17d • Health and Wellness
Rabbit Care Myths: Bonding
It’s worth clarifying that rabbits don’t form social bonds in the way people often imagine. What’s commonly called “bonding” is actually the establishment of a dominance hierarchy. One rabbit learns to submit so conflict is avoided, not because of affection.
Multiple studies using behavioral observation and cortisol (stress hormone) measurements have shown that co-housing—especially forced pairs or groups—can increase chronic stress in rabbits. In these setups, other rabbits often become a primary stressor rather than a comfort. This has been demonstrated repeatedly in both laboratory and applied welfare research over the past two decades.
Many rabbits do best when housed individually with appropriate enrichment, routine, and human interaction. They can feel secure, relaxed, and mentally stimulated without the pressure of constant social negotiation. While a small number of rabbits may tolerate a companion, pairing should never be treated as a universal requirement or a guarantee of improved welfare.
Good rabbit care is about reducing stress and respecting natural behavior—not projecting human ideas of friendship onto an animal with a very different social system.
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Rabbit Care Myths: Bonding
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