Facts about rabbits

Rabbit knowledge

All domestic rabbits are descendants of the European wild rabbit. There are approximately 14 million rabbits kept as pets in the world, and in comparison, the figure for dogs is approximately 900 million dogs (2018). In the UK alone, around 900,000 rabbits are kept as pets and according to the American Rabbit Breeders Association, there are 45 different rabbit breeds.

The most common health problems in rabbits are

• Overgrown teeth
• Runny eyes, nose and sneezing
• Hairballs
• Uterine tumours
• Myxomatose
• Calicivirus (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus)

Almost a third of pet rabbits live in cages that are too small (28%). Rabbits spend an average of 12 hours in their hutch in a 24-hour period. In the wild, rabbits have an area equivalent to about thirty tennis courts. Therefore, being housed in a small cage will undoubtedly have a negative impact on both their physical health and mental wellbeing.

Rabbits are very social animals and when living with a compatible, neutered partner or partners, they have a much better quality of life than when kept alone. Over half of the rabbit population (54%) in the UK live alone. Living alone can have a serious impact on rabbits' physical health and mental wellbeing.

Unwanted behaviour

Rabbits that display unwanted behaviour do so for a number of reasons, such as poor health, stress, loneliness and boredom. 54% of owners report that their rabbit displays at least one behaviour that they would like to change. Despite this, the majority (78%) of owners do not believe their pet is stressed. Only 6% report that they think their rabbit is stressed.

Unwanted behaviours in rabbits are:

• Stomping with hind legs 18%
• Digging up scales and/or carpets 17%
• Chewing furniture 15%
• Hiding 8%
• Hissing, growling or muttering 3%
• Fighting with other rabbits 3%

"43% of rabbit owners in the UK say they would seek help from a vet to change unwanted behaviour. However, only 11% of vets report that their practice offers behavioural treatment or specific advice on this topic. "

66% of rabbit owners in the UK report that their rabbit is afraid of something. Rabbits can be afraid of:

• Loud noises 31%
• Fireworks 18%
• Unfamiliar people 17%
• Travelling in a car 16%
• Veterinarians 12%
• Lightning and thunder 8%

"In the UK study, a third of rabbit owners report that their rabbit is not afraid of anything, which is a higher percentage than for cats and dogs. However, as they are prey animals, it's possible that this is because fear in rabbits can be harder to identify than in cats and dogs."