In its natural habitat, it’s uncommon to see a rabbit all by itself. This is because these creatures are extremely social, living in huge groups called colonies. Such gatherings increase every individual’s chances of surviving predatory attacks, allowing it to feel safe and happy. Small wonder rabbits are usually sold in pairs!
If kept alone, a rabbit can grow lonely, which can lead to depression and ultimately a deterioration in overall health. This begs the question: can rabbits die from loneliness?
Well, not loneliness per se. But since loneliness can result in poorer mental and physical health, it can contribute to an untimely demise. And the longer a rabbit stays lonely, the worse the outcome can be.
If you want to make sure your bunny doesn’t suffer the adverse effects of loneliness, keep reading!
Top 6 Ways Loneliness Can Kill Rabbits
Rabbits rely on the company of other rabbits to feel safe and therefore relaxed and happy. Without said company, a bunny will constantly feel exposed to various dangers.
Thus, a lone bunny can grow increasingly unhappy, stressed, and anxious in its environment, all of which can cause a gradual decline in its health. In other words, yes, loneliness can kill a bunny, albeit indirectly.
Below, we discuss the various ways loneliness can harm your rabbit:
1. It can weaken the immune system
The mental health concerns brought about by loneliness can reduce the efficacy of the immune system. Specifically, constant anxiety and stress can lower the rabbit’s levels of white blood cells, which are the cells that combat disease. This makes the bunny increasingly susceptible to various infections and other types of health problems.
2. It can result in obesity
When a rabbit is depressed, it can grow lethargic. Lack of activity can then lead to unhealthy weight gain and ultimately obesity, which is associated with serious chronic conditions (such as diabetes and heart disease) that can reduce a rabbit’s quality of life and even cut its life short.
3. It can affect the gut
Stress and anxiety induced by loneliness can lead to stomach ulcers, which in turn can cause pain and potentially fatal damage to the stomach lining. They can also result in gut stasis, a condition in which the gut stops moving properly.
4. It can damage the kidneys
The stress and anxiety caused by loneliness can reduce the flow of blood to the rabbit’s kidneys. Over time, this can cause kidney damage which, if left untreated, can kill your pet.
5. It can lead to liver failure
Stress and anxiety can discourage a rabbit from eating. If this behavior continues for an extended period, it can result in liver failure and death.
6. It can harm the heart’s health
Among the worst things loneliness can lead to is heart disease, which, of course, increases the rabbit’s risk of dying from a heart attack.
6 Signs That a Rabbit is Lonely
When a bunny is lonely, it may exhibit one or a combination of worrying behaviors that you can easily observe.
Keep in mind, however, that these behaviors may be symptoms of other health problems. For this reason, any rabbit that starts displaying these behaviors should be taken to an animal clinic or hospital as soon as possible, as a veterinarian can pinpoint what’s ailing your pet and provide it with the necessary treatment.
With that in mind, here are 6 signs your rabbit is lonely:
1. Unexplained aggression
When anxious and stressed, lonely rabbits may display typical signs of aggression, such as:
- Biting
- Nipping
- Kicking
- Loudly thumping their feet on the ground
- Screaming
Such behaviors are used not only to express their foul mood but also to deter humans from interacting with them.
Lonely rabbits can also become more territorial, using the above behaviors to ward off anyone who comes too close to their safe space.
In general, you won’t find an observable explanation for this aggression. For example, a rabbit can become bitey even in the absence of threats (such as other pets) and other possible sources of anxiety and stress (such as filthy surroundings, the lack of freedom to roam its environment, and your failure to provide it with appropriate nutrition).
2. Neediness
Other rabbits go the opposite route, becoming extremely needy and clingy. They’ll constantly seek their human’s attention by exhibiting disruptive or even destructive behaviors.
Usual attention-seeking behaviors include:
- Nipping you gently
- Nudging you gently
- “Digging” at you using their front paws
- Thumping their feet on the ground
- Rattling the bars of their enclosure
If these behaviors prove successful in manipulating you into giving your rabbit the attention it craves, it will learn to keep repeating them every time it desires companionship.
3. Withdrawal
When depressed, a lonely rabbit may resort to self-isolation and withdraw from human contact. Your presence won’t relax it, cheer it up, or excite it. When you do interact with it, it’ll simply sit there showing little to no reaction. Alternatively, it could become grumpy and display aggression.
A socially withdrawn rabbit won’t show any curiosity about its surroundings, either, so instead of exploring your home like it usually does, it’ll stay in one place and sulk.
4. Persistent destructive behaviors
Because of their growing surplus energy and frustration, lonely rabbits can resort to destructive behaviors, including:
- Chewing on furniture
- Chewing on their bedding
- Damaging their enclosure
- Digging out their litter box
- Messing up their water and food bowls
Take note that it’s normal for rabbits to sometimes engage in these behaviors, so seeing a rabbit chew on the furniture once in a while isn’t a sign that something’s wrong. You should only worry when your bunny displays these behaviors frequently.
5. Over-grooming
As naturally clean creatures, it’s normal for rabbits to groom themselves throughout the day. However, an overabundance of this behavior can be a symptom of various health issues, including the anxiety and stress brought about by loneliness.
How do you know when a bunny’s grooming is excessive? If it results in the thinning or loss of fur, which means your pet is using the activity to relieve stress and anxiety. In severe cases, a rabbit could even yank out its fur on purpose, which is known as fur pulling.
