Rabbits are the third most common companion animal in the UK and US — yet their welfare is chronically poor due to misunderstanding of their behavioral and social needs.
Rabbit welfare is systematically compromised by a persistent gap between public perception and welfare science. Rabbits are marketed as easy, low-maintenance starter pets suitable for children — but welfare science reveals animals with complex social needs, significant space requirements, specific dietary needs for dental health, and a stoicism that makes their suffering invisible without informed observation. The consequences are predictable: millions of rabbits living in small hutches, isolated from companions, fed inappropriate diets, and handled in ways that cause them fear. Rabbits binkying — the leap-twist-kick that expresses genuine joy — are rarely seen in inadequately housed rabbits. Welfare improvement requires honest public education that challenges the starter-pet assumption.