Rabbits are naturally sociable animals so it is vital to make sure they have a bunny-friend to live with, according to vet charity PDSA. This ‘Cheer up the Lonely Day’, PDSA is highlighting the importance of rabbits having a compatible companion.
The 2023 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report revealed that 42% of rabbits live alone, with a further 5% living with another species of animal, meaning that an estimated 530,000 rabbits (48%) are still not having their companionship needs met appropriately.
The PAW Report also highlighted that 36% of veterinary professionals identified the ‘lack of an appropriate companion’ as one of the top welfare issues for rabbits.
PDSA Vet Catherine Burke said: “If rabbits live alone, they can feel socially isolated and become bored, frustrated, anxious, and destructive. They need fellow bunny companionship, as it offers them warmth, comfort and company. This minimises boredom, and reduces their anxiety and stress.
“We’d always recommend keeping rabbits in a bonded pair or a small group, for happy, healthy bunnies.
Keeping rabbits together
Catherine added: “Whilst you don’t want a lonely bunny on your hands, it’s important to try to make sure you pair or group your resident rabbit with a compatible companion.
“Rabbits can happily live together in the following combinations:
- a neutered male and a neutered female – often the most successful pairing
- two litter brothers or two litter sisters together – although there is no risk of pregnancy when you have rabbits of the same sex living together, it’s still important to neuter to reduce the risk of fighting as they get older. There are also many other benefits to neutering your rabbits such as preventing illness.
- a compatible group – rabbits can live in groups, but unless the rabbits are related and neutered early, bunny bonding can be harder to achieve so it’s often best to keep them in pairs.
“For the happiest bunnies, we suggest keeping a neutered male with a neutered female. If you can home a brother and sister together, that’s ideal as they’ll already know each other and will be less likely to fight”, Catherine explains.
“If you have a resident rabbit and would like to provide them with their perfect companion, your local rabbit rehoming centre may have lots of suitable bunnies waiting for a new home with a fellow fur-friend. But they always need to be introduced gradually and a rescue centre may be able to support you with this.”
Important tips on rabbit companionship:
- The process of introducing rabbits to each other is called bunny ‘bonding’. Your new rabbit and resident rabbit will need to be kept apart at first, and slowly introduced. Once they’re both happy and comfortable together (with no sign of fighting), they will be able to share a living space. Rabbits won’t necessarily get on straight away so it is important to take things slowly – be patient with your bunnies as they get to know each other.
- If you’re keeping any male and female rabbits together, it’s really important to get them neutered. It will reduce their chance of fighting with each other, stop them from having babies and will protect them from serious illnesses. The timing of neutering is important as bunnies are able to get pregnant from around three months old so it is important to keep unneutered males and females separate from this age. Male rabbits can be neutered from 10 weeks old and female rabbits can be neutered from five months old (or may be as late as eight months in giant breed rabbits).
- Rabbits should never be kept with other species of animal, such as guinea pigs. They have very different needs and they also can’t communicate with each other or provide the social support that they need to stay healthy. They both need their own kind for company.
For more information about keeping your rabbits happy and ensuring they aren’t lonely, please visit PDSA’s website.
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