{"id":13187,"date":"2026-03-18T12:54:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T12:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/rabbit-care-guide-uk\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T14:15:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T14:15:31","slug":"rabbit-care-guide-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/rabbit-care-guide-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Rabbit Care Guide UK 2026: Housing, Diet, Health &#038; Bonding"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Rabbits are the UK&#8217;s third most popular pet after dogs and cats, but they&#8217;re also one of the most <strong>misunderstood<\/strong>. The days of a hutch at the bottom of the garden are long gone \u2014 modern rabbit welfare requires spacious housing, a hay-based diet, companionship, and regular veterinary care. Here&#8217;s your comprehensive guide to keeping happy, healthy rabbits in the UK.<\/p>\n<h2>Housing \u2014 Bigger Than You Think<\/h2>\n<p>The single biggest mistake new rabbit owners make is providing too little space. The <strong>RSPCA recommends a minimum of 3m \u00d7 2m \u00d7 1m<\/strong> (length \u00d7 width \u00d7 height) of usable space \u2014 that&#8217;s a hutch PLUS an attached run, accessible 24 hours a day.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Housing Option<\/th>\n<th>Pros<\/th>\n<th>Cons<\/th>\n<th>Price<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Shed + attached run<\/td>\n<td>Spacious, weatherproof, affordable<\/td>\n<td>Needs DIY modification<\/td>\n<td>\u00a3150\u2013\u00a3300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Large wooden hutch + run<\/td>\n<td>Traditional, widely available<\/td>\n<td>Often too small, rot-prone<\/td>\n<td>\u00a3100\u2013\u00a3250<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Indoor free-roam \/ pen<\/td>\n<td>Year-round comfort, bonding<\/td>\n<td>Rabbit-proofing essential<\/td>\n<td>\u00a350\u2013\u00a3150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aviary-style enclosure<\/td>\n<td>Excellent space, predator-proof<\/td>\n<td>Expensive<\/td>\n<td>\u00a3300\u2013\u00a3600<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Indoor vs Outdoor<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Indoor rabbits<\/strong> benefit from stable temperatures, more human interaction, and protection from predators and Myxomatosis-carrying fleas. However, you must rabbit-proof your home \u2014 they will chew cables, carpet, and skirting boards. A large indoor pen or dedicated rabbit room is ideal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Outdoor rabbits<\/strong> need a weatherproof, insulated hutch with a permanently attached run. The hutch must be fox-proof (16-gauge weld mesh, secure latches, anti-dig strips). In winter, provide extra straw, a cover for the hutch front, and a heat pad if temperatures drop below freezing.<\/p>\n<h2>Diet \u2014 Hay, Hay, and More Hay<\/h2>\n<p>A rabbit&#8217;s diet should be approximately:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>80% hay<\/strong> \u2014 unlimited Timothy, meadow, or oat hay. This maintains dental health (rabbits&#8217; teeth grow continuously) and gut motility.<\/li>\n<li><strong>10% fresh greens<\/strong> \u2014 daily portion of leafy greens: spring greens, herbs (basil, coriander, parsley), kale, dandelion leaves.<\/li>\n<li><strong>5% pellets<\/strong> \u2014 a small amount (1 tablespoon per kg body weight) of quality pellets (Supreme Science Selective, Burgess Excel). Muesli-style mixes cause selective feeding and dental disease \u2014 avoid them.<\/li>\n<li><strong>5% treats<\/strong> \u2014 occasional small pieces of carrot, apple (no seeds), or commercial hay-based treats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Fresh water<\/strong> must always be available \u2014 both bottles and bowls should be offered, as many rabbits prefer drinking from a bowl.<\/p>\n<h2>Companionship \u2014 Rabbits Need Partners<\/h2>\n<p>Rabbits are <strong>social animals<\/strong> and should never be kept alone. The RSPCA considers solitary housing a welfare concern. The ideal pairing is a <strong>neutered male + neutered female<\/strong>. Same-sex pairs can work if bonded from a very young age, but are more likely to fight as they mature.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bonding<\/strong> two rabbits requires patience \u2014 never just put two unfamiliar rabbits together. The process involves gradual introductions in neutral territory over days or weeks. Many rescue centres offer bonding services where they match your rabbit with a compatible partner.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Rabbits and guinea pigs<\/strong> should NOT be housed together \u2014 rabbits can injure guinea pigs with powerful kicks, and they have different dietary and social needs.