Five common misconceptions about pet rabbits you need to get over before you buy one

Rabbits are a really popular pet in the UK, but sadly they're also one of the most misunderstood too, and this means many rabbits aren't cared for in the best possible way or are bought by owners wholly unprepared for the realities of things as they didn't do enough research.

Rabbits are complex pets to keep, and you need to learn what this means in reality before, not after, you take one home. This article will get you started by outlining five common misconceptions about rabbits many people have, and which you need to get past before you go and buy one. Read on to learn more.

Rabbits are low maintenance pets

Rabbits used to be, in the words of one vet who sees a lot of them "the sort of pet parents get for kids when they don't really want their kids to have a pet at all." This is because all too many people think of rabbits (and sometimes other animals kept in a cage or hutch ) as being low maintenance, without lots of needs or being likely to place a lot of demands on your time.

This is patently untrue, however; while you don't have to walk a rabbit like you do a dog, they can actually take more time to care for properly than most people think; better viewed in terms of the care needs and time commitment for looking after a dog than a cat, certainly.

Feeding a rabbit a balanced diet means both sourcing and preparing fresh food as well as dried, keeping a constant supply of grass and hay, and monitoring your rabbit's weight and fitness. Some rabbits actually need encouragement to exercise, their accommodations need to be cleaned out daily, and they need lots of interaction and attention too if you want them to be tame.

They're even high maintenance in terms of the number of times they are apt to need to visit the vet in their lifetimes too, for routine healthcare like vaccinations, spay and neuter, flea treatments, and even potentially dental care. That's only when they're healthy!

Rabbit health in general is rather complex, and there are quite a lot of rabbit health conditions that can be acute and serious, which owners need to learn about and be proactive about preventing; factoring in the challenges that can come from wild rabbit populations and associated contagion.

Rabbits are inexpensive to keep

Rabbits aren't generally expensive to buy (other than for exotic breeds, excellent quality examples of popular breeds, or show rabbits) but the purchase price is an absolute drop in the deeper ocean!

Buying an appropriate form of housing and exercise run can set you back several hundred pounds, and as mentioned above, even rabbits in good health tend to be frequent fliers at the vet for routine care and preventative treatments; all of which soon adds up.

The cost of keeping a rabbit is often overlooked, and results in their needs sometimes being overlooked in turn. In fact, the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund estimates the cost of keeping one rabbit can easily run to £5,000 or more over the course of their lifetime.

Rabbits don't take up much space

Rabbits live in a hutch, right? Uh, well in the same way that a person can live in a two-man tent, and never be allowed out of it… theoretically the accommodations itself would not kill said person or pet, but they would not thrive or be happy and ultimately their accommodations would almost certainly shorten their lifespan.

Hutches were of course the go-to or only option historically for housing rabbits, but they were never designed to keep a rabbit in for the entire duration of its life; or rather, they were, when that "life" would run to a few days or weeks within the hutch and that was it.

Huh? Well, the background to this is that when rabbit was a common staple on most people's menu, they were kept in hutches adjacent to the kitchen all ready to be killed and put in the pot. Put simply, hutches were a type of holding cell for a rabbit on death row destined for dinner; not appropriate, well thought out accommodation for a long and happy life.

The actual main living space a rabbit needs when enclosed (such as overnight) should be vastly larger than many people expect, and they also need to be able to move around freely as much as possible, such as within an even-larger run on grass they can graze on.

Rabbits like being picked up and cuddled

Rabbits are undeniably cuddly; they're adorable looking and very tactile to the touch, and it just makes you want to pick them up and snuggle them! This is all really unfortunate from a rabbit's point of view, because rabbits do not actually like being picked up and certainly don't like being squeezed or restrained.

In fact, because rabbits are prey animals, being picked up (particularly if cornered, or unexpectedly) is very alarming, as it makes them think they've been caught by a hunter. Young rabbits need to be conditioned very carefully to being picked up, and in the right way – and even so, it is better to let a rabbit come to you and come up to sit on your lap willingly without being lifted.

Rabbits can be kept on their own if you pay them enough attention

Finally, this is one of the most enduring and harmful rabbit care myths; that you can keep one rabbit on their own (specifically without another rabbit) and this is ok, as long as you give them lots of attention.

