Domestic rabbits have complex welfare needs including large space for exercise, social companionship, and opportunities for natural behaviors that are frequently unmet in traditional hutch housing.
The gap between traditional rabbit keeping practices and evidence-based welfare standards is large. Small hutch housing prevents normal locomotion with rabbits unable to complete a single full run or stand on their hind legs. Solitary housing denies social interaction that rabbits are motivated to seek. Inappropriate diets cause dental disease and gastrointestinal problems causing chronic suffering. The popularity of rabbits as children's pets combined with inadequate owner education creates widespread welfare compromise that is hidden by rabbits' stoic natures. Transforming rabbit keeping culture requires sustained public education and industry commitment to better housing standards.