Is it legal to keep a rabbit as a pet in India?

Yes. The domestic rabbit is named as a pet animal in the Pet Shop Rules, 2018, and we did not find it in the Wild Life (Protection) Act schedules. Wild Indian hares, though, are listed in Schedule II and must never be caught or kept. Buy only from a shop registered with the State Animal Welfare Board.

Can I keep a single rabbit?

Welfare charities advise against it. The RSPCA and PDSA say rabbits are social and can suffer when kept alone, and that people cannot replace another rabbit's company. A neutered male and female pair is the usual recommendation, unless a vet or qualified behaviourist advises otherwise for a particular rabbit.

Can a rabbit live in a flat?

Yes, many rabbits live indoors. A pair needs at least 3m x 2m x 1m with constant access, so plan a fenced part of a room or a spare room. Cover cables, move houseplants and cleaning products, add non-slip mats, and keep them in the coolest room in summer.

How hot is too hot for a rabbit?

PDSA advises keeping a rabbit's space between 18 and 20°C, with somewhere cooler to escape to when it is warmer. In an Indian summer that means a shaded indoor room, frozen water bottles wrapped in a towel and a stone tile to lie on. Red, hot ears and fast breathing are warning signs.

What do rabbits eat in India?

Mostly hay, about 85% of the diet, with a variety of washed leafy greens and herbs and a small amount of rabbit pellets. Fruit and carrots are occasional treats. Avoid muesli-style mixes, household snacks and any plant you cannot identify. Ask your vet if you are unsure how much to feed.

Do rabbits need vaccines in India?

Ask your vet. In the UK, PDSA recommends vaccines against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease, and Merck describes one against rabbit haemorrhagic disease type 2 as routine in the United States. Which rabbit vaccines are available and advised in India depends on your vet, who sets any schedule.

What should I do if my rabbit stops eating?

Call your vet the same day. PDSA says a rabbit that stops eating is at risk of gut stasis, a life-threatening slowdown of the gut. Check whether it is passing droppings and tell the vet when it last ate. Do not wait to see if it improves overnight.

New pet guide 16 min read

Your first rabbit: a care guide for Indian homes

Updated October 2026By PetymFacts checked against official sources on 21 October 2026

Quick answer

Rabbits need a companion rabbit, far more space than a hutch, unlimited hay with daily leafy greens and a small amount of pellets, and a cool, shaded home, because they cannot pant or sweat and Indian summers can kill them. They can live 8 to 12 years. A rabbit that stops eating needs a vet the same day.

Keeping a domestic rabbit is legal in India and pet shops that sell them must be registered with the State Animal Welfare Board. Wild Indian hares are protected wildlife and must never be caught or kept. Rabbits suit patient adults who want a pet to watch and sit with, not one to pick up and cuddle.

Free going-away checklist

Is a rabbit the right pet for you?

Rabbits are often sold as easy starter pets. Vets and welfare charities say they need as much daily care as a cat or dog.

	What rabbits need	What it means in an Indian home
Lifespan RSPCA	Around 8 to 12 years, some longer	A commitment through school years, job moves and a likely change of flat
Company RSPCA	At least one other rabbit, ideally a neutered male and female pair	Plan for two rabbits from the start, not one
Space RSPCA	At least 3m x 2m x 1m for a pair, shelter and exercise area together, with constant access	A fenced part of a room or a whole spare room, not a cage on the balcony
Temperature PDSA	Ideally 18 to 20°C, with a cool space to escape to when it is hotter	A cool indoor room through April to June, and a plan for power cuts
Handling PDSA	Most dislike being picked up; they prefer to be petted on the floor	Not ideal for young children who want to carry a pet around
Daily time PDSA	Feeding, daily cleaning, health checks and time together every day	Someone at home morning and evening, every day of the year

If anyone at home has allergies or asthma, talk to your doctor before you bring rabbits or hay into the house.

Is it legal to keep a rabbit in India?

