Rabbits are great companions, especially when they have the freedom and opportunity to show their wonderful personalities! If you are looking for a big-eared buddy, look no further than your local shelter where there are often adoptable rabbits. In fact, here at Columbus Humane, we typically have quite a few! Check our our adoptable bunnies here.
In the meantime, here are 12 cool and fun things you might not know about these hilarious herbivores.
To express happiness, bunnies will sometimes jump around and flick their heads and feet. That adorable behavior is known within the rabbit community as a “binky.”
Like deer, a female rabbit is called a “doe” and a male rabbit is called a “buck.”
A bunny’s big ears aren’t just for listening! They also help regulate the rabbit’s body temperatures. The ears’ blood vessels swell when it’s hot out, and contract when it’s cold.
AND those amazing ears can also be rotated almost a full circle to 270 degrees.
To some, rabbits might seem like quiet pets, but they’re actually capable of making a lot of sounds, including growling, screeching, chattering their teeth, and even honking softly! Talk about adorable!
Rabbits need large cages or exercise pens kept indoors for health, safety and socialization purposes! And, they need plenty of daily supervised time outside of their cages or pens to play and exercise. Be sure to bunny-proof your home and do not leave them unattended during this time.
Rabbits can hop and BOY can they also jump! In fact, rabbits can jump to impressive heights and distances….a little over 3 feet high and a whopping 10 feet long!
Because their eyes are positioned on the sides of their heads, bunnies can see an almost perfect 360 degrees. In the wild, this helps them know when a predator is near. Their one blind spot is right in front of their little twitchy noses! How funny is that?
Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box which makes cleaning their cages a lot easier.
Most rabbits have a “sweet tooth” and are crazy about fruit! But just like any other treat, moderation is key!
The Guinness World Record for the largest rabbit is held by a 55-pound British pet rabbit named Ralph. He eats $90 of food a week! Source
Bunnies can be very affectionate and bond closely with their owners. Some will even come when called.
Rabbits love to play and require mental stimulation just like dogs and cats. The good news is, lots of things you have around the house make for great toys….balls of paper, paper towel rolls and more can entertain your bunny.
Bunnies have an average lifespan of five to 10 years, but the oldest living rabbit broke the Guinness World Record at the ripe old age of 17. Source
When a rabbit is feeling submissive he will make himself appear as small as possible by crouching down.
Rabbits are social creatures and most want other rabbits around for companionship so consider adopting a bonded pair! If you already have a rabbit but want to add another to your brood, talk to your vet or the shelter about the best way to introduce bunnies to each other.
Above all, remember these fluffy friends make intelligent and quirky companions! Talk with our animal care specialists about whether or not a rabbit is a good pet for you!
