Knowing how to keep rabbits warm in winter is essential for every rabbit owner. While rabbits are naturally hardy animals, exposure to cold, windy conditions can put them at risk of illness and discomfort. This vet-reviewed guide gives you key practical tips to protect your rabbits and keep them safe.

Key Takeaways

  • Rabbits need extra care in winter – Outdoor and indoor rabbits may require additional bedding, warmth, and monitoring to stay healthy during colder months.

  • Watch for signs of being too cold – Lethargy, cold extremities, and shivering are warning signs that your rabbit needs extra warmth.

  • Products that can help – Using rabbit-safe bedding, insulated shelters, and water bottle covers can make winter care easier and safer.

  • Individual needs vary – Age, health, and living situation affect how well a rabbit copes with winter; some may need to be moved indoors temporarily.

Check out our Rabbit Bedding range to keep your rabbit protected.

Wild rabbits naturally live outdoors in large colonies within burrows. This means they are suited to outdoor living, however many of our domestic rabbits live in hutches with a single companion. This means we do need to take extra steps to ensure they are protected from the cold.

Many pet owners choose to keep their rabbits indoors as house pets. This is a great way of keeping them warm but has its own challenges in meeting their need to exhibit normal behaviour, such as burrowing or foraging.

How to Keep Your Rabbit Warm

"As temperatures drop below freezing our pet bunnies can struggle to keep their body temperatures up. Providing adequate bedding, hutch insulation and monitoring for signs they are cold is important to ensure they stay happy and healthy" - Dr Nicholas Garside BVetMed MRCVS states.

Outdoor rabbits

Rabbits kept outdoors need extra care during the colder months to stay warm and healthy.

  • Bedding - ensure there is a copious amount of rabbit safe, dry, insulated bedding within the sleeping area of the hutch (e.g. straw).

  • Hutch Cover - place a blanket or fitted cover over the hutch, whilst ensuring there is still adequate ventilation.

  • Food - consider giving your rabbit a slightly larger portion of pellets or concentrated food during winter, as they burn more energy to stay warm.

Note: If your rabbit has a medical condition, is senior in age or is living solitarily, then it may be safest to bring them indoors for the winter. Ideally move the entire hutch inside, otherwise Indoor pens are a great way to section off a room for your bunny to stay in, with an indoor house to sleep in.

Rabbits can struggle with extreme temperature changes so try to put your bunnies in a cooler room of your house when bringing indoors.

Indoor rabbits

Indoor rabbits generally benefit from a stable room temperature environment, so minimal changes may be required. However, it’s still important to:

  • Monitor the temperature - where your rabbit sleeps to determine if any extra steps are needed.

  • Bedding - ensure there is a copious amount of rabbit safe, dry, insulated bedding within your rabbit’s sleeping area (e.g. straw) in case the room temperature drops.

  • Indoor rabbits used to not chewing on furniture can use rabbit friendly pet beds too.

two indoor rabbits

Product Recommendations

Our in-house veterinary team has selected these products to keep your rabbit warm, comfortable, and safe during winter.

Extra Winter Care Tips

  • Protect drinking water: Outdoor water can freeze, so use insulating covers and check or replace water at least morning and evening.

  • Keep the hutch dry and clean: Moisture can reduce the effectiveness of insulated bedding, so ensure sleeping areas stay dry and hygienic.

Signs Your Rabbit is Too Cold

Watch for the following signs that your rabbit may be struggling in the cold:

  • Lethargy – staying still or sleeping more than usual and a reluctance to exercise.

  • Cold extremities – feel their feet, nose, and ears; if they are cold to the touch, your rabbit may be too cold.

  • Shivering – in severe cases, as the body tries to generate warmth.

If your bunny is showing any of the above signs, then it’s important to help them warm up with the previous tips. For outdoor rabbits, the safest temporary solution is often to move them indoors.

Low body temperatures can predispose rabbits to health problems, such as ‘snuffles,’ and in severe cases, can even be fatal, so prompt action is essential.

Protect Your Rabbit this Winter

Keeping your rabbits warm in winter is about assessing their environment and checking what they individually need. Some rabbits cope well in the cold weather whilst some need additional help. A little extra care goes a long way.

Check out our rabbit bedding range to keep your rabbit healthy and happy all winter long.

Rabbit Winter FAQs

Can rabbits die from cold in the winter?

If a rabbit’s body temperature drops low enough then yes, cold weather can be fatal. Senior rabbits or those with medical conditions are more likely to struggle during the cold.

Can rabbits stay outside in winter?

The average adult, healthy rabbit kept outdoors within a good hutch containing well insulated bedding should cope fine during the winter. If your bunny is senior or has a medical condition then they may struggle, it’s important to monitor them and check for signs that the cold is too much for them.

Do rabbits hibernate in the winter?

Rabbits do not hibernate in winter. If your bunny is slowing down or sleeping more then this may actually be a sign they are too cold and additional steps to help them stay warm are required.

Written by: VioVet