Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus
Domestic Rabbit
Rabbits are complex, long-lived social animals with specialised digestive and dental needs — far removed from the 'easy starter pet' reputation they still carry.
LeporidaeLifespan 8–12 yearsCare complexity 4/5Not a beginner animal
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus
- Family
- Leporidae
- Origin
- Domesticated from the European wild rabbit
- Lifespan
- 8–12 years
- Adult size
- 20–50 cm depending on breed
- Weight
- 1–8 kg
- Temperament
- Sociable, sensitive prey animal; affectionate but often dislikes being carried
- Activity level
- High at dawn and dusk
- Social needs
- Very high — keep neutered, bonded pairs rather than single rabbits
- Intelligence
- Litter-trainable and responsive to clicker training
- Noise
- Very quiet; thumps and grinds teeth to communicate
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Minimum 3 x 2 x 1 m of connected living and exercise space, available at all times
- Space requirement
- Indoor rooms or a large secure shed-and-run setup; hutches alone are inadequate
- Temperature
- 10–21°C; rabbits suffer badly above 25°C
- Humidity
- Moderate; avoid damp housing
- Exercise
- Several hours daily in a large, safe run with room to make three consecutive hops
- Grooming
- Brush weekly and daily during moult; never bathe a rabbit
Diet and feeding
Unlimited grass hay (about 85% of intake), fresh leafy greens and a small measured pellet portion
Behaviour and compatibility
Binky leaps, digging, chinning to scent-mark and periodic caecotrophy
- With children
- Better as a family pet cared for by adults than a child's own pet
- With other animals
- Housing with guinea pigs is no longer recommended
- Training difficulty
- Low to moderate
Health
- Dental overgrowth
- Gut stasis
- Flystrike
- Myxomatosis and RHDV
- Uterine cancer in unspayed females
Needs a rabbit-savvy vet, annual vaccinations and neutering; not eating for 12 hours is an emergency
Special care requirements
Rabbits cannot vomit, so any sudden appetite loss must be treated as urgent