Bonding FAQ

Main article: Bonding

Should I bond my rabbit with a friend's rabbit?

You should not bond rabbits unless you plan on having them together indefinitely. Otherwise, there is no reason to have them together. Casual playmates aren't a thing for most rabbits, and it's either hate or a long road that leads to a very strong relationship. It would be better to get them an actual new friend from a shelter instead of putting them through all that with a bun they will not see sometime unexpectedly in the future. Rabbits should pick out a companion themselves, then form a lasting bond and never be alone.

Can I have my rabbit play with my friend's rabbit?

In small groups, rabbits will fight or bond tightly. Unlike dogs, rabbits are very territorial and do not get along easily. If they fight, it could end up in expensive medical bills and even fatal injuries. If they bond, it will be cruel to separate them. As a result, playdates for rabbits are not a good idea.

However, social playdates can be possible with a group of 7 or more spayed and neutered rabbits on neutral territory. The San Diego HRS, Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society, and several other rescues have hosted these "hoppy hours" under experienced supervision in the past. These events are not as common these days due to the spread of RHD world-wide.

Examples of when discouraged playdates go very badly:

• u/NinjaMidget76. (2021). My rabbit killed another bunny. (RIP) (Graphic)

My two bunnies used to be happily bonded, but now they are constantly fighting. What happened?

If one or both of your rabbits were unfixed and young, chances are that one or both are going through sexual maturity. Territorial feelings and aggression increases once bunnies start producing their hormones. Your rabbits may be fighting to reestablish dominance through humping and chasing. Please separate them before they cause serious injuries to one another.

The easiest way to fix such behavior is to spay and neuter your rabbits. You may need to work on re-bonding the rabbits afterwards, though, since scents change when rabbits go through sexual maturity. Wait a month after the operation to make sure all hormones have dissipated before doing so.

If your two rabbits are different sexes, it is especially important to separate them now before the female gets pregnant. In fact, you may find out that your rabbits are a different sex than you thought when taking them in to the vet to be fixed. If you got your rabbit from a pet store, they were most likely improperly sexed, as it can be very difficult for anyone but an expert to tell.

If your rabbits were already neutered, the most common reason for a bond between neutered rabbits breaking is due to a change in environment (e.g. one rabbit going to the vet, new visitors, new scents, new furniture). In some cases, illness in one rabbit may trigger the other one(s) to start attacking the sick one. Sometimes, when spring arrives with longer days and warmer weather, rabbits can get spring fever and act a little more hormonal. However, there isn't always a clear cut reasoning for a broken bond if they're already adults and neutered, but a vet visit for all of your rabbits is not a bad idea to make sure there's nothing causing either of them pain to cause redirected aggression first if nothing else is obvious.

If they are all in good health, keep swapping enclosures for a while, then try re-bonding them. But if it doesn't stick, the rabbits may need to be housed separately for the rest of their lives. Rabbits will still socially benefit from seeing and smelling another rabbit even if they're not bonded.

See the Bonding wiki article for more tips on re-bonding rabbits.

The following provide some more resources:

• Holly O'Meara and Suzanne Mallery. (2011). Mending a Broken Bunny Bond

How do I bond a new bunny to my cat/dog? or vice versa?

Please see the article Relationships with rabbits#Other Animals.