How long do pet rabbits live in UK?

Rabbits are a popular pet for young family members with about a million bunny rabbits kept as pets in the UK. Here we take a look at how long pet rabbits live in the UK, comparing the lifespan of house rabbits and outdoor rabbits, plus what rabbits eat and whether rabbits are OK living alone.

How long do pet rabbits live in UK?

Rabbits can live for many years in the UK if they are given the right diet, companionship, mental stimulation and physical activity, which we cover in more detail below.

Different breeds of rabbit have different lifespans and while there is not enough research to determine average ages for each breed, it is generally accepted that larger rabbits have shorter lives than dwarf breeds. Pedigree rabbits also generally have shorter lives than mixed breeds.

However, food and exercise can dramatically enhance or shorten a rabbit's lifespan, so ensuring they have enough space to hop, jump and explore, plus giving them attention, a healthy diet, and keeping up to date with vaccinations can all help extend a rabbit's life.

In general, pet rabbits live between eight and 12 years in the UK. This is much longer than the lifespan of wild rabbits which only survive for one or two years due to disease, predators, and access to food.

It’s worth noting that insurance companies are reluctant to start new policies for older rabbits. We found Petplan and helpucover won’t offer new insurance after the rabbit turns five-years-old. Others will stop offering new policies after seven. However, they will usually allow renewals, so it’s generally best to start rabbit insurance earlier in their lives (vets would suggest since birth) and ensure no gaps in cover. Read more about the cost of rabbit insurance here. You can also compare the different terms for each rabbit insurance provider in our guide.

Top tips for a rabbit to live a long life:

Lifespan of house rabbits v outdoor rabbits

There are not enough studies to compare the lifespan of a house rabbit with an outdoor rabbit in the UK, but pet rabbits are thought to live between eight and 12 years if cared for properly, and this can be both as a house rabbit indoors, or an outdoor rabbit. Wild outdoor rabbits only live for one or two years in comparison.

Some argue indoor is best for rabbits because they are protected from predators and disease and can be monitored for health issues. But a good owner will socialise with their bunnies every day and keep their vaccines up to date so disease should be prevented and health issues spotted.

Outdoor rabbits should also be provided with a safe hutch and run to prevent predators striking.

Weather conditions are usually not extreme enough in the UK to harm a rabbit living outside. Some do suggest bringing outdoor rabbits indoors when temperatures drop below zero, or ensuring they have ways to keep warm in their hutch, and it is protected from wind, rain and damp.

Rabbit vaccinations

Rabbit vaccinations are key to prolonging a rabbit's lifespan. Wild rabbits only live for one or two years and that's partly because they have no protection from disease. There are two vaccines vets recommend for rabbits - Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) and myxomatosis. Both diseases can be fatal.

VHD, also known as Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, is highly contagious and attacks a rabbit's organs, taking hold quickly. It can be spread via droppings of an infected rabbit, or via flies, birds, mice, or even humans on their shoes - meaning indoor rabbits are not immune from risk. Symptoms include loss of appetite, fever, bloody discharge from the nose or mouth, a lack of energy and problems breathing.

Vets are keen to prevent an epidemic of VHD, which has no cure, so encourage yearly vaccines.

Myxomatosis is spread through blood-sucking insects such as fleas and ticks and has similar symptoms including loss of appetite, lack of energy, breathing problems, nose and eye discharge, inflamed eyes causing difficulty seeing, and swelling and ulcers. There is also no cure.

Rabbits should be vaccinated at a few weeks old and then yearly. They cost between £50 and £125 depending on your vet. Pet insurance does not cover vaccinations in rabbits but beware some insurers may not pay out for conditions that could have been prevented by vaccine, so it's important both to vaccinate and have rabbit insurance.

Rabbit food for a healthy rabbit

Recommendations for rabbit food for a healthy rabbit have changed in recent years, with experts urging pet owners to avoid muesli-style feed.

Rabbit muesli contains a mix of cereals, pellets, legumes and more but research found them to be high in starch and low in fibre so they are fattening. They have also been found to be bad for a rabbit's teeth and cause stomach and urine problems. It's also thought that rabbits select their favourite bits from the muesli and miss the healthier, higher fibre elements.

