Introducing Rabbits to Eachother
Rabbits in the wild are territorial animals that live in structured social groups. Pet rabbits share many of these behaviors, so introducing a new rabbit to a household with one or more established rabbits can be challenging and time-consuming. However, with patience and preparation, successful bonding is possible.
Before You Begin
✔ All rabbits should be healthy—have them examined by a veterinarian.
✔ Recently neutered or spayed rabbits should be fully recovered before introductions begin.
✔ The pairing that tends to work best is a neutered male with a spayed female, though other combinations can also be successful.
In the Beginning
Keep rabbits securely confined but within sight and smell of each other.
Use separate cages or pens positioned nearby.
Swap bedding between enclosures regularly to get them used to each other's scent.
Feed them in view of one another.
Feeding is a social activity for rabbits.
Associating the other rabbit with something positive—like mealtime—helps promote tolerance.
Look for signs of positive interest, such as:
Lying next to each other (with a barrier)
Calm sniffing through the cage
🚫 Do not proceed to direct introductions until they consistently show non-aggressive interest.
Introducing Rabbits to Each Other
Choose neutral territory—a space that neither rabbit considers their own (like a bathroom or a room they’ve never been in).
Scatter food around the area to encourage foraging, a natural social behavior.
Supervise Closely
Always supervise introductions.
Be prepared to intervene if fighting breaks out—use a heavy towel or blanket to separate them safely.
🕒 Start with 5–10 minute meetings. Gradually increase the time as long as interactions remain peaceful.
✔ Acceptable behaviors:
Sniffing
Brief chasing
Lying near each other
🚫 Stop immediately if:
Fighting occurs (biting, locked-on behavior, aggressive lunging)
One rabbit appears highly stressed
Sharing Space
Once the rabbits begin to:
✔ Groom each other
✔ Eat together calmly
✔ Lie down peacefully near one another
…they can begin to spend longer periods together and eventually share living space.
Once they can spend hours peacefully cohabitating, it's safe to allow them to share a sleeping area and live together full-time.
If Problems Arise
If fighting occurs at any stage, return to the “In the Beginning” phase and start over. Bonding takes time—and not all rabbits will bond.
In some cases, rabbits may need to live separately for life, and that’s okay. Some rabbits are simply solitary by nature and do better with human companionship alone.
🐰 Still have questions? Contact Yarmouth Veterinary Center. We’re here to help support healthy, happy rabbit relationships.
📍 Yarmouth Veterinary Center
📞 (207) 846-6515
📧 clients@yarmouthvet.com