Yes, a domestic rabbit is legal to keep. What the law controls is how rabbits are sold, and it protects wild hares.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018 name the rabbit in their definition of a pet animal, along with dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters and pet birds. Anyone who sells pet animals, including at a weekly market or online, needs a certificate of registration from the State Animal Welfare Board and must display it in the shop. The Rules bar the sale of un-weaned or underage animals, require a receipt for every animal sold, and say rabbits must be kept on a solid floor, never wire mesh, away from cats and dogs.

The domestic rabbit comes from the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, as the Merck Veterinary Manual explains, while hares belong to a different group, Lepus. That difference matters in India. When we read the schedules of the Wild Life (Protection) Act as amended in 2022, the desert hare, Indian hare and woolly hare were listed in Schedule II, Part A, as protected wild animals. We did not find the domestic rabbit in any schedule. A 'khargosh' caught in a field or sold by a trapper may be a wild hare, and keeping it is an offence.

Every owner also has a duty under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 to take reasonable care of an animal in their charge. Keeping a rabbit in a cage too small for it, or without food, water and shelter, can be cruelty under section 11.

Should you adopt or buy a rabbit?

Where your rabbits come from shapes their health for life. Choose a source that lets you see how they have been kept.

First choice
Adopt from a recognised shelter
Some animal welfare organisations take in rabbits. AWBI publishes a state-wise list of the organisations it recognises. A good rescue health checks animals and helps match them to your home. Animal Welfare Board of India
Easier start
A bonded pair from a rescue
Rabbits adopted from a rescue are often already sexed, neutered and bonded, which saves the risky work of introducing two adults. RSPCA
Check the papers
A registered pet shop
Ask to see the State Animal Welfare Board certificate. Check the rabbits are healthy, kept clean, on solid floors, and have been handled gently from a young age. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Gazette copy on AWBI's site)
Check sex and health
A friend's litter
Possible if the rabbits are healthy and used to people. Rabbits can breed from about three months old, so make sure males and females have been kept apart. PDSA

What should you set up before your rabbits come home?

Have the space ready and rabbit-proofed before day one. Rabbits chew whatever they can reach.

A living area for the pair of at least 3m x 2m x 1m, with a shelter and an exercise area they can reach at all times. RSPCA
A spot in the coolest room of the flat, out of direct sun, away from the kitchen stove and with good airflow. PDSA
Cables and wires covered or out of reach, and houseplants, cleaning products and medicines put away. PDSA
Non-slip flooring such as rugs or mats over smooth tiles. RSPCA
A large, low-sided litter tray with paper-based litter, straw or hay. No clumping or clay cat litter and no wood shavings. PDSA
A steady supply of good-quality feeding hay, and pellets made for rabbits (not a muesli-style mix). PDSA
At least one heavy water bowl per rabbit, since many rabbits prefer a bowl to a bottle. PDSA
Hiding places and things to chew and dig: cardboard boxes, tunnels and a digging tray. PDSA
Fly screens or mesh on windows, to keep out the flies and insects that cause flystrike and spread disease. PDSA
The name and number of a vet who treats rabbits, found before you need one. Merck Veterinary Manual

What should the first week with rabbits look like?

A calm first week, on the food they already know, with daily checks that they are eating and pooing. This is Petym's practical sequence, built from the sources cited.

Day 1
Bring them home together in a ventilated carrier in the cool part of the day. Let them explore their space on their own; do not pick them up to show visitors. PDSA
Days 1 to 3
Keep the food they ate before, with unlimited hay. Any change of diet should be slow, to avoid an upset stomach. RSPCA
Every day
Check that each rabbit is eating, drinking and passing plenty of dry droppings. A rabbit that stops eating needs a vet straight away. PDSA
Within the first week
A first vet check, where the vet examines the teeth, confirms the sex and talks about neutering and vaccines. Merck Veterinary Manual
Days 3 to 7
Sit on the floor in their space with a few greens and let them come to you. Start litter training where they already toilet. PDSA
End of week 1
Settle a daily routine: clean the litter and remove old greens daily, and deep clean once a week. PDSA

What should a rabbit eat, and which foods are dangerous?

