It’s no secret that having more than one rabbit will be more work. Looking after two or more rabbits is a much bigger commitment than looking after one – and more expensive!
However, rabbits are very social animals, and thrive when in pairs. Having bonded bunnies means you won’t have to worry so much about them getting bored or lonely, particularly when you leave the house.
So, is having more than one rabbit essential? Keep reading on to find out more.
Things To Consider
There are multiple different things to consider when deciding if you want one or more pet rabbit. It all depends on your bun’s needs, as well as your own lifestyle and space. Here are some things we think you should take into consideration when making the decision.
Rabbits Are Social
Rabbits are very social animals and, if you have the space, keeping them in pairs is often advised. Keeping bonded rabbits together ensures they both have a friend, can entertain each other and offer each other comfort in the form of grooming and snuggling together.
In the wild, rabbits live in large warrens with lots of other rabbits. This means that if a house rabbit is left on their own with no social interaction from anyone, they can very easily become depressed through lack of stimulation and companionship.
However, single rabbits can live a very happy life. To do this, they need plenty of time with their human(s) to ensure they are getting that social interaction they need. Rabbits can form strong bonds with their owners, and, once they trust you, they’ll often happily climb in your lap or lick you as a sign of friendship.
You’ll need to make sure a single rabbit has plenty of toys and space to keep themselves entertained when you are out of the house. And, of course, if you are busy and barely ever at home to spend time with your bun, you shouldn’t be keeping them on their own.
Rabbits Can Fight
While it would be great if all bunnies could get along, sadly this isn’t the case. Rabbits who don’t know each other, and who haven’t been brought up together from birth, will generally fight when introduced.
While this is a natural behavior for rabbits and is down to them being a prey animal in the wild, it is something you’ll have to consider when deciding to get your bun a friend. Your existing bun won’t like another bunny in their space, and will likely try to establish dominance by fighting.
Luckily, there is a way around this, and it comes in the form of bonding rabbits. Read on below to find out more.
Bonding Bunnies
If you’re lucky, you might be able to adopt a pair of bonded rabbits from a shelter. However, if you’re thinking about getting your existing single bun a friend, or thinking of adopting two rabbits together who haven’t lived together before, you’ll have to go through the bonding process.
Bonding two bunnies is a delicate process that must be done slowly. You can’t just throw two buns in a hutch together and hope for the best. It can be extremely stressful to gently introduce two rabbits to each other and try to get them to accept each other, and you may well have to break up some fights along the way.
Despite this, once rabbits are bonded, it is a beautiful thing. Many owners believe bonded bunnies will live a happier, healthier and longer life. Bonded rabbits play together, snuggle together and even groom each other.
You can learn more about bonding two rabbits here.
Unfortunately, there is a downside to having two bonded rabbits, and this comes if one of the rabbits passes away. The remaining rabbit suddenly loses their companion, which can be difficult for their little mind to comprehend.
When this happens, you may find that your remaining bun becomes sad or depressed during this time. You’ll need to spend lots of extra time with them while they are grieving to ensure they are okay and still getting companionship and interaction from you. It will then be your decision to either get your bun another friend, or keep them as a single rabbit.
Your Lifestyle
Another thing to consider when deciding how many bunnies to keep is how busy your lifestyle is. If you’re often out of the house during the day and busy with work or your social life, it is not fair to leave a single bunny on their own.
As we established above, rabbits are social and if they are not with one of their own kind, they need plenty of time with their owners. If this is something you’re not sure you can give to your rabbit because of other commitments that keep you busy, it’s a good idea to get your bun a furry friend of their own to keep them company.
Expense
It is no shock that two or more rabbits costs more than keeping a single bun. Not only will you need a bigger enclosure to keep them in, but you’ll also need double the food, double the hay and double the supplies.
Don’t forget about vet bills either – one rabbit can be expensive enough when needing a check up, and you’ll need to be able to budget for double this if you have two of them.
