Photo: Friedrich Haag (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Rabbit
Rabbits are social, chew-loving companions with hundreds of breeds, ranging from dwarf to giant, and a history stretching from Roman food animals to Victorian pets.
Encyclopaedia
What is a rabbit?
At a glance2
Overview
The rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus) is the domesticated form of the European rabbit. There are hundreds of breeds worldwide, and at least 305 breeds in 70 countries were counted as of 2017. The British Rabbit Council recognises 106 of them.
Selective breeding has produced rabbits from dwarf to giant, with differences in body shape, coat type, coat colour, and ear length and carriage (erect or lop).
Rabbits are kept as pets, raised as livestock for meat, wool and fur, used as laboratory animals, and shown at exhibitions. Pet rabbits may live indoors, or outdoors in sheltered enclosures. Males are called bucks and females does.
Origins and history
The European rabbit is native to the Iberian Peninsula. It may have been deliberately introduced to Africa by the Phoenicians, and was later introduced to Italy, England and Ireland by various seafaring groups.
The Romans were the first to domesticate rabbits, keeping them for food and fur. Pliny the Elder described rabbit hutches and enclosures called leporaria in the 1st century BC. In the Middle Ages, monks in southern France were crossbreeding rabbits by at least the 12th century. Domestication was probably a slow process lasting from Roman times or earlier until the 1500s.
The rabbit became a household pet in the Victorian era, and exhibitions and fairs began in the 19th century. Beatrix Potter's diaries describe rabbits living part-time in her house. The idea of the house rabbit was strongly promoted from the 1980s, including by a handbook published in 1985.
Temperament and behaviour
Rabbits are social animals. They bond with other rabbits, and bonded pairs groom, play and snuggle together. Bonding usually involves supervised meetings on neutral territory, which helps reduce territorial aggression.
Rabbits can bond with people, learn simple voice commands and learn to come when called. They are easily litter tray trained. They have an innate need to chew and inherit burrowing behaviours from their wild relatives.
A happy rabbit may do a 'binky', and an upset one may thump its hind legs. Their body language is more subtle than that of cats and dogs. Rabbits are prey animals and are easily frightened by loud noises and sudden movements. They can bite when hurt or frightened. Temperament varies from rabbit to rabbit, including energy level and novelty seeking. Unneutered males can become territorial and fight.
Health6 facts
Disease is rare in pet rabbits kept in sanitary conditions with adequate care. Rabbits may hide signs of illness.
Their skeletons are light and fragile, especially the spine, and can be injured by falling, twisting and kicking. Gnawing is a significant concern, since chewing on electrical cords, poisonous plants, or carpet and fabric can lead to electrocution, poisoning or life-threatening intestinal blockages.
Problems linked to domestic practices include sore hocks and stress from poor housing, and failure to spay females. Rabbits are also susceptible to myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Baby rabbits under eight weeks old are susceptible to enteritis, gut stasis and bloat. Some breeds have inherited defects, such as dental problems in the Holland Lop.
Few rabbits live longer than 9 years. Zoo and park records put the maximum at roughly 13 years. Living indoors is linked to a longer lifespan.
This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.
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The dewlap (skin fold under the chin/neck) is prone to wet dermatitis and fungal skin conditions.[2]
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Rabbits have fragile bones, especially in their spines, and their skeletons are susceptible to trauma from falling, twisting and kicking.[2]
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Rabbits gnaw on almost anything, and chewing material like carpet and fabric may cause life-threatening intestinal blockages.[2]
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Rabbits are susceptible to viral diseases such as myxomatosis, rabbit haemorrhagic disease, and West Nile virus.[2]
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Failure to spay female rabbits is associated with adverse health effects.[2]
Common questions
How long do pet rabbits live?
Few live beyond 9 years, and the maximum recorded in zoos and parks is roughly 13 years. Rabbits that live indoors tend to live longer because they face fewer dangers from predators, parasites, disease and weather.
Are rabbits good pets for children?
Rabbits are easily injured by rough handling and easily frightened by loud noises and sudden movements. They can bite when hurt or scared. For these reasons they are often discouraged as pets for children.
Can rabbits live indoors and use a litter tray?
Yes. Rabbits are easily litter tray trained and can live indoors. Their need to chew means they can damage a house that has not been suitably prepared.
Do rabbits need company?
Rabbits are highly social and bond with other rabbits. Sudden separation from a bonded partner can cause stress and anxiety. They are not compatible with guinea pigs or birds, and dogs and cats can pose a threat.
Can rabbits catch diseases?
Rabbits are susceptible to viral diseases such as myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Wild rabbits may carry diseases too, so contact between pet and wild rabbits is strongly discouraged.
Fun facts12 facts
The word rabbit once referred only to young animals, while an adult was called a coney. A young rabbit may be called a bunny, kit or kitten.
A group of rabbits is known as a colony or a nest.
Does can grow a dewlap, a flap of skin under the chin, and pluck fur from it to line their nest.
Rabbit show jumping began in Sweden in the 1970s.
The Belgian Hare is now one of the rarest breeds, with only 132 found in a 2015 United States census.
- 1
The dewlap is driven by female hormones - male rabbits injected with hormones from pregnant women's urine actually grew dewlaps of their own![2]
- 2
A female rabbit's dewlap - the flap of skin under her chin - becomes extra loose about 5 days before birth so she can pluck it easily to line her nest.[2]
- 3
One pet rabbit in Tanzania reportedly lived to nearly 19 years - far beyond the typical maximum of around 9 years for European rabbits.[2]
- 4
Skeletal differences between wild and domestic rabbits only appeared in the 1800s, even though rabbits had been kept in captivity for over 2,000 years before that.[2]
- 5
Rabbit show jumping began in Sweden in the 1970s, and the first national championship was held in Stockholm in 1987.[2]
Rabbit types1
Health and temperament vary by type. Pick one to see what is particular to it.
Sources3
This guide was AI-drafted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and reviewed before publishing.
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_rabbit
- [1]Amniote database (CC0-1.0)
- [2]Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
- [3]CDC (Healthy Pets, Healthy People) (Public Domain)
Rabbit guides
Looking after, getting and owning a rabbit
Handling & Hygiene18 tips
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Domestic rabbits bred for generations to be docile, but they still have an innate need to chew - keep cables and valuables out of reach.[2]
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Rabbits require regular exercise, so ensure they have space to move around safely during any care visit.[2]
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They can be trained to use a litter box and to come when called, so familiar routines and cues may help during handling.[2]
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They can damage a home if it has not been rabbit-proofed, so check the environment is safe before allowing free roaming.[2]
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Accidental contact with wild rabbits should be avoided, as wild and domestic rabbits have different temperaments and disease risks.[2]
Housing & Environment1 guide
Not veterinary advice. General guidance to help you care for your pet. For anything specific to your animal, speak to a vet.
