Rabbits are social animals with significant space requirements that small hutches cannot meet. Understanding their needs transforms the welfare of this often-overlooked pet species.
Pet rabbit welfare is a significant and under-recognised problem. Despite their popularity as pets, rabbits are among the most welfare-compromised companion animals. The image of a rabbit contentedly living in a small hutch has been normalised across generations, creating a welfare baseline that is actually well below what these active, social animals need. Rabbits kept in small hutches without a companion cannot hop, jump, or express any natural behaviour for most of the day. Loneliness in a solitary rabbit causes psychological suffering that manifests as aggression, thumping, and abnormal repetitive behaviours. The good news is that the solution is straightforward: larger space, a bonded companion, access to hay as the primary diet, and enrichment that encourages natural foraging and digging.