If your rabbit leaves behind a bonded mate, he, too, will grieve. Now more than ever, your surviving rabbit will need you to help him through his grief. Rabbit grief is very real. Just like people, rabbits grieve in their own way.
In the days and weeks following its partners death, your rabbit may be withdrawn and hide away from you. It may even show aggression towards you, even if it has never been aggressive before. Others may seek you out for companionship, following you around and lying down close to your chair.
In the wild, rabbits live in big groups and they enjoy being with friends who will play with them, groom them, understand them and look out for them. So if these sociable animals are kept on their own, they may become bored, depressed, and very lonely.
Since they are very social animals, rabbits who are bonded have a deep and lasting relationship. Many of these pairs do almost everything together. Whether it is eating, sleeping, grooming or simply exploring their surroundings, bonded pairs make everything a group activity.
Bonded rabbits can also break their bond. This can happen if they've been separated, for example if one bunny needs to spend a few days at the vet. It can also happen if you move house, move or change your rabbit enclosure, or upset the hierarchy by introducing new rabbits.
Rabbits form a bond for life. Once the rabbits have bonded they should not be separated, as this would cause a great deal of psychological trauma to them both. It is recommended that both rabbits are taken to the veterinarian if one needs to attend.
Once the rabbits have bonded, DO NOT separate them. If one rabbit needs to go to the vet, both need to go. If they're separated and one rabbit comes back with a different smell or change in health, they may reject each other and begin fighting.
Rabbits are happiest living in pairs. While they love and enjoy human companionship, there are certain social needs that even the most loving pet parents can never completely fulfil. Rabbits living in bonded pairs are generally healthier than singly kept rabbits.
In general, rabbits will be happier in pairs than when they are single. A second rabbit can prevent depression, and even help to minimize boredom and troublemaking behaviors. However, enough social interaction from humans or other pets is also okay if getting a second rabbit is not possible.
Your rabbits will still want to be with you and show affection, but will not be so clingy when it has another bunny friend. Bonded rabbits also bring their own advantages to rabbit owners.
Giving the survivor time with the body does not add to the risk. Typically a rabbit will grieve for the loss of a partner for several weeks. They will be quieter than usual and may seem moderately depressed.
The signs of an unhappy rabbit
Pulling at their fur and over-grooming - or not grooming at all. A change in feeding or toilet habits. Drinking a lot more. Repeated circling or pacing up and down.
It's okay if the rabbits aren't lovebirds
Some rabbits are just more independent than others and prefer to spend time alone. Your rabbits are still bonded as long as they get along and don't fight. You don't need to try to force your rabbits to be closer together than they want to be.
When one cat in a bonded pair dies, monitor your other cat closely. He must eat, drink and use his litter box as usual. If your grieving cat stops eating for more than 24 hours, seek help from his veterinarian. Watch his sleeping patterns as well.
Let your remaining rabbit say goodbye
Rabbits are social animals and, as such, they can grieve intensely for a bonded companion. If at all possible, try to give your surviving rabbit time alone with their deceased companion so that they can begin to say goodbye.
Even if you have a pair of rabbits, 24 hours is the maximum time they should be alone. Like all pets, rabbits rely heavily on their owners. Domesticated rabbits lack the survival skills of wild rabbits. Your rabbit has basic needs surrounding food, exercise, and stimulation.
In general, the only time you should give up on bonding rabbits is when they have injured each other. You should also reevaluate the bond if one rabbit is a bully, making the other rabbit anxious and afraid to eat, use the litter box, or even move around too much.
Although trying to bond rabbits will inevitably be stressful to them, there are other factors that cause stress too and every rabbit owner should be aware of them.
A bonded rabbit pair will prefer each other over humans, even if their owners are responsible for food and care. This doesn't mean you won't get affection from either rabbit, of course. Rabbits that live in groups will still be very affectionate with their owners.
Bonded rabbits will use the same litter box without fighting – make sure you have one big enough for both with space to move around. The litter box is like the sandbox in elementary school.
Bonded rabbits spend the majority of their days and nights together. They tend to visit the litter tray at the same time, eat together and groom together. A lot of time is spent simply snuggled up together sleeping.
Introduce rabbits on neutral territory. Never split up bonded pairs unless serious fighting occurs. Introduction a third rabbit into a bonded pair rarely works. Some nipping, chasing or mounting is normal, even in bonded pairs.
If The Bonded Pair Actually Fight
One rabbit chasing the other endlessly, biting to draw blood or ripping out fur, and otherwise being aggressive can break their bond. You need to separate the rabbits immediately and try to figure out what has caused this sudden change in behavior.
Nipping will most likely happen at some point during the bonding process. It is normal and isn't always a negative action. Sometimes a rabbit will nip the other because they want him/her to groom them.