Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box and taught to come when called, but they require exercise and can damage a house or injure themselves if it has not been suitably prepared, based on their innate need to chew.

Domestic rabbits, bred for generations under human supervision to be docile, lack survival instincts, and perish in the wild if they are abandoned or escape from captivity.

[6] This was thought to have occurred as early as 600 AD in order to provide a 'meat substitute' for the monks during lent, which is a Christian observance in which one must refrain from eating meat.

[9] Domestication was probably a slow process that took place from the Roman period (or earlier) until the 1500s,[6] around which point rabbit was a meat served as a luxury.

[24] The meat industry mainly relies on genetics for feed conversion ratios and reproduction potential in rabbits.

Nutritional needs of the domestic rabbit may also be focused on developing a physique that allows for the safe delivery of larger litters of healthy kits.

[32] Common sources of hay for rabbits include bluegrass, brome, fescue, marsh, orchard, timothy, oat and ryegrass.

In domestic rabbits, a significant concern is that they will gnaw on almost anything, including electrical cords (possibly leading to electrocution), potentially poisonous plants, and material like carpet and fabric that may cause life-threatening intestinal blockages.

[37][38][39] Domestic practices that are associated with adverse health effects in rabbits include spaying females,[40] declawing,[41] and improper housing leading to sore hocks and stress.

Across the world, rabbits are raised as livestock (in cuniculture) for their meat,[50] pelts,[51] and wool,[52] and also by fanciers and hobbyists as pets.

Many genetic defects in the domestic rabbit (such as dental problems in the Holland Lop breed) are due to recessive genes.

[64] Similar problems arise in rural areas after county fairs and the like, even in jurisdictions where animals are not legal as prizes in fairground games.

Rabbits that live indoors are less exposed to the dangers of predators, parasites, diseases, adverse weather, and pesticides, which in turn increases their lifespan.

[72] The House Rabbit Society recommends "rabbit-proofing" areas to reduce the risks associated with their intrinsic need to chew.

Rabbits are highly social animals, and sudden separation from a bonded partner can cause stress and anxiety.

This stress can lead to health issues, such as gastrointestinal problems, reduced appetite, and a weakened immune system.

Additionally, the sudden absence of a grooming partner can result in neglected fur, making the rabbit more susceptible to matting and skin issues.

[82] Works on rabbit care also advise regular nail trimming, coat brushing and items to chew on.

[84] Pet rabbits can often exhibit behavioral problems, including aggression towards humans and other animals, particularly with poor husbandry.

[85] Rabbit skeletons are light and fragile in comparison to their bodies, and are susceptible to trauma from falling, twisting and kicking.

[88][89] Rabbits also have a body language that is more subtle than that of common domestic pets, such as cats and dogs,[90] and compared to these species are prey animals rather than predators, which poses different challenges to a potential owner.

Publications on the care of house rabbits advise various diets based on age in order to ensure the longevity of a pet.

To protect from predators, rabbit enclosures are usually situated in, shed, barn, or other enclosed structure, which may also contain a larger pen for exercise.

[98][99] Show rabbits are judged based on physical conformation to a published breed standard,[100] and may separately include a behavioral or "showmanship" assessment.

[116] Stewers have been additionally described as rabbits weighing over 3 kg (6.6 lb) and as a category marketed at a lower price than fryers.

[117] Their long fur is sheared, combed, or plucked (gently pulling loose hairs from the body during molting) and then spun into yarn used to make a variety of products.

[119] Rabbit skins are often produced as a byproduct of the meat production process, but some breeds have been bred specifically for superior fur quality.

[120][121] Rabbits have been and continue to be used in laboratory work such as production of antibodies for vaccines and research of human male reproductive system toxicology.

"[122] Rabbits are also used in the study of bronchial asthma and related lung diseases,[123] stroke prevention treatments,[124] cystic fibrosis,[125] diabetes,[126] and cancer.

[132] Albino rabbits are typically used in the Draize tests because they have less tear flow than other animals, and the lack of eye pigment makes the effects easier to visualize.