Can guinea pigs and rabbits live together in the same hutch?
Why RSPCA Australia advises against housing guinea pigs and rabbits together: injury, bullying, disease and diet. Plus what to do if yours already share a hutch.
No. RSPCA Australia advises that rabbits and guinea pigs should not share an enclosure. Rabbits can seriously injure or bully guinea pigs, the two species can't communicate, they need different diets, and some infections pass between them. Keep guinea pigs with guinea pigs and rabbits with rabbits.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are often sold side by side, and for years they were commonly kept together in backyard hutches. People still ask about it all the time, but welfare groups are now clear that it isn’t a good idea.
Why rabbits and guinea pigs shouldn’t live together
1. Rabbits can injure guinea pigs
Rabbits are bigger, stronger and have powerful back legs. A single kick, or a rabbit landing on a guinea pig, can cause serious injuries, including broken bones and back injuries. This can happen even with a gentle rabbit that’s just startled or playing.
2. Bullying and stress
Rabbits may chase, mount or corner guinea pigs, and some become territorial. Guinea pigs are prey animals that tend to freeze or hide rather than fight back, so a stressed guinea pig can go unnoticed until it stops eating or gets hurt.
3. They can’t understand each other
Rabbits and guinea pigs belong to different animal orders. Rabbits are lagomorphs and guinea pigs are rodents. They use completely different body language and sounds. A rabbit can’t “talk” to a guinea pig, so neither one gets real companionship.
4. Disease risk
Rabbits can carry the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica, often without showing any signs. In guinea pigs it can cause serious respiratory disease. RSPCA Australia notes that some infections can pass between the two species.
5. Different diets
Both need plenty of hay, but guinea pigs can’t make their own vitamin C. They need it every day from guinea pig pellets and fresh vegetables. Rabbit pellets aren’t made for guinea pigs, and in a shared hutch it’s hard to make sure each animal eats the right food.
6. Different space needs
Rabbits need room to hop, run and stand up tall, so they need a bigger and taller enclosure than guinea pigs. A hutch that’s right for one is rarely right for the other.
The better setup: same-species friends
Both species are social and need company:
- Guinea pigs should live in pairs or small groups of guinea pigs. See the cage size guide for how much space a pair or trio needs.
- Rabbits do best in bonded, desexed pairs of rabbits.
If you have both species, keep them in separate enclosures side by side. They can see, hear and smell each other without the risks.
What if mine already live together?
If your rabbit and guinea pig have lived together since they were young, get advice from a vet experienced with both species before making changes. RSPCA Australia acknowledges that in rare cases, separating long-term companions can cause distress. If they stay together:
- Make sure both animals are desexed
- Give the guinea pig hides with entrances too small for the rabbit
- Feed them separately so each gets the right food, and give the guinea pig its own vitamin C source
- Keep hygiene strict, and watch for sneezing, discharge or noisy breathing in the guinea pig
- Watch for signs of bullying: chasing, fur loss or a guinea pig that hides and eats less
Over time, the better plan is to find each animal a companion of its own species.
Choosing an outdoor setup for guinea pigs
If you’re setting up a hutch for guinea pigs alone, our outdoor hutch buying guide covers size, ramps, mesh and weatherproofing. Many hutches sold as “rabbit and guinea pig hutches” are too small for either, so check the floor area carefully.
Frequently asked questions
Can guinea pigs and rabbits live together?
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No. RSPCA Australia advises that rabbits and guinea pigs should not be housed together. Rabbits can injure or bully guinea pigs, the two species communicate differently, they need different diets, and some infections can pass between them.
Can a rabbit keep a guinea pig company?
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Not properly. Guinea pigs and rabbits don't understand each other's body language or sounds, so a rabbit can't meet a guinea pig's need for company. The best companion for a guinea pig is another guinea pig, and the best companion for a rabbit is another rabbit.
Can rabbits make guinea pigs sick?
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They can. Rabbits can carry the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica, often without showing symptoms, and it can cause serious respiratory disease in guinea pigs. RSPCA Australia notes that some infections can pass between the two species.
Can guinea pigs and rabbits eat the same food?
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Not all of it. Both need lots of hay, but guinea pigs can't make their own vitamin C and need it from their pellets and fresh vegetables. Rabbit pellets aren't made for this, and the two species should have their own food.
My rabbit and guinea pig have always lived together. Should I separate them?
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Talk to a vet experienced with rabbits and guinea pigs. RSPCA Australia acknowledges that separating animals raised together can cause distress in rare cases. If they stay together, RSPCA Australia recommends desexing both animals, giving the guinea pig safe places to hide, feeding them separately and keeping hygiene strict. Adding same-species companions is the better long-term plan.
Can guinea pigs and rabbits share a play area?
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Side-by-side enclosures where they can see and smell each other are fine. Sharing the same space, even for supervised play, still carries risks of kicks, bullying and disease, so it's best avoided.
Want a properly sized cage without the DIY?
We're looking at bringing properly sized cages and C&C kits to Australia. Join the waitlist and tell us what you'd want.
This guide is general information to help you compare housing options. It isn't veterinary advice. If your guinea pig seems unwell, contact a vet experienced with exotic pets.
