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Written by Paul
Dr Paul Manktelow is a vet who’s worked for almost 20 years on the front line in some of the UK’s busiest veterinary hospitals. As Chief Vet in the Charity Sector, he leads a team of vets and nurses that treat thousands of pets every year. Paul also appears regularly in the media as a TV and radio presenter, writer, public speaker and podcast producer.
When you picture a pet rabbit, you might imagine a quiet bunny happily munching on a carrot in a wooden backyard hutch. It’s an image we’ve all grown up seeing in storybooks and cartoons!
However, ask any veterinary team, and they will tell you that rabbits are actually wonderfully complex, active, and fascinating animals with very specific care needs. On a recent episode of The Consult Room podcast, host Dr. Paul Manktelow and veterinary nurse Annie Clark unpacked some of the biggest rabbit myths that still fool pet owners today.
Here are four common rabbit myths debunked!
Myth 1: “Rabbits are easy, low-maintenance starter pets.”
The Reality: Rabbits are often bought as first pets for children, but caring for them properly takes just as much time, knowledge, and dedication as caring for a cat or a dog. They can live between 8 and 12 years, require routine veterinary check-ups and vaccinations, and need plenty of daily attention.
Myth 2: “Carrots and muesli should make up a rabbit’s main diet.”
The Reality: Carrots are very high in natural sugars, making them more like a sweet treat (the rabbit equivalent of a slice of cake!) than a staple meal. A rabbit’s diet should consist of 80% to 90% fresh hay or grass. Because rabbit teeth continuously grow about 2 to 3 millimeters a week, chewing on fibrous hay is essential to wear down their teeth and keep their digestive system moving smoothly.
Myth 3: “Rabbits are happy living alone.”
The Reality: In the wild, rabbits are intensely social creatures that live in close-knit groups. A single rabbit kept without a companion can easily become lonely, bored, and chronically stressed. Animal welfare guidelines strongly recommend keeping rabbits in compatible, neutered pairs or small groups so they can groom, sleep, and play together.
Myth 4: “A calm, quiet rabbit is always a happy rabbit.”
The Reality: Because rabbits are prey animals, their natural instinct when scared or unwell is to stay completely still and hide any signs of pain. A rabbit that is sitting unusually quiet or motionless in a corner may actually be frightened or suffering from a serious illness like gut stasis.
🎧 Curious to learn more?
Stream the full episode of The Consult Room on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube to discover even more surprising facts about rabbit biology, behavior, and care!
