Rabbits are among the most commonly kept pets and among the most frequently provided with inadequate housing - small hutches, solitary living, and barren environments cause significant chronic welfare impairment.
Rabbit welfare failures are embedded in how these animals are perceived and marketed. Sold as low-maintenance children's pets requiring little space, rabbits are routinely kept in conditions that violate their fundamental behavioral needs. The welfare gap between typical housing and what rabbits require is among the largest of any common pet species. Rabbits need large spaces for running, companion rabbits for social needs, and a diet of 80% hay for dental and digestive health. Educational campaigns by organizations like the RSPCA have begun shifting public understanding, but market change requires persistent consumer education and ideally, retail and breeder requirements for welfare information at point of sale.