Evaluating and improving housing standards for pet rabbits to meet their complex welfare needs.
Rabbit housing welfare represents one of the largest gaps between pet industry standards and species needs in companion animal care. The traditional hutch and small cage setup is deeply embedded in public perception but is inadequate for rabbits' physical and psychological needs in virtually every dimension - size, social requirements, surface quality, and enrichment opportunity. The scale of this welfare problem is substantial given the millions of pet rabbits kept in substandard housing. Welfare organization campaigns for minimum housing standards are gradually shifting public awareness, but the welfare gap remains enormous.