Usually rabbits can live happily together, and will get on well with each other. Keeping rabbits together can also be good for the rabbits, because it means they will always have each other’s company and will not get lonely.
Keeping Rabbits of the Same Sex Together
Male rabbits can live together, female rabbits can live together, and male and female rabbits can live together. There are several considerations you must take into account when considering keeping more than one rabbit together, and you should take this into consideration when deciding whether to keep rabbits of the same sex or rabbits of different sexes together.
Neutering or Spaying
Neutering or spaying your rabbit reduces the likelihood of aggressive or territorial behaviour in rabbits, and therefore helps when you have two rabbits living together. Rabbits living together that are not neutered or spayed may exhibit more territorial or aggressive behaviour to one another than rabbits living together that have been neutered or spayed.
If you have a male and a female rabbit living together, they will mate if you do not have at least one of them neutered or spayed. If you have same sex rabbits living together, spaying or neutering will make them less likely to fight with each other. There are also health benefits to neutering or spaying, so you should always have this done unless you intend to breed rabbits.
Introducing Rabbits To Each Other
If the rabbits have not always lived together, introduce them to each other carefully in a neutral area, not in the territory of one of the rabbits. This can be in a room in the house that neither of the rabbits normally goes in, or you could set up a pen in the garden or house.
At first it may be best to have the rabbits separated from each other, for example with one in a cage, so that there is no way that a fight could start. After they have got to know each other, and are getting on with each other, you can allow the rabbits more time with each other. The rabbits that are going to live together should not be left alone together until they have spent plenty of time with each other.
Only allow the rabbits to live together when you are sure that they get on and are not going to fight or one is not going to dominate the other. You should always supervise introducing two rabbits to each other, as whatever measures you take to make sure they will get on, they might just not like each other!
Pet Rabbits Living Together
If your rabbits get on well with each other, and are going to live together, make sure that there is enough room in their hutch or cage for them both to have space to get away from each other. You may find that each rabbit chooses its own toilet area, instead of sharing. This is a territorial thing, and although spaying or neutering reduces territorial instincts, they do not always go completely.
