Do pet rabbits need friends?

So if you want to keep one – or you already have one – why not make it two? Or maybe more?

Rabbits who live in friendly pairs or groups are much less likely to suffer from lack of stimulation, plus it makes keeping a pet even more fun for you!

Before you give your rabbit a companion, check with your vet to make sure there are no health reasons why you shouldn’t.

Then it’s important to choose wisely, as some rabbits will fight, and others will breed like… well, rabbits!

A good combination is to put a neutered male with a neutered female.

Rabbits don’t just benefit from being close to other rabbits. A caring human touch is important too. Handle them gently early on in life and they will learn that humans are to be trusted, and that makes things much better for both of you.

It means you can play together and also groom them easily while checking for any health problems.

Although rabbits are very social animals, they also need to be able to spend time alone if they want to.

If you have two or more, make sure there are enough hiding places for all of them, as well as sufficient food and water, so that no one goes hungry or thirsty.

Rabbits, like dogs and cats, also need to be vaccinated to protect them from diseases.

It is also recommended that they are neutered for health reasons. So, take your rabbit along to your vet for a health check and advice about vaccinations and neutering.