Domestic rabbit

The domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus) is the domesticated form and subspecies of the European rabbit. There are many rabbit breeds from all over the world. Long ago, the Romans were the first to keep rabbits for food and fur.

Today, rabbits are often kept as pets. Some people treat them like a house rabbit, similar to a house cat. With care and training, rabbits can learn to use a litter box and even come when called. But they need space to move and a safe place because they like to chew, which can damage a home if not ready for it.

Sometimes, rabbits that were kept as pets are no longer wanted, especially after the Easter season. Many of these rabbits find new homes through animal shelters. In places like Queensland, keeping pet rabbits is not allowed because wild rabbits have caused problems there.

Rabbits are also raised for their meat, wool (like in Angora breeds), and fur. Some are even used in laboratory animals for research. Different breeds are chosen for different purposes, such as Rex rabbits for fur, Californians for meat, and New Zealands for animal testing. Rabbits are also shown at exhibitions and shows.

Terminology and etymology

Further information: European rabbit § Naming and etymology, and Rabbit § Terminology and etymology

Male rabbits are called bucks, and females are called does. A grown-up rabbit used to be called a coney. The word rabbit used to mean only baby rabbits. Another name for a baby rabbit is bunny. Many people use bunny for all rabbits, especially pets. Some people now use kit or kitten to talk about baby rabbits. A young hare is called a leveret. Sometimes this word is used for baby rabbits too. A group of rabbits is called a "colony" or a "nest".

The word rabbit comes from the Middle English rabet. This came from the Walloon robète. This was a smaller form of the French or Middle Dutch word robbe.

History

The European rabbit spread from its home in the Iberian Peninsula to places like Italy, England, and Ireland because people helped it travel.

People have kept rabbits for food since at least the 1st century BC. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder wrote about special places to keep rabbits. In the Middle Ages, monks in France bred rabbits for food, especially during lent when they did not eat meat.

By the 1800s, rabbits began to be kept as pets. Shows and fairs for rabbits started in Western Europe and the United States. Rabbits became popular house pets in the late 1800s.

Biology

Genetics

Main article: Cuniculture § Genetics

Rabbit genetics are important for rabbit owners, the fur industry, and science. Rabbits help in research and testing new medicines. The meat industry uses genetics to help rabbits grow well and have healthy babies.

Scientists have studied rabbit genes and shared what they learned. They also study the tiny parts inside rabbit cells that carry traits.

Genes decide a rabbit’s fur color. Rabbits can have yellow, dark brown, or no color at all, which makes them an albino rabbit. These genes work together to create different fur patterns and shades.

Diet

Domestic rabbits eat different foods based on their purpose. Show rabbits get food to stay healthy and have nice fur. Meat rabbits are fed to grow quickly. Research rabbits have special diets for experiments. All rabbits need hay, which is a big part of their food. Commercial rabbit food is often made with alfalfa, which gives protein and fiber. Minerals and vitamins are added to make sure rabbits get all the nutrients they need. Rabbit owners may also give loose hay, like alfalfa, bluegrass, brome, fescue, timothy, oat, or ryegrass.

Reproduction

Further information: Rabbit health § Spaying and neutering

Rabbits can have babies easily and quickly. To avoid unwanted babies, rabbits can be spayed or neutered when they become adults. The time this happens depends on the size of the breed. Small breeds mature in 4–5 months, medium breeds in 4–6 months, and large breeds in 5–8 months.

Dewlaps

A dewlap is a flap of skin under the jaw or neck. It is more common in female rabbits and appears when they become adults. If a female rabbit is spayed before this happens, she won’t develop a dewlap. Even if she is spayed after, the dewlap will slowly go away. In some meat rabbit breeds, males can develop dewlaps too, and larger breeds tend to have bigger ones.

Dewlaps help pregnant rabbits by providing soft material to line their nests. The fur from the dewlap comes off easily before the babies are born. Dewlaps can sometimes get skin infections.

Health

Main article: Rabbit health

Rabbit health is very important, especially because rabbits have been kept as pets for a long time. When rabbits are kept in clean places and given good care, they usually stay healthy.

Rabbits have delicate bones, particularly in their backs, so they need gentle handling when picked up.

Rabbits love to chew on things. They might bite through electrical wires, which can be risky, or eat plants that could make them sick.

To keep rabbits healthy, it’s important to give them proper care, such as spaying females and giving them a comfortable place to live. Rabbits can get sick from viruses like myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease, but vaccines aren’t always available for these illnesses. Most pet rabbits live around 9 years, but some have been known to live longer.

Breeds

Main article: List of rabbit breeds

There are many types, or breeds, of domestic rabbits around the world. Groups like the American Rabbit Breeders Association and the British Rabbit Council recognize many of these breeds. Through careful breeding, rabbits come in many sizes, from very small to very large. People raise rabbits for their meat, fur, and wool, and also keep them as pets.

Rabbits have been bred to have special traits, such as different sizes, body shapes, fur types, and ear positions. Like people, rabbits can have different personalities, being more active or more calm.

As pets

Rabbits have been popular pets in Western nations since the 1800s. They can form strong bonds with humans, learn simple commands, and respond to their names.

Rabbits need gentle handling because they can be easily hurt. They may bite if they feel scared, and loud noises can frighten them. With proper care and guidance, rabbits can live happily indoors.

During the Easter season, many families buy rabbits as gifts, especially for children. However, animal shelters often see many rabbits brought in after Easter when families no longer want them. This happens especially after county fairs and similar events.

There are many humane societies, animal shelters, and rescue groups that help find new homes for rabbits. Special rabbit breeds can be found at pet stores, breeders, and fanciers, though some places, like Queensland, don't allow domestic rabbits as pets.

House rabbits can live comfortably indoors, away from dangers like predators and bad weather. They need space to move around freely rather than being kept in small cages. Rabbits can learn to use a litter box and show their feelings in different ways.

Rabbits are social animals and enjoy bonding with other rabbits. Proper care includes regular vet checkups, nail trimming, and providing things to chew on. Baby rabbits need special care to stay healthy.

Rabbits can live outdoors in safe, sheltered spaces, but they need protection from weather and predators. Sadly, many rabbits are abandoned by their owners, especially those bought as Easter gifts, and they often end up in animal shelters.

Human uses

See also: Cuniculture

Rabbits have been kept as livestock for a very long time because people eat their meat. Today, they are also raised for wool, fur, and for important science work as laboratory animals.

People have raised rabbits for meat since the early 1900s. In the 1920s, many farms in southern California started raising rabbits for meat. Some special kinds of rabbits, like the New Zealand and Californian, grow fast and are ready to be sold at about 14 to 16 weeks old. China buys a lot of rabbit meat, but buys less now.

Some rabbits are kept for their wool. Breeds like the Angora make long fur that can be turned into yarn for clothes. Other rabbits are raised just for their fur, and the Rex rabbit is a favorite for this.

Rabbits also help scientists learn about health. They are used in labs to study things like lung diseases and diabetes. The New Zealand White is one of the most common kinds used in this research.