They are cute and cuddly, but many rabbits aren’t provided the care, stimulation and environment they need to be happy animals.

Millions of rabbits are kept in our homes and in our gardens. But not all these companion animals are treated equally.

While many live enriching lives which bring them joy and happiness, others are miserable due to a lack of understanding of their needs.

One of the fundamental basic needs of all rabbits to ensure they can find contentment and happiness in their lives is to live with another rabbit. It’s not always easy to get two unfamiliar rabbits to bond, but once they do they never look back.

Domestic rabbits are wild rabbits at heart. They are prey animals and in the wild they rely on the company of family members, not only to keep warm in the winter but also to warn them if predators are around. As a result, isolated rabbits spend much of their time feeling anxious, they have nobody’ to warn them of danger, meaning they cannot truly relax.

Rabbits also communicate and like all social animals they need to be in the company of individuals that understand their “language”. Expression takes many forms from rolling in the sand or soil to cowering when stressed or threatened. Having a friend at hand to provide comfort or a playmate to enjoy a run and a roll is essential to the happiness of all animals.

Rabbits also need a rabbit friend to help keep them clean. As they spend time grooming each other, they also reaffirm their friendship and bond.

Rabbit friendship rivals that of all other species. Rabbits groom each other, eat together, exercise together, dig and roll in the sand together and sleep together. In fact, as soon as a rabbit meets its best friend they spend very little time apart.

On International Rabbit Day, please take some time to think of the rabbits in your life and ensure that they have all they need to live a healthy and a happy life.

And for anyone thinking of getting a domestic rabbit, please take time to read through the following rabbit care advice and ask if you are ready to provide an appropriate  home for a rabbit and to meet these needs for the next 11 years.

Rabbit care and advice

Rabbits are specialised companion animals and owners require detailed knowledge to meet their physical and behavioural needs. Rabbits are social animals, requiring the company of other rabbits. They require large amounts of space, mental stimulation, and access to specific foods to ensure they live a healthy lifestyle.

It is not acceptable to keep rabbits permanently confined inside a cage or hutch while being fed a diet of vegetables and fruits.

If you are thinking of having rabbits in your life, please contact your local animal rescue centre to provide a home for rabbits that do not currently have one. 

Rabbits need:

• space, food, water, safe hiding places, companion rabbits, toilet areas and toys.
• Safe toys to play with/chew and regular opportunities to play with other friendly rabbits and/or people. 
• Constant access to safe hiding places so they can escape if they feel afraid.
• Opportunities to exercise daily to stay fit and healthy. They need access to a large area during their most active periods (early morning, late afternoon and overnight) when they like to graze, forage and be sociable.
• Constant access to good quality hay is important for emotional wellbeing as well as dental and digestive health.
• Suitable materials that allow digging and areas to mark territory with chin secretions, urine and droppings. Scents are important communication methods for rabbits.
   

A rabbit carer needs to be ever-observant. If a rabbit’s behaviour changes or shows signs of stress or fear, they must seek advice from a vet or qualified animal behaviourist. Your companion could be distressed, bored, ill or injured.

Signs of stress

• hiding,
• chewing cage bars,
• over-grooming,
• altered feeding or toileting habits,
• over-drinking, playing with the water bottle,
• sitting hunched,
• reluctance to move or repeatedly circling the enclosure.

Domestic rabbits should be neutered; this not only prevents unwanted litters but also reduces the risk of uterine cancer in females, reduces aggression in both sexes and enables pairs or groups to live harmoniously.

It is inappropriate to give a rabbit as a pet to children. Rabbits are highly sensitive animals, requiring very careful and experienced handling.

Diet

A rabbit’s diet should consist of 70% hay, 20% greens and fresh vegetables and 10% specialised rabbit pellets.

• Hay or forage is the most important part of your rabbit's diet. Good quality forage has lots of health benefits, including:

• Maintaining healthy teeth. Rabbits' teeth grow 2-3 mm a week, so chewing forage keeps them ground down. Three in four rabbits seen by vets are diagnosed with dental problems, which arise when the teeth grow too long.
• Keeping the gut healthy. The high levels of fibre found in forage are vital for a healthy digestive system.
• Preventing boredom. Foraging in hay will help keep your rabbit entertained.
• As well as forage, feed your rabbit an extruded food such as Burgess Excel, which comes recommended by vets and contains the optimum balance of nutrients in every nugget.
• Don't feed a muesli mix, as your rabbit will simply pick out the bits it likes and leave the rest, missing out on vital nutrients.
• Make sure your rabbit has access to fresh, clean water always.
• Rabbits have 7,000 more taste buds than humans so give them some variety in their diet. Stick to healthy treats such as spinach or kale but feed them in moderation.
• Never feed your rabbit human food. Some human food is poisonous to rabbits, so don't take the risk.

Behaviour

As domestic rabbits still have most of their natural instincts, it’s very important that we understand and consider their natural habitat and behaviour, so we can make sure they’re as happy as they would be in the wild.

In their natural habitat, rabbits have plenty to keep them occupied, from foraging to reproduction to territorial defence. Captive rabbits, on the other hand, often lack stimulation, which can lead to behavioural problems and poor health. Much like humans, they need to be kept physically and mentally active.

Replicating the natural environment:

• Tunnels.
• Tree stumps.
• Twigs (which can be hung in their runs).
• Suitable toys.
• Planter filled with potting compost for digging.
• Large tubes and platforms for climbing.
• Places to hide (because rabbits are naturally wary).
• Cardboard boxes.
• Games, such as food items in brown paper which they must unwrap.

Early socialisation

It’s incredibly beneficial for rabbits to start interacting with people, other rabbits and other animals, such as cats and dogs, from an early age. Familiarity with other species will help your rabbits develop into friendly and confident adults. Exposing them to normal everyday sights and sounds is also important, so they’re relaxed and happy in their environments. 

Vaccinations

Like every responsible companion animal guardian, if you want your rabbits to live a healthy and happy life, you must have them vaccinated against Myxomatosis and two strains of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD). Your rabbit will need two vaccinations every year. The most common are Nobivac (protects against Myxi and RVHD1) and Filivac (protects against RVDD 1 & 2) or Eravac (protects against RVHD2). Please consult your vet for advice.

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