Rabbits have been kept as pets in Western nations since the 19th century. Rabbits kept indoors with proper care have a lifespan between 9 to 12 years. Rabbits are social animals. Rabbits as pets can find their companionship with a variety of creatures, including humans, other rabbits, guinea pigs, and sometimes even cats and dogs. Domestic rabbits that do not live indoors can also often serve as companions for their owners, typically living in an easily accessible hutch outside the home.

Photo by: jpockele; Source: Flickr

A Ugandan soldier, part of the 9,000-strong African Union Mission in Somalia, (AMISOM) walks through the Banadir soccer stadium on August 15, 2011 in Mogadishu, Somalia. The stadium, Somalia's largest soccer facility, had been under control by Islamic extremist Shabab militants for the past two years until they withdrew from the capital more than a week ago. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

CANNES, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 03: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi leaves the conference centre after the first day of the G20 Summit on November 3, 2011 in Cannes, France. World's top economic leaders are attending the G20 summit in Cannes on November 3rd and 4th, and are expected to debate current issues surrounding the global financial system in the hope of fending off a global recession and finding an answer to the Eurozone crisis. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

CHALLOCK, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: Tony Hall walks with his dog through an installation entitled 'Super Kingdom', which hangs in trees in King's Wood as part of the Stour Valley Arts project on March 31, 2011 in Challock, England. The works by artists Bruce Gilchrist and Jo Joelson of 'London Fieldworks' consist of a series of interesting animal habitats, modelled on the palaces of Stalin, Ceauscescu and Mussolini, and offer nesting sites to many native and migrant species. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Tibetan monks create an intricate picture made from coloured sand at St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art on November 23, 2011 in Glasgow, Scotland. The monks, from the Panchen Lama's Monastery, are creating a Sand Mandala as part of a Tantric Buddhist ritual, invoking the presence of the Buddha in a design representing the palace of the deities. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The first load of passengers queuing for the Bennie Railplane in Glasgow; the inventor George Bennie is third in the queue. The streamlined cars are self propelled, driven by air screws in front and behind, and hang from a steel girder. (Photo by J. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 4th July 1930

An Iranian soldier guards two German tourists near the Iranian-Turkish border during World War II. Since the British occupation of Iran, all Axis nationals are being expelled from the country. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images). Circa 1941

U.S. soldiers from 145th Field Artillery Battalion deployed from the United States fire Paladin self propelled gun during the Foal Eagle training exercise at firing point 180 at the Rodriguez Live Fire Range on March 15, 2012 in Pocheon, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)