Rabbits are among the cutest animals out there. Their big ears, beady eyes, and round, fuzzy bodies are oh-so-irresistible! Moreover, there’s something so adorable about the way they hop around. Unsurprisingly, kids and adults love them and keep them as beloved pets.
Rabbits are also highly fascinating creatures; there’s much to learn about them. If you’re looking for fun facts about rabbits that you can share with your friends or little ones, you’re in luck!
Here, we’ll discuss some exciting things you might not know about these cute critters. Read on to learn more!
Hippity Hoppity: Here Come the Rabbit Facts!
Rabbits are adorable animals that have spread worldwide because of their popularity as pets. Their cute and cuddly appearance and shy behaviors have long fascinated people. From Bambi’s Thumper to the Easter Bunny, they’ve been the subject of many kids’ tales, books, and stories!
So, without further ado, let’s jump into some fun facts you have to know about them.
- Rabbits Are Highly Social
If there’s one thing many people should know about rabbits, they’re highly social animals. They need other rabbits in the wild and in people’s homes.
Rabbits need each other for warmth, companionship, grooming, and play. If they live alone, they might get lonely or stressed.
For parents planning to keep rabbits in their homes, getting a bonded pair is best. Or, if you have the space and resources, you can get a colony of them.
Rabbits multiply fast, so it may be best to get them neutered and spayed! This will also help reduce their territorial behaviors and prevent them from having babies.
Courtesy of Pexels
- Rabbit Teeth Never Stop Growing
This is one of the most interesting facts about rabbits. Unlike our teeth, the teeth of our beloved bunnies never stop growing!
Although this seems like a nightmare for bunny dentists, it’s typically not a problem if the rabbit has a healthy diet. Rabbits spend most of their waking hours chewing on rough hay, grass, and other plants, which naturally wear down their teeth.
- Rabbits Don’t Like Carrots That Much
Cartoon rabbits always seem to be munching on carrots, but despite this popular trope, this isn’t true for actual rabbits! Root vegetables like carrots aren’t a regular part of a bunny’s diet. They’re too high in sugar to be part of a typical meal for these cute critters!
- Rabbits “Binky” Out of Joy
Another adorable fact about rabbits is that they do “binkies” when happy. A “binky” is when a bunny makes a big jump and twists its head and body in opposite directions.
Rabbits can also flick their heads and wiggle their ears to let you know they’re playful and in a good mood. Isn’t that precious?
Purring like cats or letting out content sighs indicate that a bunny is happy.
Courtesy of Pexels
- Rabbits Can See Almost Everything Around Them
Rabbit vision is close to 360°, compared to humans, who can see a field just short of 180°. This means that rabbits can see nearly everything around them—even what’s behind them!
Rabbits can see with such a wide field of view because their eyes are on the sides of their heads. This is helpful because rabbits are prey animals and need to know if another animal is out to get them.
Although rabbit vision is perfect, it’s not perfect. Bunnies have a blind spot right in front of their noses!
- Rabbit Ears Serve Many Purposes
One of the most defining features of rabbits is their huge pair of ears. Although these ears are cute, they are not just there for decoration. Their sense of hearing is astounding!
Their uniquely shaped ears can also rotate their ears 180°. Because of this, they can pinpoint where a particular sound is coming from. This helps them better watch out for predators in the wild!
Aside from hearing, however, their ears also serve as heat regulators. Rabbits don’t sweat like humans or pant like dogs, so they have to lose their body heat through their large ears.
Because of the ears’ role in regulating their body temperatures, rabbits in colder places have smaller ears, while those living in hotter areas have larger ears!
There’s also some evidence that their ear muscles help them balance when they hop and run around.
Courtesy of Pexels
- Baby Rabbits Are Born with Their Eyelids Shut
Some animals, like horses and deer, can walk and run just a few hours after birth. This isn’t the case with rabbits.
Baby rabbits (also called “kits” or “kittens”) are born with their eyes and ears shut close, so they’re pretty much blind and deaf for a few days. They’re completely helpless and rely on their parents to feed and keep them safe. Luckily for baby bunnies, rabbits nest in underground warrens or burrows, making it very difficult for predators to find them.
The eyes of baby bunnies open after around ten to 12 days. On the other hand, their big ears allow them to hear sounds at around five days of age.
- Rabbits Sleep with Eyes Open
Their version of getting some shut-eye doesn’t require shut eyes. Rabbits can sleep with their eyes open, which helps keep them safe from other animals.
Courtesy of Pexels
- They Can Move Around Fast
Rabbits are masters of jumping around. They can run around at 25 to 45 mph (40 to 72 km/h)! This means many of them can even outrun the fastest human runner, Usain Bolt, whose top speed was 27.33 mph (43.99 km/h). However, rabbits are sprinters and can’t maintain these speeds for long.
- Rabbits Can’t Vomit
Much like cats, rabbits are critters that prefer to keep themselves clean. Because of this, they groom themselves a lot when they’re awake. However, unlike our friendly felines, rabbits don’t throw up hairballs. They can’t throw up at all!
A rabbit’s digestive system is unique, and it does not allow food to go back up the pipes. So, instead of throwing up hairballs, rabbits eat a lot of fibrous plants to help push the fur down!
Frequently Asked Questions on Rabbits
Are bunnies and rabbits the same?
Bunnies and rabbits describe the same animal. The only difference is that “bunny” is a cuter, less formal term for a rabbit.
Are rabbits rodents?
Although rabbits and rodents like mice, rats, hamsters, and guinea pigs have continuously growing front teeth, rabbits are not rodents! Rabbits belong to the order Lagomorpha, which includes hares and pikas.
How long do rabbits live?
Rabbits typically live around five years, but some rabbits can live even longer with good husbandry. The oldest rabbit ever recorded was Flopsy, a wild rabbit who lived 18 years and 10.75 months.
How big can rabbits get?
The average size of a domesticated rabbit is around 6 lbs (2.72 kg). However, large breeds like the Flemish Giant can reach up to 22 lb (10 kg) in weight. The longest rabbit recorded was 4 ft 3 in (1.3 m) long!
What do rabbits eat?
Rabbits are herbivores, so they eat plant material. Their diet typically consists of fibrous plants like hay, but they may occasionally enjoy fresh vegetables as treats.
