In the run up to this year's 10th Rabbit Awareness Week (18th-16th June), the PDSA has released statistics from its latest Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, in which more than 55% of rabbit owners have identified behaviour patterns suggesting their rabbit is bored, lonely or stressed.

The reported behaviour patterns, seen on a weekly basis, included rabbits biting the bars of their run or hutch repeatedly, fur pulling, biting, growling and hissing. 

The charity says that with more than 680,000¹ rabbits living alone, despite being highly sociable animals, and thousands more living in small hutches with no opportunity for exercise or mental stimulation, it is no surprise owners and vets are seeing these issues on a regular basis. 

PDSA veterinary surgeon Rebecca Ashman said: "Our figures highlight that lack of mental stimulation can have a huge impact on pet behaviour. What’s most frustrating is the fact that many of these issues could easily be avoided if rabbits were given the right conditions, diet and companions to live alongside."

For this reason, PDSA is backing Rabbit Awareness Week’s #BuddiesForBunnies campaign to get solitary rabbits paired up with suitable companions from rescue centres. The charity says the findings should be a call to action for the 57% of rabbit owners who own single rabbits.

Rebecca added: "Pets do so much to enrich and improve our lives, but by not meeting their needs, their physical and mental wellbeing can be severely compromised. "Sadly, rabbits seem to be the forgotten pet". They can’t speak up and tell us if they’re unhappy, but with the right information and education, owners can make positive changes to their pets’ lives."

Reference

1. PDSA PAW Report 2015. 57% of owners reported their rabbit lives alone. Estimated rabbit population 1.2 million, therefore 57/100 x 1,200,000= 684,000.

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