Are You Ready For A Pet Rabbit?
The Ultimate Rabbit Care Guide
(UK Owners Edition)
Thinking about getting a rabbit, or already brought one home? Let’s clear something up straight away — rabbits are not low-maintenance pets. They require time, consistency, and the right setup to truly thrive. In fact, caring for a rabbit is often closer to caring for a dog than people expect.
But when done properly, they make incredible, affectionate companions. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to give your rabbit a happy, healthy life.
Understanding the Commitment
Rabbits are not short-term pets. Many live around 8–12 years depending on their care, environment, and breed.
That means you’re not just buying a pet — you’re committing to years of care, routine, and responsibility. Before bringing a rabbit into your life, it’s important to consider how they will fit into your long-term plans, including housing, finances, and lifestyle.
Feeding Your Rabbit the Right Way
Diet is the foundation of your rabbit’s health. Their digestive system is extremely sensitive, and poor feeding is one of the biggest causes of illness.
Hay Should Always Come First
The majority of your rabbit’s diet should be hay — ideally around 80–85%.
Good-quality hay supports digestion and naturally keeps your rabbit’s teeth worn down. Your rabbit should have constant access to fresh hay at all times. Variety can help encourage better eating habits and prevent fussiness.
Fresh Greens for Balance
Leafy greens provide essential nutrients and add variety to your rabbit’s diet. Depending on your rabbit’s size, they should be fed a daily portion of fresh greens.
Foods like herbs and leafy vegetables are ideal. The key is variety and moderation rather than feeding the same thing every day.
Pellets Are Optional, Not Essential
Pellets can be included in small amounts, but they should never replace hay. Overfeeding pellets can lead to weight gain and long-term health issues.
Think of pellets as a supplement, not the main part of the diet.
The Upgrade That Keeps Hay Fresh, Clean and Actually Eaten
Storing hay properly is one of the easiest ways to improve your rabbit’s health and reduce waste at the same time. When hay is left loose on the floor, it quickly becomes soiled, trampled and ignored — which not only wastes money but can also discourage your rabbit from eating enough of the fibre they need daily. Using a dedicated hay feeder keeps hay fresh, dry and easily accessible throughout the day, encouraging consistent grazing while keeping your enclosure cleaner and more hygienic. A well-designed feeder also turns feeding into a more engaging experience, allowing your rabbit to naturally pull and forage for hay rather than sitting in it. Products like a classic wooden hay feeder or the Omlet Zippi system-compatible hay rack offer a practical, mess-reducing solution that looks clean, works efficiently, and ultimately helps you get more value out of every bag of hay.
Zippi Hay Rack
The Zippi Hay Rack isn’t just a place to store hay — it completely transforms how your pets eat, explore and interact with their space. Designed to attach directly into the Zippi tunnel system, it allows rabbits or guinea pigs to stop, graze and refuel naturally as they move through their environment, rather than being stuck eating in one fixed spot. This keeps hay fresher, reduces waste and encourages more consistent feeding throughout the day. What makes it stand out is its versatility — it can also be used as a raised lookout station, giving your pet a sense of height, curiosity and enrichment while they eat. Built to integrate seamlessly into a larger tunnel setup, it turns feeding into part of the experience, not just a routine, creating a more active, engaging and natural lifestyle for your pet.
Sturdy Rabbit Hay Feeder
A well-designed rabbit hay feeder is a simple upgrade that makes a noticeable difference to both your rabbit’s health and your daily routine. By keeping hay elevated and contained, it stays cleaner, fresher and far more appealing for your rabbit to eat, rather than becoming soiled or scattered across the floor. This not only encourages more consistent grazing — which is essential for digestion and dental health — but also keeps your enclosure looking tidy and reduces waste over time. Designed to combine practicality with a clean, modern look, it creates a more organised feeding area while making it easier for you to manage, refill and maintain.
Creating the Right Living Space
One of the biggest mistakes rabbit owners make is choosing an enclosure that is far too small. Rabbits need real space — not just somewhere to sit, but room to move freely, stretch out fully and behave naturally throughout the day.
A proper setup goes beyond a basic hutch. A rabbit hutch should be seen as a secure resting and sleeping area, not the main living space. To truly meet your rabbit’s needs, it should be paired with a spacious rabbit run where they can hop, explore and stay active. For owners looking to upgrade, a rabbit shed and run setup offers a much larger, more permanent solution that allows for standing height, better enrichment and a more natural lifestyle.
Indoor rabbits also need more than a small cage. An indoor hutch or enclosure should open out into a larger, rabbit-proofed area where they can roam safely and interact with their environment. Regardless of the setup you choose, your rabbit should be able to stand fully upright, hop multiple times in a row, and rest comfortably without restriction.
