering the norm rather than the exception for millions of kept rabbits. Dental disease from inadequate hay consumption causes chronic pain from malocclusion and abscesses that progress for months before owners notice. Welfare organizations universally recommend bonded pairs, large indoor or outdoor enclosures with constant hay access, and spaying/neutering to prevent reproductive cancers and reduce aggression. Prospective rabbit owners should research requirements as thoroughly as for a dog.