Companionship

Rabbits are social animals, and appropriate companionship is vital for their emotional wellbeing and quality of life.

Why rabbits should never be alone

Rabbits are highly social creatures – this means that they need company, and that company should be from other rabbits.

Key points

Make sure you have the right space

Before you begin to bond another rabbit to your existing rabbit you need to make sure that you have enough space. The minimum recommendation is 3m x 2m x 1m and this is for up to two rabbits. One rabbit needs this space as much as two, to run, jump and play, but it is vital that you have this space as a minimum for two rabbits so that lack of space does not cause them to fight.

Rabbits and guinea pigs

Sometimes people put a rabbit and guinea pig together to be friends, and although it very occasionally does work, we recommend strongly against it. Before people regularly neutered rabbits, they would keep rabbits and guinea pigs together so they could have social contact but not reproduce. However, things have moved on, and this is no longer necessary, and we explain more about it here. If someone is determined to house rabbits and guinea pigs together and ignore the many risks, then they should be aware that they are doing this against all modern welfare advice.

Better for you!

As well as improving the life of your pet beyond recognition, providing a friend for your rabbit will have great benefits for you as an owner. Seeing your pets happily snuggling together is a pure joy!

Neutering and pairing (bonding)

To be kept in (at least) pairs, rabbits must be neutered – castrated or spayed (recommend regardless). If they weren’t already in a bonded pair (or group) when they came to you, you can’t just put them together and expect them to like each other. Pairing up is sometimes a long process but very well worth the patience and persistence.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA), the British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS) and the British Small Animals Veterinary Association (BSAVA) have joined together to publish this policy statement about housing rabbits in compatible pairs or groups.