Rabbits are unique, adorable, and social creatures. Looking at them would surely melt your heart. But what people fail to understand is that taking care of one is not that simple.
Most often than not, rabbits are thought to be easier to handle than most pets; that is not true. Rabbits might even need more attention and understanding than most canines and felines. People usually think that they are one of the best presents during the holidays, but that just leads them to becoming the third most abandoned pet. Sad, isn’t it? That is why we are encouraging you to share some love and adopt one now!
Here are twenty of the most interesting rabbit facts that might just persuade you to adopt one!
1. Rabbits love their own personal space.
Rabbits are very particular when it comes to territory. When you adopt one, it will be very evident even during the early days. They love to have their own space, and lots of it, specifically the places where they would sleep, eat, and even for their toilet breaks. It is believed that if you invade a rabbit’s space, it will grunt at you.
2. They are extremely fertile!
Rabbits are so fertile, meaning they can reproduce incredibly quickly. Female rabbits may start reproduction as early as four months, which means they can have approximately eight hundred children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren all together in their lifetime.
3. They have nearly 360-degree eyesight.
Their eyes are sitting high on the sides of their head, allowing them to see almost 360 degrees, including above their head. Though they cannot really see anything directly placed in front of their noses, but having their eyes placed that way makes them more adorable, don’t you think?
4. Rabbits are built to run.
Rabbits have strong muscles and hind legs that push them at speeds similar to a vehicle. They were indeed built to run! Being clocked up to 45 miles per hour, a jackrabbit is proven to be as quick as a running greyhound.
Running 45 miles per hour for a rabbit is comparable to an 80 miles per hour run by a human.
5. Their hearts can beat twice as fast as humans.
How incredible are rabbits, really? Their heart can beat more than 130 times per minute. Though some doctors say that a resting human heart rate should be 76 beats per minute or lower, our usual heartbeat ranges from 60 to 90. However, a rabbit’s resting heart beats twice as fast as humans. That means, when they are under stress or during exercise, their heart can beat more than 300 hundred times per minute.
6. Their teeth never stop growing.
Just like their nails, a rabbit’s teeth never stop growing. Fortunately, you can have their nails trimmed. However, for their teeth, it is good to keep large amounts of hay so that they would not run out of anything to chew on and it will naturally keep their teeth from overgrowing.
7. They eat their own droppings.
Believe us when we say that it is not as disgusting as it sounds. Rabbits have too much fibrous vegetation intake that they need to digest their food twice. They have two types of faeces: the regular one and the one we call “cecotropes,” which is what rabbits reingest.
8. Rabbits cannot vomit.
A rabbit’s digestive system does not allow them to emit any form of substance from the stomach through their mouth. In short, they are not physically capable of vomiting. That is why it is important to keep them healthy to avoid the occurrence of a more dangerous problem.
9. Rabbits are nocturnal, aren’t they?
The answer is no! They are not nocturnal. However, they are crepuscular, which means they have the most energy during dusk and dawn.
10. Rabbits binky!
As cute as it sounds, rabbits binky! Binky is when a rabbit jumps and twirls around because of its happiness.
11. They have antenna ears.
A rabbit’s ears serve as an antenna just like on a telly. Their ears can pick up sound from every direction. It is also capable of hearing from two directions at once. They can turn their ears 180 degrees; that rotation can point exactly where the sound is coming from.
12. Rabbits are a little similar to cats.
Though they do not sound the same as cats, rabbits can also purr. Rabbits are known to be clean pets as well, just like cats; they’re capable of cleaning themselves.
Additionally, baby rabbits are called “kit,” which is short for “kittens.”
13. They need regular brushing.
Despite being able to groom themselves, rabbits need regular brushing. They shed a lot, making them prone to swallowing hairballs. Ingestion of hairballs can be dangerous to rabbits. They could be sent to the vet for a surgery because of it or it could cost them their lives.
14. Rabbits can get bored and depressed.
Just like humans and other pets, rabbits can get bored. They have the tendency to get depressed as well, so keeping them entertained by surrounding them with lots of toys is a must. They also need to have some space to run around, and opportunities to socialise.
15. They have their own personality.
Every rabbit has a unique personality. It will take a while before you can actually get to know them. It is difficult to tell whether your rabbit will get along with another animal as well. It might get dangerous to bring two pets together who do not know each other yet. So keep that in mind when you are considering getting another one.
16. They are prey animals.
Rabbits are easily scared. Rabbits instinctively jump, run, or hide away quickly when they are startled, which might make them injure themselves. It is best to be mindful around your rabbit to avoid scaring them.
17. Outdoors are dangerous for them.
With relation to rabbits being prey animals, the outside is a risk for both their health and safety. Outdoor is where the predators are. Pesticides being sprayed outside might also poison them.
18. Rabbits have their own special doctors.
Rabbits are very gentle and delicate animals. It is no wonder that there are certain vets who specialise in caring specifically for them. Though it might cost you more to find one, the safety of your beloved rabbit is the top priority.
19. A rabbit symbol indicates safe-to-use products.
Products that are not tested on animals usually have the rabbit symbol. Rabbits have been traditionally used in product safety testing, hence the sign.
20. Rabbits are not Easter presents.
Besides rabbits not being able to lay eggs, let alone a chocolate one, people fail to understand that rabbits are not Easter presents. Sure, bunnies are popular during the Easter season, but taking care of them requires a lot of attention. This is the main reason why rabbits are being left in shelters weeks after Easter, making them one the most abandoned pets. So if you ever get one, make sure to give it a generous amount of love and care.
Are you raring to bring a new pet home? Take a look at these rabbits for adoption or sale!
