Rabbits should be kept in compatible pairs.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is calling on the United Kingdom government to prevent pet shops from selling single rabbits, saying that rabbits are highly sociable and feel loneliness if not paired up with at least one other rabbit.

Research has revealed that almost half the number of rabbits kept as pets experienced loneliness. This followed the BVA’s recent survey of 18,000 vets in the UK which found that 42% of rabbits were sold alone. It also discovered that 73% of the vets surveyed had seen rabbits that were not having their welfare needs met.

Whilst rabbits are the third most popular pets in the UK, the BVA has expressed the concern that many owners do not actually understand their needs. For instance, the BVA concluded that companionship was so important for rabbits that given the option to choose between company and food, a rabbit will tend to choose companionship.

Despite this finding, there are still important factors to take into account before a pet owner should consider buying pairs of rabbits. As Daniella Dos Santos, BVA president has advised “anyone thinking of taking on a pair or group of rabbits should seek expert veterinary guidance to help make sure that the match is successful.” A responsible pet owner should always prioritise the rabbits health and welfare needs and to seek guidance on the safest way to introduce them.