About 85% hay or grass, about 10% leafy greens and about 5% pellets, with water always available. The RSPCA and PDSA give the same picture.

Do

Give unlimited good-quality feeding hay, at least a bundle as big as the rabbit every day. It keeps their ever-growing teeth worn down and their gut moving. PDSA
Offer a variety of washed leafy greens and herbs daily, rotated rather than the same few every day. RSPCA
Feed a small measured amount of high-fibre rabbit pellets daily; ask your vet how much for your rabbit's size. RSPCA
Introduce any new food slowly and in small amounts. RSPCA
Keep fresh water in a bowl, changed daily, and check it more often in the heat. PDSA

Don’t

Feed muesli-style mixes. Rabbits pick out the sugary bits, which leads to obesity, overgrown teeth and gut problems. PDSA
Make carrots or fruit daily food. Both are high in sugar and are occasional treats only. PDSA
Share household snacks such as biscuits, bread, rice, roti or sweets. They have no place in the hay, greens and pellets diet vets recommend. RSPCA
Feed lawnmower clippings, or any plant you cannot identify or that may have been sprayed with pesticide. PDSA
Change the diet suddenly. It can upset a rabbit's digestion and make it ill. RSPCA

How do you keep a rabbit cool in an Indian summer?

Shade, a cool room and frozen water bottles, checked often. Rabbits are at high risk of heatstroke because they have dense fur and do not pant or sweat.

PDSA advises keeping a rabbit's living space between 18 and 20°C, with a cool place to escape to when the air is warmer. In most Indian cities that means indoors in the coolest room from March to June, curtains or blinds closed against the sun. The India Meteorological Department describes heat waves as mainly a March to June event, peaking in May. AWBI's 2026 heat advisory asks every owner to give animals shade through the day and clean, fresh water, and reminds owners that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act makes their welfare a legal duty.

The Rabbit Welfare Association's cooling advice works well for power cuts: freeze water bottles, wrap them in a towel and let the rabbits lie against them; give a cool surface such as a marble or stone tile; aim a battery-operated fan at frozen bottles; and, if your rabbits allow it, lightly spray the backs of their ears. Give plenty of cool water but no ice. Never leave a rabbit in a car, even for a few minutes with the windows open, and avoid travel on hot days.

Know the signs. PDSA lists red ears that are hot to the touch, fast breathing, open-mouth breathing, lethargy, wobbliness, tremors, seizures and collapse. For first aid, move the rabbit to a cool, shaded spot, wet its ears with cool water, offer a drink without forcing it, and call your vet at once. Do not cuddle it or wrap it in a wet towel, which traps heat. Overweight, very young, very old and flat-faced rabbits are at greater risk.

What happens at the first vet visit, and does a rabbit need vaccines?

A check soon after you get your rabbits and then once a year. Neutering is strongly advised; vaccines depend on what your vet advises where you live.

The Merck Veterinary Manual advises a vet exam when you first get a rabbit and once a year after that, including a look at the teeth, which grow throughout life. It also warns that some antibiotics that are safe for dogs and cats can upset a rabbit's gut and cause severe diarrhoea or death, and that the flea product fipronil should not be used on rabbits. Never give a rabbit any medicine, spot-on or antibiotic cream your vet has not prescribed for it.

Spaying a female prevents unwanted litters and removes the risk of cancer of the uterus, which Merck describes as common and often fatal in rabbits over 3 years old. PDSA says males can be castrated from around ten weeks and females spayed from around five months, later for giant breeds, and that rabbits should not be starved before surgery, unlike cats and dogs. Neutered rabbits fight less, live in pairs more happily and are easier to litter train.