Learn more about how much pet rabbits cost here.
Mating
Rabbits aren’t so picky when it comes to mating. Even if you adopt a brother and a sister and neither are neutered or spayed, you will most likely find yourself with a litter of baby rabbits.
It is often recommended than any rabbits you do get are neutered/spayed, especially if you’re planning on keeping a boy and a girl bun together. Not only will this prevent you from bringing more rabbits into the world, but fixing rabbits helps to keep them more docile and chilled out.
If you choose to go for a male/male pairing, you’ll certainly want to neuter them both. Without neutering, there could be a constant battle of dominance in the home, which could lead to nasty fights and prevent them from ever bonding.
In fact, most bun owners, pet shops and rescue organizations will suggest you neuter/spay your rabbit even if they are kept on their own, as this generally keeps the bunny happier.
What Is The Best Pairing Of Rabbits To Get?
If you’ve decided to keep two rabbits together, you might be wondering what the best pairing is going to be.
Generally speaking, a neutered male and a spayed female are the best pairing to get. They are much less likely to fight and, if they are both fixed, you won’t have the issue of lots of baby rabbits!
However, two males and two females can also be paired together, especially if they were brought up together from birth. These pairings should be neutered/spayed to keep both rabbits happy and relaxed, because they may fight otherwise.
Remember, whichever pairing you choose to get, do not throw two rabbits who don’t know each other into a hutch together and hope for the best. You must bond your rabbits first.
How Do I Keep A Single Rabbit Happy?
It is not difficult to keep a single rabbit happy, but it does take time and effort from you as their owner.
First of all, you will need to dedicate time to them. If you don’t get your bun a friend to play with, then it is your responsibility to be their source of socialization. However, don’t stress. Socializing with your bunny can be as simple as giving them a cuddle, sitting on the floor with them while you read a book or letting them on the couch with you while you watch TV.
If your rabbit spends too much time on their own, they can quickly develop rabbit depression. This can be due to lack of social interaction, lack of stimulation, and boredom.
Here at My House Animals, we recommend you house your single bun indoors. This will make them feel closer to you, part of the family, and you are more likely to spend time with them. Read about housing your bun indoors here.
If you do want to keep a single rabbit, here are some of our articles that will help you form a healthy relationship with your bun and keep them happy:
Other things that will keep your single bun content and healthy are giving them ample space to live, feeding them a healthy diet, providing them with plenty of toys and activities for mental stimulation and ensuring they get plenty of exercise.
Can My Rabbit Live With Another Animal?
You might be wondering – if I don’t get my rabbit a bunny friend, can another pet keep them company?
Rabbits are often housed with guinea pigs and, while these two animals can live happily together, there is no real evidence that they provide each other with as much company as a friend of their own kind.
Rabbits only speak rabbit so, while they will share a home with a guinea pig without much of a fight, they won’t be getting all the socialization they need. As their owner, you will still need to spend plenty of time with your bun to ensure they are not lonely.
Rabbits are also larger than guinea pigs, and you’ll need to keep a close eye to ensure your rabbit isn’t “bullying” your guinea pig. This can be in the form of aggression or guarding resources from the piggy and, because they don’t speak the same language, they can’t sort these issues out themselves.
But what about larger pets like cats and dogs? Well, rabbits can live with these animals too, as long as they are not in any kind of danger. If your dog has a habit of chasing wild rabbits, they will most likely go after your bun too.
The best way to overcome this is to introduce your cat or dog to your bunny from an early age. It is also possible to train an older dog to “ignore” a new rabbit in the household so they can live harmoniously, although this will depend on the breed of the dog. If the dog has hunting instincts ingrained in their breed, it may not be safe for your bun to be around.
You know your other pets better than anyone, so you will have to judge for yourself if you think your bun will be safe in their company.
While cats and dogs can be great friends to your little bunny, they will still require socialization from you or another bun to meet their needs.
