Important Rabbit Welfare Tips from the RWAF for 2025

Rabbits can make delightful pets, but their care is more complex than many realise. This updated welfare guide, shared with permission from the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF), offers crucial information to consider before deciding to buy or adopt a rabbit.

The first important point is that rabbits are not cheap or easy children’s pets; they have detailed needs that must be met carefully. Rescue centres in the UK receive an estimated 67,000 rabbits each year abandoned due to lack of proper care.

Rabbits are not...

• Ideal pets for young children
  As prey animals, rabbits are naturally nervous. They rarely enjoy being cuddled and may bite or scratch when stressed. Building trust takes time and must respect the rabbit’s comfort levels, which children may find difficult.
• Happy to be picked up or petted frequently
  Handling signals predator attack to a rabbit, provoking stress responses. Most owners only pick up rabbits to monitor health. The joy in rabbit ownership often comes from observing their natural behaviours.
• Content in small spaces
  Wild rabbits live in large warrens and cover wide areas daily. Pet rabbits require a large, secure enclosure—minimum 10ft by 6ft, and 3ft high—with a permanent exercise run attached. Outdoor hutches must be predator-proof, especially against foxes, including protection against digging and climbing.
  We recommend locking rabbits indoors at night unless your run is 100% fox-proof.
• Happy living alone
  Scientific studies confirm rabbits value companionship almost as highly as food. Keeping a bonded pair of neutered rabbits of opposite sexes is best practice. Introductions should be done gradually on neutral territory to avoid stress.
• Easy to look after
  Daily cleaning and feeding fresh hay, vegetables and clean water are essential. Rabbits live more than 10 years, so veterinary care, including annual vaccination against Myxomatosis and both strains of Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD1 and RVHD2), is vital.
• Cuddly toys are not suitable replacements
  Rabbits are often bought because of their cute appearance but can soon be neglected or abandoned if their needs are not understood.
• Cheap pets to maintain
  While initial purchase cost may seem low, lifetime care—housing, nutritious food, neutering, vaccinations, vet visits—can exceed £10,000 for a pair.

Rabbits are...

Beautiful and curious animals deserving of enriched lives. To care well for them, you must:

• Keep at least two rabbits together to satisfy their social needs.
• Ensure regular veterinary check-ups with a rabbit-savvy vet who provides recommended vaccinations starting from five weeks old, repeated annually.
• Have rabbits neutered to prevent health problems and unwanted behaviour; notably, 60% of unspayed females develop uterine cancer by age three.
• Provide a habitat that allows natural rabbit behaviours such as running, digging and exploring.
• Daily clean and health check your rabbits as they often hide signs of illness.
• Feed an 85% hay-based diet with 10% fresh leafy vegetables and 5% quality pellets to maintain dental and digestive health.

These needs continue for up to 12 years or more.

Social Lives and Bonding

Rabbits are social creatures that live in colonies in the wild. Pet rabbits thrive in compatible neutered pairs or groups. Even same-sex pairs need careful introduction and management. If you only have one rabbit, consider finding a companion from a reputable rescue centre.

Bonding should take place slowly on neutral ground with lots of supervision. For detailed guidance on bonding rabbits, please visit RWAF's bonding advice page.

Housing Requirements

Adequate housing is fundamental to welfare. An ideal enclosure is a minimum of 10ft by 6ft and 3ft high, secure against predators including foxes which require preventative measures such as buried mesh or reinforced fencing.

Indoor rabbits require safe zones free from electrical hazards and other pets, with plenty of room to move freely. Hutches or cages are best viewed as burrows for resting, not confinement areas.

Further accommodation advice can be found at RWAF Housing Guide.

Natural Diet and Feeding

Rabbits thrive on a diet resembling their natural grass-based intake. High-quality hay should form 85% of their diet, with fresh vegetables providing up to 10%, and a limited amount (about an eggcupful twice daily) of good quality pellets making up the rest. Avoid muesli-style mixes which can be selective and imbalanced.

Suitable chew items such as apple and willow branches support dental health. Wild plants like dandelions can be given if known safe; check this list of poisonous plants.

Ensure clean fresh water daily; water bottles should be scrubbed regularly and monitored especially in freezing weather to prevent malfunction.

Understanding Rabbit Behaviour and Welfare

As prey animals, rabbits have natural behaviours including digging, chewing and hiding. They dislike being held above ground and loud noises or sudden movements cause distress.

Encourage interaction at ground level and provide enrichment like digging boxes, cardboard tunnels and hidey-holes where rabbits can retreat safely without pressure to come out.

Health Concerns and Veterinary Care

Rabbits can live 10-12 years or longer if well cared for. Choose a veterinarian experienced with rabbits for regular vaccination and health checks.

Common health problems include dental disease, which can arise from improper diet and requires vet attention, gut stasis which is potentially life-threatening, and flystrike particularly in warmer months. Annual vaccinations against Myxomatosis and both RVHD strains are mandatory for protection.

Female rabbits should be spayed to prevent uterine cancer, a common fatal disease affecting up to 60% of unspayed females by age three.

Be prepared financially for ongoing healthcare costs including emergencies, and consider pet insurance designed specifically for rabbits.

Keeping Rabbits Safe and Enriched

Provide safe digging areas or boxes with peat or sand to satisfy natural behaviours. Rabbits also enjoy exploring and foraging games such as hiding treats.

Indoor rabbits need protection from household dangers such as electrical wiring and toxic plants, as well as safety from other pets that may see them as prey.

Creating a Routine

Establish daily and evening care routines including feeding, water checks, cleaning, health inspection and enrichment. Consistency supports rabbit wellbeing and helps owners spot unusual changes promptly.

FAQs About Rabbit Care

What age can rabbits get pregnant?

Quick Answer: Rabbits can reach sexual maturity and become pregnant as early as 3 to 4 months old.

Young rabbits mature quickly, so it is crucial to have rabbits neutered if not intended for breeding to prevent unwanted litters and health issues related to early pregnancy.

Should rabbits be kept in pairs?

Quick Answer: Yes, rabbits are social animals and should ideally be kept in bonded, neutered pairs or compatible groups.

Keepsingle rabbits often suffer loneliness and stress. Proper bonding takes time and should be done gradually to ensure compatibility and wellbeing.

How often should rabbits be vaccinated?

Quick Answer: Rabbits should be vaccinated annually against Myxomatosis and both strains of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease starting from five weeks old.

Vaccination is essential to protect rabbits from these deadly viral diseases, which are widespread in the UK. Boosters are given yearly, often with a triple vaccine covering Myxo-RVHD1 and RVHD2 strains.

How do you bond two rabbits?

Quick Answer: Bonding two rabbits involves neutering both, introducing them slowly on neutral territory, supervised sessions, and patience.

Careful step-by-step introduction helps reduce aggression and stress. Providing enrichment and time helps rabbits form stable bonds critical for their happiness and health.

Conclusion

Caring responsibly for pet rabbits requires commitment to their complex needs. From adequate housing and companionship to proper diet, vet care and enrichment, understanding rabbit welfare is key to giving these beautiful animals a happy, healthy life that can span over a decade.

Before bringing rabbits into your home, ensure you are prepared to meet these responsibilities fully. For more information and detailed advice, visit the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund website.