In the UK, PDSA recommends vaccines against myxomatosis and two strains of rabbit haemorrhagic disease, and Merck describes a vaccine against rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus type 2 as the routine vaccine in the United States. Which rabbit vaccines are available in India, and whether your rabbits need them, is a question for your vet; Petym's dog and cat vaccination guides do not apply to rabbits.

How do you handle, house-train and look after a rabbit day to day?

Come down to the rabbit's level, keep handling short and secure, and build a daily routine of feeding, cleaning, checks and play.

Rabbits are prey animals and feel safest on the ground. PDSA advises letting them come to you while you sit on the floor with a few greens. When you must lift one, support it fully against your body; never pick a rabbit up by the ears or the scruff, and never hold it on its back in a so-called trance, which is the rabbit playing dead out of fear. Young children should not pick rabbits up, and should always be supervised.

Most rabbits learn to use a litter tray, and neutered rabbits learn more easily because they mark less. Put a large tray in the corner they already use, add some of their droppings and fresh hay, and make the living area smaller for a while until the habit sticks. Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk, which suits working owners who can give time in the morning and evening.

Grooming matters most in the monsoon and summer. Flystrike, where flies lay eggs on a dirty or damp rear end, can kill; the RSPCA advises checking a rabbit all over, especially around the tail, at least twice a day in warm weather, and cleaning and drying a dirty bottom at once. Long-haired breeds need regular brushing. Merck advises trimming nails every 1 to 2 months or as needed; ask your vet to show you how.

What are the red flags that mean a rabbit needs a vet now?

Rabbits hide illness, so small changes matter. For any of these, call your vet the same day.

If Not eating, or no droppings or very few, small droppings.
Call your vet immediately. A rabbit that stops eating is at risk of gut stasis, which can be fatal. PDSA
If Red, hot ears, fast or open-mouth breathing, wobbliness or collapse on a hot day.
Start cooling at once and call your vet. Heatstroke can be fatal quickly. PDSA
If Maggots, or a dirty, wet or smelly rear end.
Flystrike is an emergency. Get to a vet immediately. RSPCA
If Drooling, weight loss, weepy eyes or a dirty bottom.
Common signs of dental disease, usually from too little fibre. Book a vet visit; never try to trim a rabbit's teeth at home. PDSA
If Grinding teeth loudly or sitting hunched and still.
Signs of pain or illness. Call your vet. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Soft, sticky droppings left in the cage.
These are caecotrophs a healthy rabbit eats; seeing them often can signal a health problem. Talk to your vet. PDSA

What do people get wrong about rabbits?

You may have read
Rabbits are low-maintenance starter pets.
Myth
What the sources say
PDSA says rabbits need as much care as any other pet: daily feeding, cleaning, checking and regular vet visits. PDSA
You may have read
A hutch is enough.
Myth
What the sources say
Hutches on their own are not big enough. A pair needs at least 3m x 2m x 1m, including an exercise area. RSPCA
You may have read
One rabbit is fine if I give it lots of attention.
Myth
What the sources say
Rabbits are social and can suffer alone. People cannot replace the company of another rabbit. PDSA
You may have read
A rabbit and a guinea pig keep each other company.
Myth
What the sources say
PDSA vets never recommend it: they communicate differently, need different food, and rabbits often bully guinea pigs. PDSA
You may have read
Rabbits love carrots, so carrots are their main food.
Myth
What the sources say
Carrots are high in sugar and only an occasional treat. Hay should be about 85% of the diet. RSPCA

Does a rabbit suit a first-time owner, and how do you plan for trips and costs?

Rabbits can suit a first-time owner who has the space, wants a pet to watch rather than carry, and can keep a cool room through the summer.

If You live in a flat, are home morning and evening, and can give a pair a room or a large fenced area
A bonded, neutered pair can do well. Ask your housing society about its rules on pets first. Pets in housing societies RSPCA
If Your children want a pet they can pick up and cuddle
Rabbits usually dislike being held. A different pet, or rabbits with adults as the main carers, will suit everyone better. PDSA
If You travel often
Rabbits are better left at home with visits or a sitter who stays. Plan care before you book. Rabbits RSPCA
If You are budgeting
Cost depends on the size of the setup, hay and greens through the year, neutering, a vet who treats rabbits, cooling in summer and care when you travel. Petym does not publish typical figures. PDSA

Going away soon? Plan your pet’s care first.

