The domestic Rabbit originated with the European Rabbit. The Rabbit’s natural habitats are Europe, Africa and parts of Asia. There are more than 45 breeds of Rabbits. Different breeds have different personalities and characteristics. A female rabbit is known as a doe and a male rabbit is a buck. For show purposes, rabbits are divided into body types; Compact Body Type, Commercial Body Type, Full Arch Body Type, Semio Arch Body Type and Cylindrical Body Type.
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of other Lagomorpha, and technically not rodents, although they are often classified together in pet shops and similar. They live in many areas around the world and they live in groups. A group of burrows is called a warren. Rabbits usually live in meadows, woods, forests, thickets and grasslands but they will also inhabit deserts and wetlands too.
As you know, rabbits have long ears. Their ears can be more 10cm long and the ears can adapt for detecting predators. Rabbits’ fur is long and soft. Rabbits also have two set of incisor teeth. The hind legs, longer than the front ones, are very powerful. The little tail resembles a powder puff. The medium length fur is very soft. Colors vary with the breed. Life span can be more than 10 years.
Rabbits are prey animals and will freeze and observe when they are confronted with a threat. They like to explore new territory.
Although rabbits are timid but they are so lovely, many people like them. I hope you will like them too.
Although it is popularly thought that rabbits eat a diet of mainly carrots and lettuce, in truth only 5% of their diet should be made up of fresh vegetables. In the wild they don’t eat primarily vegetables, and if they have too much it can cause diarrhea and tooth decay. They need to eat a lot of hay, around their size in hay per day, and also some kibble.
Rabbits are very social and must be kept in same sex pairs. It is important to spay a female rabbit, as otherwise they have a high chance of contracting uterine cancer and are unlikely to live beyond 4 years old. They enjoy being stroked. If they like you, they will groom you in return by licking you! They don’t usually like being picked up, so it’s good to let them hop over to you.
Rabbits should NEVER be housed with Guinea Pigs for the following reasons:
- Rabbits are a lot stronger than guinea pigs, they can easily hurt/kill a guinea pig without meaning to, simply by kicking out with their back legs.
- Also rabbits do tend to bully guinea pigs.
- They also have differing dietary requirements, so unless you intend to feed them separately you will be neglecting one pet’s needs: Guinea pigs need additional Vitamin C in their diets or they can become sick. But rabbits don’t, and too much vitamin C can make a rabbit ill.
- This is the most important reason: Rabbits carry bordatella, a disease which is fatal to guinea pigs.
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