The look on your kids’ faces when you arrive home with the cutest little rabbit is priceless. The rabbit becomes a family favourite, but it’s only a matter of time before your kids think the little guy or girl needs a friend. But is it a good idea to get a second rabbit, or should you have got two to begin with?
Buddy up
Rabbits are social creatures and do often benefit from companionship, it is important for their happiness and emotional well-being. However, not all rabbits get along with other rabbits so it’s important to keep this in mind when choosing them a friend.
Seeing two happy rabbits running around, playing and loving each other, is a pretty special experience.
What is the best pairing to get?
Once you’ve made the decision to get two rabbits, what are the two best to get? It’s ok to get two males or two females, especially if they’ve been brought up together from birth, but generally speaking, a neutered male and a spayed female are best. Whatever pairing you decide on it’s important to neuter and /or spay them both to ensure they are both relaxed and happy, and on a relatively even keel. Owning one amorous rabbit and one neutered one would not work
Can a rabbit choose its own mate?
While some pet shops and breeders are fine to find your pet rabbit, there are plenty of rescue rabbits looking for a good home. Some are quite happy for you to take your rabbit along to see if it bonds better with any particular rabbit.
It’s not all fun and games with two rabbits, and there are a number of issues to consider.
Commitment
Two rabbits are obviously a bigger commitment than one. They do cost more, but the problem arises later on when one of them dies. Rabbits don’t handle loss well, and a grieving rabbit is not a happy bunny. You might then have to start the process again, and find your sad rabbit a suitable companion to replace the lost one.
Bad influence
So your one rabbit lives a chilled life in your garden, maybe pining for a mate, maybe not. But he’s pretty well-behaved. Until the new one arrives. Suddenly, your rabbit, which never ate your plants or burrowed into your lawn, is learning a bunch of new tricks. Now there’s no stopping them. Your beautiful flowers eaten, your immaculate lawn full of holes, but at least your rabbits are having a good time. Our word of advice is to be prepared to manage the added excitement.
If the rabbits don’t bond
You do the right thing and get your rabbit a companion, but they don’t get on. This might be fairly unusual, but it happens, and then you have an even bigger headache. Do you get rid of one, or both, or bring in a third? Best you speak to our team before making a decision.
Mate like rabbits
Rabbits can be difficult to sex, and often people think they have two males or two females, but they don’t, and the next thing you are the proud owner of a very cute litter of baby bunnies. When you do pair them, make sure you get it right.
Barring the odd rogue rabbit that likes the lonely life, rabbits generally benefit from the company of other rabbits. They will often be far happier and content with a mate. Rabbits are not that unlike humans, they also get bored, even depressed, and when they do, they often act it out with destructive behaviour. Take your time to get a new mate, or even better, buy two rabbits from the start.
If you need more advice about your bunnies, contact your local experts in rabbit care.
