breed & species spotlights
Indoor vs outdoor rabbits
Floppy ears. Twitching noses. Instagram-worthy hops across the lounge floor. Rabbits may look like the ultimate low-maintenance pets, but as Fiona Miles makes clear, their welfare is anything but simple.
When it comes to keeping rabbits at home, the conversation can get surprisingly serious. As Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS in South Africa, explains:“ FOUR PAWS is opposed to the keeping or buying of rabbits as pets, particularly since the vast majority are purchased from pet shops or breeders. Our priority is reducing demand and encouraging people to adopt responsibly from shelters where rabbits are already in need of homes.”
That said, for households that already share their lives with rabbits( especially those adopted from shelters), the focus shifts firmly to welfare.
“ The focus should be on ensuring a living environment that supports natural behaviours. Both indoor and outdoor conditions can be inappropriate if they do not provide appropriate shelter, space, social interaction, the correct nutrition and enrichment,” says Fiona.
The indoor rabbit: cosy companion or compromised explorer?
There’ s no denying that indoor rabbits are protected from traffic, predators and the unpredictability of the weather. But safety isn’ t the whole story.
“ Indoor environments rarely allow rabbits to express core natural behaviours without substantial adaptation,” explains Fiona.“ Digging, foraging, marking territory and exploratory behaviours are intrinsic to rabbit wellbeing, and indoor spaces restrict these.”
To help bridge the gap, Fiona suggests offering:
• Digging boxes filled with soil or safe substrate
• Scatter feeding and safe foraging activities
• Hiding spaces and multi-level structures
These additions can reduce frustration and boredom but, she points out, they can’ t fully replicate natural conditions.
48 www. petpals. co. za