6. Lack of appetite
Many rabbits get excited at the sight and smell of food such as hay, pellets, leafy greens, and treats.
When lonely, however, a rabbit may start eating less or completely cease consuming food. This, of course, can lead to malnutrition and various associated health problems, including the aforementioned liver failure.
While a reduced interest in food should worry you, the absolute refusal to eat should be treated as an emergency, as it can kill your bunny if allowed to continue.
5 Ways to Prevent Loneliness in a Rabbit
Is your rabbit lonely? Don’t panic, because there are easy things you can do to improve its mood and thus its health, including:
1. Give your rabbit a new companion
We’ve already hinted at the first solution to a rabbit’s loneliness: a new companion rabbit. So go to a pet store or reputable breeder and get your bunny a partner!
Of course, exercise caution when introducing this new rabbit to the lonely one. Remember, lonely rabbits may behave more aggressively toward others, including members of their own species. So keep an eye on them both, separate them at any sign of a problem, and only have them interact again when the aggressive one has calmed down.
You should also get a rabbit that’s the opposite sex of your original pet, as they’re more likely to co-exist peacefully than those of the same gender.
2. Spend more time with your rabbit
While offering a lonely rabbit a bunny companion is ideal, a human spending more time with their furry friend can also do a lot of good.
Interact with your pet as much as you can so that it doesn’t spend so much time all by its lonesome. Feed it, play games with it, gently hold it and stroke its fur, and give it toys that both of you can play with.
One of the best ways to bond with your rabbit is to get down on the ground when petting it. When you move closer to a rabbit, it’ll feel more secure and therefore less threatened. However, remember that not all rabbits are the same, so if yours growls the moment you lower yourself to its level, step back and give it time to calm down.
All the above strategies can reduce a rabbit’s feelings of loneliness while you look for a bunny companion for it.
3. Give your rabbit more freedom
As mentioned above, rabbits are curious creatures with a natural inclination toward exploration. As such, you should never keep your pet locked up in its cage for extended periods, as this lack of freedom can contribute to its frustration. Instead, for several hours each day, let it out of its cage and allow it to run around your property. The sights and sounds it’ll experience will nourish its mind, while all the hopping will give it the exercise it needs to stay in good health – both of which can ward off the anxiety and stress associated with loneliness.
Because rabbits are excellent escape artists and have a habit of being destructive, however, you should monitor your bunny every time it’s out of its cage, especially if you bring it out into the yard. It may be a good idea to keep it inside a large playpen if you’re too busy to keep an eye on it.
4. Join a rabbit community
Why join a community of rabbit enthusiasts? Because such groups are filled with friendly people and species experts who are eager to help out other pet owners.
If you have questions about how to help a lonely rabbit, for example, you can expect community members to offer advice. Some may even introduce you to reputable and experienced rabbit veterinarians as well as breeders who’d be happy to provide your lonely bunny with a healthy, happy companion.
5. Bring your rabbit to a veterinarian
In addition to treating your rabbit’s loneliness, a certified veterinarian can give you sound advice on how to improve your pet’s mood so that it stays healthy. Just as importantly, a veterinarian can treat the health issues that loneliness had a hand in bringing about, such as obesity, heart disease, and the other problems we discussed above.
Make sure, however, that the vet is someone who received training on how to treat this specific mental health problem. So before you pick one to help your pet, scrutinize their credentials and check how other rabbit owners have rated their services.
Can a Rabbit Live Alone?
Because rabbits can’t stand being alone, a bunny might not be the best choice for someone who’s consistently too busy with work and other things to dedicate a portion of their time to their pet. If you’re one such person, either consider a less demanding pet or hire a pet sitter. Know that the latter route will cost you extra, though.
Just like people, however, not all rabbits are the same. While rabbits typically need companionship to survive and thrive, some prefer being alone.
This doesn’t mean you can completely ignore such a rabbit; you should still spend some time with it and do what you can to make it feel safe and happy. The major difference is that you don’t need to interact with a solitary rabbit as much.
Also, you should give a rabbit that enjoys solitude more freedom of movement, so let it out of its cage more frequently and provide it with lots of space to roam. This can ensure it enjoys the mental and physical stimulation it requires to stay healthy.
Final Thoughts
Yes, loneliness can indirectly kill a rabbit.
As social creatures, rabbits need constant companionship to feel safe and happy. Without another rabbit in its life, a bunny could therefore grow lonely. Loneliness, in turn, can contribute to the development of serious health concerns, including obesity, a weaker immune system, and heart, kidney, liver, and stomach problems. Such issues, if left untreated, can lead to a rabbit’s premature demise.
Thankfully, a lonely rabbit typically exhibits easily observable behavioral changes, including unexplained aggression, neediness, social withdrawal, excessive self-grooming, persistent destructive behaviors, and a loss of appetite. If your pet displays any of such behaviors, you’ll know it needs help.
Helping a lonely rabbit isn’t too difficult. The simplest thing you can do is to provide it with a new bunny companion. However, you should also make an effort to spend more time with your pet. Joining a community of rabbit enthusiasts can help you come into contact with experts and other pet owners who can give you advice on how to treat your furry friend. Last but not least, you can bring your pet to an animal hospital or clinic so that a veterinarian can help it recover.