Once your bunny is bonded it doesn't take any extra work to care for two bunnies. They share a house, food, water, and litter box. They will groom each other and keep each other clean and healthy.
Pet rabbits need at least one bunny bestie to live with but they'll be even happier in larger groups. It's easiest to adopt rabbits that are already bonded - brothers and sisters from the same litter will be really happy to live together, so long as they've been neutered (or you get them done when they're old enough).
If you have a pair of bunnies, you can also give them multiple boxes to keep them well-supplied with hay and fresh litter.
The minimum size you should be looking for is approximately 22L x 17W x 6.5H inches (55L x 43W x 16.5H cm). There may be some variation between different manufacturers, but this is good for one medium-sized rabbit, up to approximately 8lbs (or 3.6kg) or two small rabbits, up to 5lbs (or 2.27kg).
While they shouldn't be in the same shared area together at first, due to rabbits being highly territorial, they should be able to see each other. Separating the areas with x-pens is a good idea as it allows the rabbits to see and smell each other, but not be in close enough contact to allow any biting.
Bonded rabbits will use the same litter box without fighting – make sure you have one big enough for both with space to move around. The litter box is like the sandbox in elementary school.
Bonded rabbits can also break their bond. This can happen if they've been separated, for example if one bunny needs to spend a few days at the vet. It can also happen if you move house, move or change your rabbit enclosure, or upset the hierarchy by introducing new rabbits.
"The rule of thumb is one litter box per cat, plus one extra," Galaxy says. As a cat foster mom, I recommend that new adopters have at least 1.5 litter boxes per cat. So if you have one cat, you need two litter boxes; two cats, three litter boxes.
The average litter size for rabbits is five, though mothers may give birth to as few as one and as many as 12! Since young rabbits grow up quite quickly, “doe” rabbits may have three or four litters in a season.
The cardinal rule of the litter box says you need one box for each cat plus one extra for the household. Have a multi-level home? Each floor needs a dedicated cat box. You'll want to make sure two litter boxes aren't right next to each other, which can be confusing for the cat.
As a general rule, rabbits are bonded once they can spend 48 hours together without any chasing or aggressive behaviors. You also want to see positive signs such as grooming, sharing food, and sleeping next to each other to confirm that your rabbits feel safe around each other.
Rabbits are social animals that truly benefit from being bonded in pairs. It is important to them as they are naturally prey animals in the wild; there, they rely on each other for the creation and maintenance of underground burrows, where they spend a lot of their time hiding or socialising.
Nipping will most likely happen at some point during the bonding process. It is normal and isn't always a negative action. Sometimes a rabbit will nip the other because they want him/her to groom them.
Rabbits bonded through stress may well learn to tolerate each other (as long as nothing disrupts the calm), but are most likely not truly BONDED. That is, they may be more like college roommates who learn to deal with each other, as long as each roommate stays on their own side of the room.
Once the rabbits have bonded, DO NOT separate them. If one rabbit needs to go to the vet, both need to go. If they're separated and one rabbit comes back with a different smell or change in health, they may reject each other and begin fighting.
Some rabbits will establish an instant bond. You can recognise this by an initial lack of interest when first introduced followed by individual grooming. This will soon progress to mutual grooming and the rabbits sitting together.
A minimum of around 40cm x 25cm would cater to one small rabbit. If you have multiple rabbits and want them to use the same tray, you need one big enough for two. Rabbits grow quickly so think about the size your rabbit will be when fully grown not just while they are a baby.
Rabbit pairings
Rabbits can live happily in male/female, female/female, male/male pairings and larger mixed groups. However, the most natural and therefore easiest pairing is male/female. In the wild, rabbits tend to live in male/female pairs and will sometimes remain partnered for life.
Rabbits have the strange ability to carry two litters at once, which is why it's crucial to not let your does live with bucks. Many times, unfortunately, these “double pregnancies” can confuse the doe. Double pregnancies can be dangerous and should be avoided.
Spread Out Your Litter Boxes
When it comes to multiple cats' litter boxes, it's best to place several litter boxes around your home so that they are always accessible. If you have a multi-level home, consider putting one litter box on each floor. This way, your cats will have easy access.
How Often Should You Change the Cat Litter? If you use a clumping litter, it's best to scoop the box daily and change it out completely at least monthly. If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks.
Bonded rabbits spend the majority of their days and nights together. They tend to visit the litter tray at the same time, eat together and groom together. A lot of time is spent simply snuggled up together sleeping.
A lot of people worry that their rabbit will be less affectionate towards them once they have a bonded partner. We have never found this to be true. The only change we see in rabbits is that they are a lot happier! If you have a friendly rabbit who likes human company, the chances are that they always will!
If your rabbit leaves behind a bonded mate, he, too, will grieve. Now more than ever, your surviving rabbit will need you to help him through his grief. Rabbit grief is very real. Just like people, rabbits grieve in their own way.