<\/p>\n<h2>Vaccinations<\/h2>\n<p>UK rabbits need annual vaccination against three fatal diseases:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Disease<\/th>\n<th>Vaccine<\/th>\n<th>Frequency<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Myxomatosis<\/td>\n<td>Nobivac Myxo-RHD Plus<\/td>\n<td>Annual<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>RHD1 (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease)<\/td>\n<td>Combined in Nobivac<\/td>\n<td>Annual<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>RHD2<\/td>\n<td>Separate Filavac vaccine<\/td>\n<td>Annual (6 months after Nobivac)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Both Myxomatosis and RHD are almost always fatal and have no cure. Indoor rabbits need vaccinating too \u2014 Myxomatosis is spread by fleas and mosquitoes that can enter homes.<\/p>\n<h2>Neutering<\/h2>\n<p>All pet rabbits should be <strong>neutered<\/strong> \u2014 both for health and behaviour:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Females:<\/strong> Up to 80% of unneutered female rabbits develop uterine cancer by age 5. Spaying eliminates this risk.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Males:<\/strong> Neutering reduces spraying, aggression, and mounting behaviour.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost:<\/strong> \u00a360\u2013\u00a3120 for males, \u00a380\u2013\u00a3160 for females at UK vets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Health Signs to Watch<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Not eating for 12+ hours<\/strong> \u2014 this is a medical emergency. GI stasis (gut shutdown) is the #1 killer of pet rabbits and requires immediate veterinary treatment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flystrike<\/strong> \u2014 flies laying eggs on soiled fur (especially around the rear). Check your rabbit twice daily in summer. Flystrike can kill within hours.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snuffles<\/strong> \u2014 sneezing, nasal discharge, runny eyes. May indicate Pasteurella infection. See a rabbit-savvy vet.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Overgrown teeth<\/strong> \u2014 drooling, dropping food, weight loss. Caused by insufficient hay in the diet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Enrichment<\/h2>\n<p>Rabbits are intelligent, active animals that need daily enrichment:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Digging boxes (earth-filled trays)<\/li>\n<li>Tunnels and platforms for running and jumping<\/li>\n<li>Cardboard boxes and paper bags filled with hay<\/li>\n<li>Willow, apple, and hazel branches for chewing<\/li>\n<li>Daily supervised free-roam time (garden or house)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>How long do rabbits live?<\/h3>\n<p>Pet rabbits typically live <strong>8\u201312 years<\/strong>. Some breeds (particularly smaller ones like Netherland Dwarfs) can live longer. This is a significant commitment that rivals a dog.<\/p>\n<h3>Can rabbits live outside in winter UK?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, but they need a well-insulated, draught-free hutch with extra straw bedding, a waterproof cover, and a permanently attached run. Check water bottles twice daily as they freeze quickly. If temperatures drop below -5\u00b0C regularly, consider bringing them indoors or into a shed\/garage.<\/p>\n<h3>Do rabbits need to see a vet?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes \u2014 <strong>annual vaccinations<\/strong> are essential, and rabbits should be checked by a vet at least once a year. Use a vet experienced with rabbits (not all small animal vets are rabbit specialists). Find one through the Rabbit Welfare Association (RWAF) directory.<\/p>\n<h2>Related Reading<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/guinea-pig-care-guide-uk-2\/\">Guinea Pig Care Guide UK<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/best-hamster-cage\/\">Best Hamster Cage UK<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/homemade-guinea-pig-toy\/\">Homemade Guinea Pig Toys<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rabbits are the UK&#8217;s third most popular pet after dogs and cats, but they&#8217;re also one of the most misunderstood. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":13317,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[392],"tags":[],"post_type1":[],"class_list":["post-13187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-392"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13187"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13206,"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13187\/revisions\/13206"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13187"},{"taxonomy":"post_type1","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_type1?post=13187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}