Rabbit Care Guide UK: How to Look After a Rabbit (2026)
Are Rabbits the Right Pet for You?
Rabbits are the UK’s third most popular pet, yet the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) calls them the most neglected: around 67,000 rabbits end up in UK rescue centres every year. A rabbit is not a low-effort starter pet, and it is not happy alone in a small hutch. Get the basics right, though, and you get an affectionate, intelligent companion that can live for 8 to 12 years.
Be honest about three things first. Time: rabbits need checking at least once a day, plus feeding and cleaning. Money: proper care for a pair costs far more than most people expect. Commitment: a rabbit bought this Christmas could still be with the family when a child leaves school. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, owners in England and Wales have a legal duty to meet their pet’s needs for a suitable environment, diet, normal behaviour, company and protection from pain and suffering.
If you are new to pet ownership, our general pet care guide is a useful companion read.
Housing: How Much Space Does a Rabbit Need?
Space is where new owners go wrong most often. The traditional pet-shop hutch is far too small. The RWAF recommends a minimum of 3 metres by 2 metres by 1 metre high for a pair of rabbits, with 24-hour access to a secure exercise area. The older guidance of a 6 foot by 2 foot hutch with an 8 foot by 4 foot run is now an absolute minimum, not a target. Your rabbits must be able to run, jump, stand upright and stretch out flat whenever they want.
Indoor or outdoor both work if done properly. Outdoor rabbits need a secure, weatherproof shelter with a run, fox protection, shade in summer and insulation in winter. Indoor rabbits need a large pen or a rabbit-proofed room, with cables and houseplants out of reach. Provide a dry sleeping area with straw bedding, a litter tray, a heavy food bowl, a water bowl and a hiding place with two exits. Buy the housing before you buy the rabbit.
| Housing option | Best for | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Large hutch plus attached run | Gardens with secure space | £150 to £450 |
| Shed or playhouse conversion | RWAF-sized space | £300 to £800 |
| Indoor pen with free-roam time | Flats and house rabbits | £80 to £250 |
What Do Rabbits Eat?
Food is the second area where owners go wrong, and it causes the most vet bills. A rabbit’s teeth never stop growing, by about 2mm to 3mm a week, and only constant chewing of fibrous food wears them down. Too little hay leads to dental disease, one of the most common and expensive rabbit health problems.
The RWAF and RSPCA diet split is simple: 85% hay or fresh grass, 10% leafy greens and vegetables, and 5% quality pellets. Hay must be available at all times, clean and dust-free, and separate from the straw your rabbit sleeps on. Daily greens can include spring greens, kale, broccoli and herbs. Pellets should be plain and high in fibre, about an eggcupful once or twice a day.
| Food type | Share of diet | What to give |
|---|---|---|
| Hay or fresh grass | 85% | Unlimited Timothy hay or meadow hay |
| Leafy greens and vegetables | 10% | A handful a day: spring greens, kale, broccoli, herbs |
| Quality pellets | 5% | An eggcupful once or twice a day |
| Fresh water | Always | Clean bowl, refreshed daily |
Avoid muesli-style mixes: rabbits pick out the sweet bits and leave the rest. Never feed iceberg lettuce, potatoes, onions, chocolate, bread or biscuits. A rabbit that stops eating or passing droppings may have gut stasis, where the digestive system slows or stops. It is the number one killer of pet rabbits and a veterinary emergency.
Companionship: Rabbits Need a Friend
Rabbits are social animals, and a lone rabbit is a lonely rabbit. The RSPCA advises keeping rabbits with at least one other friendly rabbit, and a neutered male with a neutered female is usually the most settled pairing. Even so, 42% of UK pet rabbits lived alone in 2024. If you are getting a rabbit, plan on getting two.
Neutering matters for more than preventing litters: unneutered males spray and can turn aggressive, while unneutered females face a very high risk of uterine cancer. Vets usually neuter rabbits between four and six months old, and neutering two can cost up to £500. Adopting a bonded pair from a rescue centre is often the smartest move, since rescue rabbits usually arrive already neutered, vaccinated and health checked.
