Rabbits are among the most neglected companion animals, frequently housed in inadequate conditions without meeting their complex behavioral and social needs.
Rabbit welfare is a major but underappreciated companion animal issue. Rabbits are often purchased on impulse and housed in conditions that cause chronic suffering: hutches where they cannot stand fully upright or perform binkies (joyful jumping), isolation causing chronic loneliness, and diets of muesli-type foods rather than the hay that should comprise 85% of intake. Understanding rabbit behavioral needs is fundamental to responsible rabbit ownership.