Rabbits are commonly kept in conditions that severely restrict their welfare, making improved housing standards one of the highest-impact interventions for companion rabbit welfare.
Rabbits kept in traditional small hutches are prevented from expressing their most fundamental natural behaviors: running, jumping, standing on their hind legs, and social interaction. This physical restriction causes both physical problems including muscle weakness and osteoporosis, and psychological problems including boredom and frustration. Rabbits in inadequate housing often develop stereotypic behaviors indicating chronic stress. The gap between standard commercial rabbit housing and welfare-appropriate housing is enormous.