Rabbits are highly social animals whose welfare depends critically on having appropriate companionship, yet many pet rabbits are housed alone, causing chronic loneliness and distress.
Rabbit welfare in companion animal settings is systematically compromised by two linked failures: inadequate housing space and solitary keeping. Both stem from a historical perception of rabbits as low-maintenance children's pets rather than complex social mammals requiring significant care. A solitary rabbit in a small hutch — the traditional image of pet rabbit keeping — is an animal experiencing chronic loneliness, boredom, and confinement. Modern rabbit welfare guidance has substantially raised expectations for housing size and social complexity, but adoption of these standards by pet retailers, owners, and local authorities remains incomplete. Rabbits deserve companion animal welfare standards equivalent to cats and dogs.