This is a particular common misapprehension among people who keep house rabbits in the same way other people keep cats or dogs, as they have lots of human company, freedom to roam, and will bond with their owner.

While house rabbits really do become king of the castle in many cases and will commonly be highly affectionate and actively seek out the company of their owner, they still need another rabbit for company too.

There is no substitute for a rabbit having a rabbit pal; not human interaction nor living with another type of pet like a Guinea pig.

Myth: Rabbits Don't Need Vaccinating

This is one of the most dangerous misconceptions in rabbit ownership. UK rabbits need protection against three diseases: Myxomatosis, Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease type 1 (RHD1), and the newer and more deadly Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease type 2 (RHD2). All three can be fatal, and all three circulate in wild rabbit populations in the UK, meaning even indoor rabbits are not safe. RHD2 in particular spreads easily via birds, insects, shoes, and clothing — a rabbit does not need direct contact with an infected animal to contract it.

Annual boosters are required to maintain protection, and some vets recommend six-monthly RHD2 boosters in high-risk areas. The cost of vaccination is modest compared to the cost of treating — and frequently losing — an unvaccinated rabbit to any of these diseases. If you adopted or purchased a rabbit without vaccination records, contact your vet to establish a vaccination schedule as soon as possible.

Myth: Rabbits and Guinea Pigs Make Good Companions

It is tempting to pair rabbits and guinea pigs as they are similar in size and both commonly kept in hutches, but this pairing is actively discouraged by rabbit and small animal welfare organisations. The two species communicate entirely differently and cannot understand each other's signals, which leads to stress and confusion for both animals.

The physical risk is more serious: rabbits are considerably stronger than guinea pigs and can cause severe, sometimes fatal, injuries to a guinea pig through kicking — often without any aggressive intent. A rabbit's powerful back legs are dangerous even during normal movement. Additionally, rabbits can carry the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica without showing symptoms; in guinea pigs, this can cause serious respiratory disease. Dietary differences also mean that feeding arrangements must be kept entirely separate. Rabbits need companions of their own species — a neutered male-female pair or a same-sex pair from the same litter is ideal.

Myth: Rabbits Only Live 2–3 Years

This outdated belief stems from an era when rabbits were kept in poor conditions in small hutches, often without proper nutrition, veterinary care, or companionship. A well-cared-for domestic rabbit today can live 8 to 12 years, and some reach their early teens.

This is a significant commitment that prospective owners must take seriously. Acquiring a rabbit as a low-effort starter pet for a child, with the assumption it will only be around for a couple of years, leads to welfare problems and heartbreak. Rabbits that live a decade will need consistent care through changes in family circumstances, house moves, and the various life stages that follow. Before buying, consider honestly whether you can commit to 10 years of care.

Myth: Carrots Should Be a Staple Diet

The cultural image of a rabbit happily munching a whole carrot has done considerable harm. Carrots are high in natural sugars and should be offered only as an occasional treat — a small slice once or twice a week at most. The same applies to fruit and other root vegetables. Feeding these regularly contributes to dental disease, obesity, and digestive problems.

A rabbit's diet should be approximately 80% high-quality hay, which is essential for both digestive health and tooth wear. The remaining 20% should consist of fresh leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, kale, and fresh herbs. Pellets can be offered in small quantities but should not be the primary component. Hay is the single most important food a rabbit eats, and a rabbit that is not consuming large amounts of it every day should be seen by a vet.

Do rabbits really need a companion?

Yes. Rabbits are highly social animals that suffer measurably when kept in isolation. Studies and welfare assessments consistently show that lone rabbits display more stress behaviours, lower activity levels, and poorer overall welfare than bonded pairs. A rabbit companion provides grooming, communication, and the kind of social reassurance that no human can fully replicate. The RSPCA and the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund both advocate strongly for rabbits to be kept in pairs or small groups. If you already have a single rabbit, speak to your vet about safe bonding methods with a neutered partner.

How long do pet rabbits live in the UK?

Pet rabbits that are well cared for — with correct diet, appropriate housing, companionship, and regular veterinary attention including vaccination — typically live between 8 and 12 years. Some individuals live longer. This is considerably more than the 2 to 3 years sometimes quoted in older literature, which reflected the much poorer care standards of previous decades. Planning for a decade of care is a reasonable expectation when you bring a rabbit home.