Rabbits are among the most welfare-compromised pets in the UK, with outdated husbandry practices including small hutch housing causing chronic physical and psychological deprivation.
Pet rabbit welfare suffers from a profound gap between public perception and evidence-based understanding of rabbit needs. Rabbits are widely perceived as low-maintenance starter pets, but their welfare requirements - space for binking and running, social companionship, high-fibre diet, and hiding places - are demanding and frequently unmet. A rabbit in a traditional small hutch cannot stand fully upright, turn around freely, or engage in any natural locomotor behaviour. The welfare consequences of chronic space restriction include muscle weakness, osteoporosis, obesity, and chronic psychological frustration. The persistence of inadequate housing despite clear RWAF guidelines reflects a failure of public education and pet retail standards.