Instead, rabbit owners are encouraged to give pellets, hay and a few fresh vegetables/leaves/grass/weeds as food to keep their rabbit healthy.

If you do feed your rabbit muesli and want to switch, the RSPCA recommends slowly transferring your rabbit to healthier food over two to four weeks. Human food can lead to obesity or an unbalanced diet, but a handful of green, leafy vegetables such as cabbage, spinach and broccoli (or herbs and weeds) given daily, is part of a rabbit's healthy diet.

Will a rabbit be OK living alone or do rabbits need to be in pairs?

Rabbits are very sociable animals and welfare charities recommend rabbits come in pairs rather than living alone. If you think of rabbits in the wild they live in groups and so pet rabbits have a strong desire to have company. Rabbits are quite like humans in that way, and can become bored and lonely in a life of solitude, harming their mental health and their lifespan. Studies have also shown rabbits housed individually can show abnormal behaviours which suggested stress.

But there can be exceptions when a rabbit is OK living alone. A rabbit rescued from an abusive home or who has had problematic social interactions, or those who have been bullied by other rabbits may be OK living alone. Some simply may just like their own company - it's rare but every rabbit has its own personality!

If you're worried about a lonely rabbit, owners could help their bunny by playing with them every day, keeping them in eyesight for long periods of the day and helping them exercise. Rabbits help each other groom so brushing them regularly and using cotton wool to clean their eyes will also make them feel loved. Regardless of whether they have a bunny buddy or not, short-haired rabbits should be brushed at least twice a week and those with longer coats need brushing every day, Vets4Pets says.

Can a rabbit be left alone for a week? How many hours can a rabbit stay alone?

As rabbits are so sociable and require fresh food and bedding daily, it is not advised a rabbit is left alone for a week. They shouldn’t be left for more than a day. If you have two or more rabbits they are usually content together for a day. But one rabbit, according to some, can be stressed and lonely after just 12 hours.

Rabbits need lots of attention and chance to play and socialise with other bunnies or humans, so it's important that families have time to interact with their pets.

If going on holiday, rabbits can be placed into boarding services. Or a cheaper option would be to ask friends, family and neighbours to visit each day or pet sit. There are also professional pet sitters who can come to your home to keep your bunny fed and clean. Rabbits need their water, food and bedding changing each day.

Is a rabbit a beginner pet?

Rabbits are thought of as a good beginner pet because they do not require lots of walking and are cheaper to feed and buy than cats and dogs. The cost of rabbit insurance is also lower than cats and dogs. However, rabbits are probably higher maintenance than many realise, and need a lot of social interaction.

This is why many experts recommend rabbits are bought in pairs rather than alone as they can socialise with each other.

There are some things to think about when buying a rabbit or two.

Regular exercise will help prolong a rabbit's lifespan, so giving them the opportunity to run, hop and jump, and maybe even explore the garden, will give them a good life. But that means rabbit-proofing outdoor space or keeping an eye on them while they frolick unless you have invested in a large run.

Children may love the thought of a rabbit but it's important they stay engaged so they continue to interact with their bunny through its life which could be up to 12 years. Care needs to be taken when petting a rabbit as they are nervous to new people because they are aware of predators. Humans need to slowly build a bond and trust with the rabbit which can be difficult for excited children.

If a rabbit is living outdoors, the Rabbit Welfare Association recommends rabbits have an enclosure at least 3m x 2m and 1m high, which when looking online, is quite hard to find.

The difference between rabbits and cats and dogs is the time needed and costs to clean out their hutch. They need fresh hay every day for food and bedding, with old, soiled bedding cleaned out every day.

We have looked at how much it costs to keep a rabbit per month in the UK and found they were quite cheap to keep but set up fees can be around £600. The best way to keep rabbit costs down is to keep them vaccinated and up to date with pet insurance to avoid hefty, unexpected vet bills. Feeding them weeds or leftover green leafy vegetables rather than buying greens especially will help, plus added old newspaper into their bedding as well as hay.