Rabbit housing welfare is one of the most neglected areas of companion animal welfare, with traditional hutches providing grossly inadequate space and the welfare movement advocating strongly for improved minimum standards.
Rabbit housing welfare represents a significant gap between traditional pet-keeping practice and modern welfare standards. The classic 4-foot hutch - still widely sold in pet shops - provides space for a rabbit to barely turn around, let alone perform the running, jumping, and binkying behaviours that indicate positive welfare. Rabbits in inadequate housing develop muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, and psychological problems including stereotypic behaviour. The welfare improvement from providing adequate space is dramatic and measurable. Campaigns advocating for minimum space standards in rabbit housing legislation are ongoing. In the meantime, owners can substantially improve rabbit welfare by providing a permanent large run alongside any hutch.