A bunny friend can make a huge difference.
I feel bad leaving him alone for even a few hours
As much as I spend pretty much all day with my rabbit right now, I plan to start working 12 hour shifts soon. I’m really worried about him getting lonely, should I get a second pal for him? If so any tips for bonding that worked for you? He’s nurtured and just turned 1 year old.
A bunny friend can make a huge difference.
I feel bad leaving him alone for even a few hours
Slow bonding is key.
Some important factors before obtaining any additional rabbits:
While rabbits are considered social animals, they will most likely be very territorial with any new rabbit entering the space, which is why rabbits must be properly bonded. This process may take a couple weeks to months before the rabbits can co-exist peacefully. Both rabbits should be spayed/neutered to maximize the likelihood of bond success and stability.
If you are able to comfortably support additional pets, finding a suitable bunny friend for your single rabbit is rarely a bad idea. Please keep in mind that not all rabbits may be compatible enough to bond without serious work over a long period of time, if ever - as a result, we highly recommend speed dating adult neutered rabbits before bringing them home. However, rabbits will still benefit from the mental stimulation of seeing or smelling another rabbit nearby as long as they are safely separated to prevent injuries.
Please also check out the resources in our Bonding guide and Binkybunny's Bonding overview for more tips.