Giving up a small pet for adoption
Small pets can often have complex needs. Before you give up a rabbit for adoption, or consider surrendering a hamster, guinea pig or gerbil, explore our advice and support to help you stay together. Giving up your pet should be your last resort.
Find an alternative to surrendering your
small pet
It’s always a difficult decision to give up a pet, whether yours is big or small. Pets like rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice and rats can make great pets, but they also need the right space, enrichment and companionship to thrive.
If you’re struggling with finances, a change in circumstances or unwanted behaviours, there is lots of support and advice available to help you ensure your pet is happy and healthy.
I’m experiencing...
Financial issues
Expensive vet bills
Even small pets can be expensive, but there are ways to keep the cost down. It's always worth considering pet insurance.
Available support
Read our money saving tips, such as switching to cheaper foods and making home-made toys. If you’re struggling with vet bills, find out how to reduce the cost of caring for your pet.
Pet food cost
If your financial circumstances change, you may find it difficult to feed your pet.
Available support
RSPCA Pet Food Banks provide pet food, supplies, guidance, and assistance to support owners and their pets during challenging times.
Behavioural issues
unwanted behaviours
Even if you’ve done your research on species, small pets are all individuals with their own likes and dislikes. If you’re struggling to make sense of and cope with unwanted behaviours, there is support available.
Available support
Small pets can be complex to look after, but there’s plenty of information available on how to give your pet the right space, enrichment, and companionship, which can help with behavioural issues.
Health and living situations
Children losing interest
Many people believe small pets like rabbits or hamsters make good first pets for children, but these animals have complex needs. Rabbits, for example, can be great pets, but are a big commitment. They live from 8 to 12 years and are highly sociable, usually needing a companion as well as plenty of space to run and play. We recommend them for older children who understand the responsibility.
Available support
Get your child involved with caring for their pet with activities such as making toys and enrichment to keep your pet happy. As a parent or carer, you need to be prepared to take over care if they lose interest.
RENTERS' Rights
If you rent your property, or need to move into rented accommodation, you will need to ask your landlord if you can keep pets.
AVAILABLE SUPPORT
The Renters' Rights Bill 2025 (law from 1 May 2026), means private landlords can no longer have a blanket ban on pets. Learn your rights and follow our template to approach your landlord with your request.
ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, you may also be concerned about the welfare of a pet in the home.
AVAILABLE SUPPORT
There is help available. Pet fostering services run by a number of charities can offer a lifeline to those escaping an abusive relationship.
Life changes
Unplanned litters
It’s really important to neuter your pet to prevent unwanted litters. Caring for unplanned litters can be difficult.
Available support
If your rabbit has an accidental pregnancy, there is help available to care for your pet rabbit and their babies. Remove rabbits from mates immediately and neuter male rabbits to prevent further pregnancies. Females should be spayed once recovered.
If your hamster is pregnant, leave the female alone with her kits. Most hamsters are not naturally sociable and different sexes shouldn’t be kept together.
Moving house
Moving house can be a stressful experience, particularly for your pet.
Available support
Plan in advance to make your move as stress free as possible. Keep your pet in a safe space out of the way while you pack up, and leave them until last to move, to minimise disruption and stress. Ensure you have the right carrier to transport them and when you get to your new home, set up their enclosure somewhere calm so they can get used to their new surroundings in peace.
FAMILY GOING INTO A CARE HOME
If you or a loved one is moving into a care home, you may be concerned about what to do with a small pet.
Available support
Many care homes allow pets, so do your research or speak to friends and family. The Cinnamon Trust also helps older people plan for their pets.
People don't always realise how quickly rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals can reproduce. A female rabbit can get pregnant from three months old and can become pregnant again within hours of giving birth. Get your pets correctly sexed and neutered to avoid unmanageable situations.
How can I rehome my rabbit, hamster, guinea
pig, or gerbil?
If you make the difficult decision to rehome your pet, you must take them to a reputable rehoming organisation. As the RSPCA needs to prioritise animal victims of cruelty and neglect, our national centres can’t take in unwanted pets. Your local RSPCA branch may be able to help and there are other rehoming organisations who can support you. To find out how to surrender a pet, research each organisation carefully before taking them in.
Before giving up your mouse or rat
Rats are highly intelligent and love to play, so it’s important to make sure they’re given opportunities to run, forage and explore. Understanding their behaviour will help you make sure they’re happy and healthy. If you’re having difficulties looking after them, read our pet mouse or rat advice and support.
If they’re experiencing common problems like repetitive behaviour, such as chewing the bars, bald patches or obesity, talk to your vet about how they can help.
Organisations that may help rehome your mouse or rat
