Everything you need to know about socialising rabbits

Rabbits are prey animals that live in large groups in the wild. Domestic rabbits also rely on company, so they should always be kept with others. Most rabbit owners know this, and keep their rabbits with at least one other rabbit for company. But what happens if your rabbits don’t get on, or one out of a pair has sadly died?

To find the best new companion for your pet, it’s important to understand what types of rabbit make the best pairs, and how to socialise them correctly.

Rabbits thrive when they can interact, groom and play with other rabbits – just like they would in the wild. It’s not uncommon for rabbits who live alone to become bored, lonely and even subdued.

When deciding how many rabbits to keep, remember that the more rabbits you have, the more space, time and money you’ll need. Rather than keep a group of rabbits, many rabbit owners decide to keep a pair instead. This tends to work out cheaper, because they can share shelter, food and toys. The only area you’ll notice a price difference is when it comes to the occasional cost of extra vaccinations, neutering or any other vet care.

If you’re looking to find a new companion for your existing rabbit, another rabbit of the same size and age is ideal. If your elderly rabbit loses a companion, it’s a good idea to look for a rescue rabbit of a similar age, rather than buy a young rabbit.

Usually, male and female pairs are best, but same-sex pairs can also work. In these cases, neutering can help reduce aggression. For male-female pairs, neutering is essential for preventing unwanted litters.

When introducing new rabbits to each other, time and patience are key. Follow these steps to make this process as smooth and stress-free as possible:

• Make sure both rabbits are neutered.
• Create side-by-side enclosures, so the rabbits can see and smell each other, but move away when they want to. Make sure they have places to hide and sleep without being seen by the other rabbit.
• After a week, if the rabbits seem comfortable, swap a small amount of bedding between the two enclosures, or transfer their scent by rubbing one rabbit with a cloth, and then rubbing the same cloth on the other rabbit.
• Once you feel your rabbits are ready to meet face-to-face, introduce them in a neutral territory, like a bathroom or garage. This meeting should only last 10-20 minutes. Wear gardening gloves, so you can separate the rabbits if they start to fight. Make sure you provide a few hiding places, like cardboard boxes, in case they start to feel stressed. Don’t worry if one rabbit tries to assert themself by mounting the other, as this is a normal part of the bonding process.
• Extend the meeting time a little each day. Signs your rabbits have bonded are lying down side-by-side and grooming each other. At this point, they can be moved into the same enclosure.

Once your rabbits have bonded, they tend to remain companions. They’ll groom each other, plus eat and sleep together. If you need to take one of your rabbits to the vet, always take them together since bunnies seek comfort from each other when they’re feeling stressed.

Even bonded rabbits can have the occasional fight. This can be due to a few different factors, including:

• The onset of breeding season
• A period of separation
• A change in the environment
• One rabbit feeling stressed or ill

If you’re concerned the fighting may be due to a medical issue, take your rabbits to the vet for a checkup. If your rabbit insurance is with Petplan, you can use our free Pet Expert Chat service to connect with veterinary professionals, 24/7. Check it out by logging into your My Petplan account and heading to the My Support area.

If there are no medical issues and your rabbits still aren’t getting on, restart the bonding process by moving your rabbits into separate enclosures before reintroducing them.

The best companion for a rabbit is another rabbit. While rabbits and guinea pigs have typically been kept together, they’re not actually the best match. That’s because they communicate in very different ways, so may not understand each other’s behaviour. This can end up with a guinea pig getting injured or bullied by a larger rabbit.

Some rabbit owners wonder if rabbits can eat guinea pig food – and the answer is no. Guinea pigs need vitamin C added to their diet, so owners need to make sure they create an enclosure in a way that only the guinea pig can access their food – and separate themselves from the rabbit if they want to.

Rabbits are soft, small and cute, which means it’s easy to assume they’re child-friendly. But rabbits are also prey animals, so don’t always enjoy being picked up and can be quick to startle. This means you’ll need to spend time helping your children and rabbits bond, plus help them learn how to handle and stroke their new pets properly.

If you do have children, it’s best to choose a child-friendly breed of rabbit, like the Dutch or New Zealand White. If you’re adopting a rabbit, rescue centres will usually allow you to meet the rabbits first, so you can check if they're a good match.

In addition to bonding with each other, your bunnies also need to bond with you! Make sure to spend lots of quality time with them, so you can recognise the signs of a happy, healthy rabbit.