Petym's bookings open for dogs and cats first. For every other pet, the free going-away checklist covers food, water, heat and what to leave written down before you travel.

Free going-away checklist All pet care guides

Questions owners ask

Is it legal to keep a rabbit as a pet in India?: Yes. The domestic rabbit is named as a pet animal in the Pet Shop Rules, 2018, and we did not find it in the Wild Life (Protection) Act schedules. Wild Indian hares, though, are listed in Schedule II and must never be caught or kept. Buy only from a shop registered with the State Animal Welfare Board.
Can I keep a single rabbit?: Welfare charities advise against it. The RSPCA and PDSA say rabbits are social and can suffer when kept alone, and that people cannot replace another rabbit's company. A neutered male and female pair is the usual recommendation, unless a vet or qualified behaviourist advises otherwise for a particular rabbit.
Can a rabbit live in a flat?: Yes, many rabbits live indoors. A pair needs at least 3m x 2m x 1m with constant access, so plan a fenced part of a room or a spare room. Cover cables, move houseplants and cleaning products, add non-slip mats, and keep them in the coolest room in summer.
How hot is too hot for a rabbit?: PDSA advises keeping a rabbit's space between 18 and 20°C, with somewhere cooler to escape to when it is warmer. In an Indian summer that means a shaded indoor room, frozen water bottles wrapped in a towel and a stone tile to lie on. Red, hot ears and fast breathing are warning signs.
What do rabbits eat in India?: Mostly hay, about 85% of the diet, with a variety of washed leafy greens and herbs and a small amount of rabbit pellets. Fruit and carrots are occasional treats. Avoid muesli-style mixes, household snacks and any plant you cannot identify. Ask your vet if you are unsure how much to feed.
Do rabbits need vaccines in India?: Ask your vet. In the UK, PDSA recommends vaccines against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease, and Merck describes one against rabbit haemorrhagic disease type 2 as routine in the United States. Which rabbit vaccines are available and advised in India depends on your vet, who sets any schedule.
Should I get my rabbit neutered?: Vets recommend it. Spaying prevents litters and removes the risk of uterine cancer, which Merck says is common in females over 3 years old. PDSA says males can be castrated from around ten weeks and females spayed from around five months. Neutered rabbits fight less and litter train more easily.
What should I do if my rabbit stops eating?: Call your vet the same day. PDSA says a rabbit that stops eating is at risk of gut stasis, a life-threatening slowdown of the gut. Check whether it is passing droppings and tell the vet when it last ate. Do not wait to see if it improves overnight.

Keep reading

Guinea pig care guideWhy guinea pigs live in groups and need vitamin C.
Hamster care guide
Rabbit care while you are awayVisits, heat plans and what a sitter checks.
Summer pet care in India
Monsoon pet care
Signs your pet needs a vet now
Pets in housing societies
What to leave for your pet sitter

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Sources

Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources

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Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund: Keep your rabbits cool (leaflet, 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Heatstroke in rabbits (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Routine health care of rabbits (full review July 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and diseases of rabbits (full review July 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Rabbit neutering: a guide to castration and spaying (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Rabbit vaccines (advice for UK pets) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: How to hold a rabbit safely (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: How to litter train a rabbit (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
RSPCA: Flystrike (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
RSPCA: Rabbit companionship (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Feeding your rabbits (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Getting a rabbit (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
RSPCA: Rabbit housing and environment (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Rabbit myths (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Animal Welfare Board of India: List of Animal Welfare Organisations recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India (as on 31 May 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Keeping indoor rabbits (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Creating the ideal home for your rabbits (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
RSPCA: Rabbit diet (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Dental problems in rabbits (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026