Domestic rabbit

The domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus) is the domesticated form and subspecies of the European rabbit. There are hundreds of 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 proper care and training, rabbits can learn to use a litter box and even come when called. However, they need plenty of exercise and a safe environment because they like to chew, which can damage a home if not prepared correctly.

Sometimes, rabbits that were kept as pets are no longer wanted, especially after the Easter season. In 2017, they were the third most abandoned pet in the United States. 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. An older word for a grown-up rabbit is coney, while rabbit used to mean only baby rabbits. Another name for a baby rabbit is bunny, which many people use for all rabbits, especially pets. Lately, some people have started using kit or kitten to talk about baby rabbits. A young hare is called a leveret, and 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, which 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 through human help.

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

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, and books like Marinell Harriman's House Rabbit Handbook: How to Live with an Urban Rabbit helped make them even more popular.

Biology

Genetics

Main article: Cuniculture § Genetics

Rabbit genetics are important for many reasons. Rabbit owners care about health and variety in their rabbits. The fur industry looks at coat colors and hair qualities. In 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 the rabbit’s genes and shared the information publicly. They have also looked closely at the tiny parts inside rabbit cells that carry their traits.

There are several main groups of genes that decide a rabbit’s fur color. Rabbits can have yellow or dark brown fur, or no color at all, which makes them an albino rabbit. These genes work together to create different patterns and shades in the fur.

Diet

Domestic rabbits eat different foods depending 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 the food they eat. 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 because of hormone changes. 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. However, rabbits have delicate bones, particularly in their backs, so they need gentle handling when picked up.

Rabbits love to chew on things, which can sometimes be risky. They might bite through electrical wires, which can be dangerous, or eat plants that could make them sick. They can also get sick from eating things like carpet or fabric, which can block their digestion and be very harmful.

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 different types, or breeds, of domestic rabbits around the world. As of 2017, there were at least 305 breeds in 70 countries. Groups like the American Rabbit Breeders Association and the British Rabbit Council recognize many of these breeds. Through careful breeding, rabbits have been made 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 for a long time to have special traits, such as different sizes, body shapes, fur types, and ear positions. Just 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 19th century. They can form strong bonds with humans, learn simple commands, and respond to being called by name.

Rabbits need gentle handling because they can be easily hurt. They may bite if they feel scared or hurt, and loud noises can frighten them. While some people think rabbits aren't good pets for children, 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, bad weather, and pests. 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, like hopping happily when excited or thumping their feet when upset.

Rabbits are social animals and enjoy bonding with other rabbits. This helps them get along better and reduces fighting. However, rabbits don't bond well with dogs, cats, birds, or guinea pigs. Proper care includes regular vet checkups, nail trimming, and providing things to chew on. Baby rabbits need special care to avoid health problems.

Rabbits can live outdoors in safe, sheltered spaces, but they need protection from weather and predators. Rabbit shows judge rabbits based on how well they match their breed's standards, and there are even jumping competitions for rabbits, similar to horse shows. 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 since ancient times for their meat. Today, they are also raised for wool, fur, and for use in scientific research as laboratory animals.

Rabbits have been raised for meat around the world since the early 1900s. Efforts to farm rabbits for meat grew in the 1920s in southern California. Special breeds like the New Zealand and Californian are often used because they grow quickly and are ready to be sold for meat at about 14 to 16 weeks old. China was the biggest buyer of rabbit meat, but the amount bought has gone down in recent years.

Some rabbits are kept for their wool. Breeds like the Angora produce long fur that can be made into yarn for clothing. Other rabbits are raised for their fur, with the Rex rabbit being a popular choice.

Rabbits are also used in laboratory research to help study many human health topics, including lung diseases and diabetes. The New Zealand White is one of the most common breeds used in this type of research.