Rabbits can make amazing family pets, but mixing them can be challenging. In this guide we talk through how to start socialising your rabbit and why it is important to do so. We will cover some of the common pitfalls and mistakes along the way and hopefully by the end you will have a good idea of how to mix your rabbits. 

Table of contents

Why is it important to mix rabbits, can’t my rabbit just live by itself?

Rabbits are social animals who live in groups in the wild. In captivity they often form bonded pairs with another rabbit. Living alone is highly stressful for a rabbit as they are prey animals who gain confidence for being with other rabbits. When rabbits are stressed they are more prone to health conditions and syndromes such as gut stasis.
If you would like more information on the importance of rabbits living in groups, the Rabbit Welfare Fund has put together this useful article on rabbit companionship.

Finding the right friend for your rabbit

When preparing to find a companion for your rabbit consider the following:

Both animals should be neutered 

A neutered male and neutered female rabbit make an ideal pair. Neutered males and neutered females can also be paired with each other; but the most important factor is they both need to be neutered. Rabbits breed very quickly and have large litters and siblings will breed with each other if not neutered. Rabbits are much more likely to fight if not neutered so neutering means mixing the rabbits is much more likely to be safer for both animals. In addition neutering has health benefits for your rabbit, including reducing the risk of uterine cancer in female rabbits. 

The rabbits should both be neutered long enough ago to ensure that their wounds have fully healed from surgery, they are fully recovered, and they are no longer fertile. Male rabbits can still be fertile for up to 6 weeks after neutering. So it is important to check with your veterinary surgeon that it is safe to start the mixing process.

Both animals should be a similar size and age

Ideally, the companion for your rabbit should be around the same size and weight as your rabbit, and roughly the same age if at all possible.

Both animals should be in good health

Make sure both animals have been checked over by a veterinary surgeon and are healthy animals before you start trying to mix them.

Starting the mixing process

Slow and steady wins the race. The most important thing to remember about mixing rabbits is that it should be a very gradual slow process. Trying to mix rabbits too rapidly will likely result in injuries and stress, and be unsafe for both animals.

Step 1 – introduce the rabbits to each other’s smell

The best way to do this is by taking a small amount of bedding material or a toy which has been used by one rabbit, and putting it in the environment of the other rabbit. Do this for both animals so they can get used to the smell of the other animal without seeing them or feeling threatened by them.

Step 2 – let the rabbits see each other with a barrier 

After the rabbits have got used to each other’s smell, the next step is to let them see each other exist. This is not putting them in the same environment as each other. It is simply removing any visual barriers so they can see the other rabbit. Keep them in their own environment but have their runs face each other so they can hear and see each other. If they are indoor rabbits kept in separate rooms then you can use double baby gates between the doors that separate the spaces to remove the visual barrier. But still keep a physical barrier so they can’t touch.

Step 3 – gradually move the barriers close together 

Once the rabbits have got used to seeing each other you can slowly allow them to get closer together. The best way to do this is to feed them their favourite foodstuffs near the barrier. As they become more comfortable with this you can gradually allow them to contact each other through the barrier should they wish. A good sign this is going well would be both rabbits lying down close to each other next to the barrier. If they are running away from the barrier, growling at each other or showing signs of fear and distress it is likely this is a step too far for them and you should go back to step 1 and step 2 until they become more comfortable. 

Meeting face to face

Once you have started the mixing process and got the rabbits used to each other’s sight and scent, and they have become comfortable being close together with a physical barrier, you can start slowly introducing them to each other without a barrier.

Step 4 – Make sure both animals meet in a neutral space 

The meeting point for mixing rabbits should always be a place that neither animal has been before so there are no territorial issues or scents in the area for either to pick up on. This space needs to be away from their main enclosures and other animals.

Step 5 – Don’t put them together, keep them apart in the space

This step sounds at odds with the whole point of mixing your rabbits; but what we mean by this is don’t put your rabbits into the space in the same area. Put one rabbit at one end and the other rabbit at the other end. By doing this you are allowing them to naturally move towards each other if and when they want to, rather than forcing them to be in each other’s space before they are ready. Forcing them together too soon can result in fighting and injuries and massively set back the process of mixing your rabbits. Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

Step 6 – Monitor them closely 

Now your rabbits are both in the same neutral space as each other it is important you keep a close eye on them. These initial introductions should be short and positive. Let the rabbits sniff each other and explore and then end the interaction. Gradually build up the length and frequency of the interactions over the coming days remembering to keep everything as positive as possible. 

If you see negative behaviour such as one rabbit persistently chasing the other, one rabbit mounting the head of the other or any signs of persistent aggression or fighting it is important to end the interaction quickly to avoid injuries and setbacks in the introduction process. Remember fighting rabbits can cause each other harm and can also hurt you so take care not to get injured. 

Has it worked? How would you know?

As a rough guide once the rabbits are settled enough to be spending several hours a day in the same environment as each other unsupervised without any negative behaviour you can start the process of moving them in together. Initially when you move the rabbits in together this should be supervised until they are consistently showing positive behaviours with each other which indicate they are settled and enjoying each other’s company.

Positive behaviours include:

– lying next to each other through choice not when they have been put next to each other
– eating, drinking, defecating and exploring their environment with the other rabbit near them without seeming bothered by their presence
– grooming each other – usually this can be seen by them using their tongues to lick the head and body of the other rabbit

It is important to remember once you have bonded your rabbits they should always be kept together as they will be each other’s comfort and confidence for the rest of their lives. This includes when taking them to the vets. If one rabbit needs to go to the vets, always bring the other with it as a companion.

If you would like to read more about bonding rabbits the PDSA and RSPCA have both written detailed guides on the subject.

Summary:

  • Rabbits are social animals who should always be kept in groups, as a minimum in a bonded pair
  • Socialising rabbits takes time to do properly and avoid any injuries
  • Slow and steady wins the race – always be prepared to take things slowly with rabbits and let them go at their own pace
  • Once you have bonded your rabbits it’s important they stay together for the remainder of their lives and accompany each other at all times, including to vet visits!

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