So, you won't be surprised to learn that your pet rabbit will probably be much happier and content living with another bunny as a companion. This is especially true if you're at work all day or just don't have enough time to spend interacting with your bun.

How To Bond Rabbits? Choosing the Right Second Rabbit

You might not think it, but the best bunny combinations tend to be a male and female rabbit. As long as they're both neutered, they should get on like a house on fire. Neutering is a must if you don't want lots of baby bunnies to find homes for!

Unfortunately, other unneutered combinations can cause problems. If the female is neutered, but the male isn't, he'll pester the female trying to mate all the time. This may cause a conflict between them, leading to upset and injury.

On the other hand, if the male is neutered but the female isn't, she may try to mount the buck. This can also cause problems between the pair. An unneutered female can also be at risk of uterine cancer, so neutering a female rabbit is essential.

Same-sex rabbits can successfully live together, but getting them to live together (bonding) is usually harder. It will take a lot longer, and if a fight does break out, it could end in serious injury. When bonding same-sex rabbits, it should be done after they've both been neutered to avoid any scuffles. Bonding them when they're very young is also likely to be more successful.

How Can I Help My Rabbits Live Happily Together?

Bringing a second rabbit into your home can be stressful for everyone involved, especially the rabbits. Getting the bonding process right is the key to success.

Rabbits are a territorial species, so bonding should be done slowly and carefully. Before you even think about bonding your rabbits, they must both be neutered. Don't forget that a male bunny can get a female pregnant for up to 3 weeks after they've been neutered, so don't start the bonding process until at least 4 weeks after they've been neutered.

Tips For Getting A Second Rabbit and Long-term Bonding

• Pop your rabbits in separate enclosures or runs side by side so they can see and smell each other but can't get in together. This will help them become accustomed to each other's presence and their scents. Swapping their litter trays and toys regularly can also help them get used to each other's smell! Once they're happily interacting with each other and aren't showing any signs of aggressive behaviour, you can move on to the next step.
• Now, you can start putting them together for some supervised interaction for a few minutes at a time. Do this somewhere they don't normally go, so it's neutral territory. Ideally, another enclosure would be beneficial so they're safe and you can step in quickly if necessary. Make sure they've lots of toys to play with and places to hide, as this will distract them from each other. And put a couple of feed bowls down so they're less likely to argue over food.
• To start with, there may be some normal chasing and nipping behaviour. Mounting behaviour is also very normal when rabbits first meet. By slowly increasing the amount of time they spend together, they'll soon start to accept each other and feel comfortable in each other's company. If, at any point, your rabbits start to get aggressive with each other, separate them straight away (be careful not to get injured yourself). If this does happen, you'll need to start over again. Put them back in their enclosures next to each other until they're happy again. You may need to repeat this process a few times before bonding is successful. If you're lucky, your rabbit friends may just 'fall in love at first sight'! Mutual grooming and playing together are all signs that bonding is going in the right direction.
• Once your rabbits have bonded, they'll rely on each other for support and company. They'll groom each other and will follow each other around. When this happens, and you're happy that no real aggression is being seen, you don't need to supervise them all the time. But it's a good idea to keep an eye on them both for a few weeks afterwards, just in case there are any setbacks. From time to time, even fully bonded bunnies can squabble (often as spring arrives), but that's normal. As long as there's no serious aggression, you won't need to separate them.

Bonding rabbits can be instant, but with a tricky pair, it may take a few weeks or even months to get them happily living together. And, unfortunately, sometimes it just may not be possible to bond a pair of rabbits together. It's also not a good idea to introduce a third rabbit to a bonded pair… three is a crowd!

Should I Get Another Rabbit If A Bonded Bunny Dies?

Rabbits get stressed very easily, so it's important to be aware of this should one of your bonded bunnies become ill or even die. Never separate them, even when they're sick. If you need to take one of your bunnies to the vet, take them both. If you take one away from the other, you're likely to make the situation worse and upset both of them. And, if a bonded pair are ever separated, they'll likely have to go through the bonding process again to make sure they're happy living together again.

If one of your bonded pair passes away, it's worth letting your remaining bunny spend some time with the body. They'll soon realise that their companion won't be coming back. Leave them with the body until they lose interest and head off elsewhere. You can then take the body away. All you need to do then is keep an eye on your rabbit's behaviour. A rabbit living alone may become depressed, stop eating, drinking or going to the toilet. Call your vet as soon as you notice any worrying behaviour.

Spending a lot of time with your rabbit will help to stop them from feeling lonely, but the best option for the health and wellbeing of your rabbit is to get another one to pair them with as soon as you can.

Rabbits are very sociable and love having a companion to cuddle up to. When bonding your bunnies, make sure they're neutered and always introduce them on neutral ground to avoid any aggressive behaviour.

Bonded pairs should never be separated unless they start fighting. Don't be worried if some biting, chasing and mounting behaviour is seen in bonded pairs; this is completely normal. Bonding can take time, so be prepared to persevere... your bunnies will be grateful in the long run!

Everypaw Rabbit Insurance

Here at Everypaw, we want to help you keep your bunny healthy and in tip top shape. So, when it comes to your rabbit’s care, Everypaw’s Rabbit Insurance could be just the cover to look after your little thumper.

Get a quote

 

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Lapis - https://www.vetlexicon.com/lapis/

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.