Bonding two unfamiliar rabbits takes patience: introduce them on neutral ground, in short supervised sessions over days or weeks. Children can enjoy rabbits too, but with supervision, since rabbits dislike being picked up and a frightened rabbit can kick hard enough to injure its own spine. Teach children to sit on the floor and let the rabbit come to them.
Health Care and Vaccinations
Rabbits need a vet with specific rabbit experience, so ask about rabbit caseload when you register. The first visit should happen within a week of bringing your rabbits home.
Vaccination is not optional. UK rabbits need annual protection against three fatal diseases: myxomatosis and rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease strains 1 and 2 (RVHD1 and RVHD2), which spread through insects and contaminated surfaces, so even indoor rabbits need vaccinating. First vaccination from about five weeks old, with annual boosters.
First vaccinations cost £50 to £130 per rabbit, annual boosters the same, and dental treatment around £300 if needed. Pet insurance runs £9 to £20 a month.
Watch for flystrike in warm weather, when flies lay eggs on damp or dirty fur, so check your rabbit’s bottom daily in summer and keep living areas clean. Wire mesh floors should be avoided entirely: cover them with solid boards, vet bedding or thick straw to prevent sore hocks.
Grooming and Daily Care
Short-haired breeds need a quick brush once a week, more often while moulting; long-haired breeds such as Angoras need daily grooming or their coats mat. Nails need trimming every six to eight weeks, about £6 to £12 at a groomer or vet. Never bath a rabbit unless a vet tells you to.
A simple daily routine covers most of it: top up hay, refresh water, give the day’s greens and pellets, and spot-clean the litter tray. Because rabbits hide illness well, eating slightly less than usual is often the first sign something is wrong. For professional grooming services, see our guide to Pets at Home grooming.
Exercise and Enrichment
A rabbit shut in a hutch all day will become bored, overweight and unhappy. Rabbits need at least a couple of hours of free exercise every day, ideally much more with 24-hour access to a run.
Enrichment is cheap: cardboard boxes with holes cut in them, paper bags stuffed with hay, tunnels, a digging box and willow balls to chew. Rotate toys every few days and scatter pellets in the hay so your rabbit has to forage. Our indoor cat enrichment ideas show the same thinking applied to cats. Keep rabbits away from hazards during free-roam time, above all electrical cables, and never leave dogs or cats unsupervised with a rabbit.
How Much Does a Rabbit Cost in the UK?
The rabbit itself is the cheap part: £30 to £60 from a breeder or pet shop, and a rescue rabbit may cost little beyond a donation. The real money goes on everything around it. The RWAF puts the initial set-up for a pair at up to £3,770, monthly costs at around £85, and annual extras such as vaccinations and holiday boarding at roughly £430 a year. Over a 10-year lifespan, the RWAF estimates a pair costs over £17,500, while HayDay puts lifetime costs between £8,700 and £17,300. Either way, rabbits cost roughly as much as a cat or a small dog.
Your First Week With a New Rabbit
Adopt from a rescue centre if you can, and set up the housing completely before collection day. For the first day or two, keep things quiet: let your rabbits explore without handling them much, sit nearby and talk softly, and offer food from your hand once they seem relaxed. Book a vet check within the first week so your vet has a baseline for their health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can rabbits live alone?
They can survive alone, but they will not thrive. The RSPCA and RWAF both recommend keeping rabbits in pairs.
Can rabbits live indoors?
Yes, and many owners prefer it. Indoor rabbits need a large pen or a rabbit-proofed room, daily time out, and protection from cables and toxic plants.
How long do rabbits live?
With good care, 8 to 12 years is normal. Poor diet and cramped housing shorten lives dramatically: many pet rabbits do not reach four years old.
Do rabbits need vaccinations every year?
Yes. Annual vaccination against myxomatosis and both strains of rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease is essential, even for indoor rabbits.
Final Thoughts
Rabbits reward good care more visibly than almost any other small pet. Give a pair space, unlimited hay, a friend, annual vaccinations and a little daily attention, and you get animals with real personality: curious, playful and surprisingly affectionate. The hard part is the decision before you start: accepting the space, the cost and the ten-year commitment honestly.
