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Rabbits are sociable animals which need companionship to remain happy and healthy. Always keep your rabbit with a companion unless specifically advised otherwise by your vet.

Rabbits may develop abnormal and antisocial behaviours if they are left on their own for long periods of time.

In addition to having friends of their own, your rabbit needs to be handled regularly to ensure they see you as a friend and companion rather than someone to be feared.

Contrary to popular belief, guinea pigs are not suitable companions for rabbits – these may fight and injure or even kill each other without warning, especially around mating season.

Rabbits will establish a social hierarchy amongst themselves when they get to know each other and work out who is going to be in charge. Sometimes rabbits can bully each other, so make sure you have plenty of space and hiding places in case one wants to get away from another.

Make sure your rabbits are neutered as they can breed extremely quickly otherwise. A neutered male and neutered female make a particularly good pair. Neutering is particularly important even if the rabbits are of the same sex as it makes fighting much less likely. Further info from the Blue Cross on this HERE

How do I introduce a new rabbit?

If you have to introduce a new rabbit to an existing one, do so slowly and under supervision until they are used to each other and are getting along well. Make sure the rabbits are introduced somewhere neutral as they can be territorial. Another good idea is to cage the rabbits next to each other for a few days beforehand so they can get used to the smell of each other before the first introduction.

It can take several days for rabbits to be successfully bonded following an introduction, so take this stage slowly. Some rabbits can be very difficult to bond, especially if they are older. A qualified animal behaviourist can be consulted if you have trouble introducing your rabbits to each other.

Do you have any tips for introducing rabbits? How did your rabbits get on when you first paired them? Let us know on our facebook page.