Rabbits are the third most popular companion animal in many countries but receive inadequate welfare attention relative to their numbers. Their complex social, spatial, and behavioral needs are routinely unmet in traditional hutch keeping.
Companion rabbit welfare is chronically underserved despite the popularity of the species. The traditional model of a hutch-confined rabbit fed commercial food mix is incompatible with rabbit behavioral and physiological needs. Rabbits are crepuscular prey animals with complex social hierarchies, high space requirements, and a digestive system that requires near-constant hay consumption. The welfare consequences of inadequate care accumulate invisibly until GI stasis, dental disease, or behavioral breakdown forces veterinary attention. The RWAF (Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund) has developed evidence-based care standards — "A Hutch is Not Enough" — that represent a meaningful welfare improvement roadmap.