Most importantly, rabbits need daily exercise outside of their base enclosure. Limited space leads to boredom, stress and poor physical development. Whether indoors or outdoors, the environment must be secure, weather-protected, and enriched — because the right setup doesn’t just house your rabbit, it completely shapes their quality of life.
Heavy Duty, Large Rabbit Hutch
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Premium, Indoor Rabbit Hutch Enclosure
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Chartwell Three Tier Rabbit Hutch for Outdoors – Separate Floors
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Chartwell Three Tier Rabbit Hutch For Outdoors – With Ramps
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Our Best-Selling Rabbit Hutch
The Chartwell Large Rabbit Hutch with Adjoining Ramp is one of those setups that instantly upgrades your rabbit’s quality of life. Designed with space and movement in mind, it gives your rabbits the freedom to move between levels naturally while still having a secure, cosy area to rest and retreat. The adjoining ramp adds that extra layer of enrichment, encouraging activity and exploration rather than keeping your rabbits confined to one flat space. What makes this hutch stand out is how practical it is for you as well — easy access, a well-thought-out layout, and the option to extend with a run means you’re not just buying a hutch, you’re building a complete living environment. It’s a best seller for a reason — it strikes the perfect balance between space, structure and everyday usability, giving your rabbits a setup that actually supports how they’re meant to live.
Rabbit-Proofing Your Home
Rabbits are naturally curious and love to chew. Without preparation, your home can quickly become a risk-filled environment.
Protecting wires, furniture, and anything chewable is essential. Creating a safe, designated area where your rabbit can roam freely will make life easier and protect both your home and your rabbit.
Litter Training Your Rabbit
Rabbits can be litter trained, and it’s easier than most people expect. With consistency and the right setup, most rabbits naturally learn to use a litter tray.
Placing hay near or inside the litter area works well, as rabbits often eat and toilet at the same time. Over time, they begin to associate that space with their routine.
Grooming and Daily Care
Rabbits are naturally clean animals, but they still need support to stay healthy.
Short-haired rabbits require occasional brushing, while long-haired breeds need more regular grooming to prevent matting. Nail trimming and general health checks should also become part of your routine.
Monitoring your rabbit daily is important. Changes in behaviour, appetite, or appearance can be early signs of illness and should never be ignored.
Social Needs and Interaction
Rabbits are social animals and thrive on interaction. Whether it’s bonding with another rabbit or building trust with you, they need companionship.
Spending time at their level, allowing them to approach you, and creating calm, positive interactions will help build a strong bond over time. Rabbits are intelligent and can learn routines when given the opportunity.
Spaying and Neutering
Spaying or neutering your rabbit is one of the most important steps you can take for their health and behaviour.
Unneutered rabbits are more likely to develop behavioural issues and certain health conditions. Neutering also supports litter training and helps create a calmer, more sociable pet.
Keeping Your Rabbit Happy and Enriched
A happy rabbit is an active rabbit. They need stimulation, space, and opportunities to behave naturally.
Providing toys, tunnels, safe items to chew, and areas to explore will keep your rabbit mentally and physically engaged. Without enrichment, rabbits can quickly become bored or stressed.
Edible Rabbit Toy | SnuggleSafe | I’ll Eat My Hat
Original price was: £4.99.£3.99Current price is: £3.99.
Final Thoughts
Rabbit care isn’t complicated — but it does require consistency, knowledge, and the right setup.
If you focus on a proper diet, a spacious and enriching environment, and regular care, your rabbit will thrive. And in return, you’ll have a loyal, entertaining companion that becomes a real part of your home.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How hard is it to look after a rabbit?
Rabbits are not easy pets. They require daily care, regular cleaning, and attention to their diet and environment. With the right setup and routine, they become much easier to manage.
Can rabbits be kept indoors?
Yes, rabbits can thrive indoors when given enough space and a safe, rabbit-proofed area. Many owners prefer indoor setups as they allow for better bonding and monitoring.
How much space does a rabbit need?
Rabbits need enough space to hop, stretch out fully, and stand on their hind legs. Small hutches alone are not enough — they should always have access to a larger run or free-roaming area.
What do rabbits eat daily?
Rabbits should eat mainly hay, along with fresh leafy greens and a small amount of pellets. Fresh water should always be available.
Do rabbits need companionship?
Yes, rabbits are social animals and are usually happiest when kept in pairs or given regular interaction and attention.
How long do rabbits live?
With proper care, rabbits can live between 8 and 12 years, sometimes even longer.
