What's up With Rabbits?

Posted by Chris McLaughlin Mar 5, 2009

So, what's great about rabbits? Rabbits are one of the most interesting and useful mammals I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with.

Rabbits are kept as livestock for some, both for meat and their wool or fur. They are the most popular, however, as pets and for showing.

Rabbits are easy to care for and can be kept by nearly anyone in any situation. At one point, another breeder and I were raising American Fuzzy Lops, and the Japanese were crazy for them!

We shipped many of these little guys to their new homes in Japan because rabbits are kept there very easily as pets.

I've had the pleasure of only raising and showing rabbits for sixteen years as well as rehabbed wild rabbits and hares. I can tell you that these furry little guys are addicting.

Some people keep them outdoors, some indoors. Some rabbits are huge and some are smaller than a guinea pig. If you look around, you'll find more rabbit breeds than you ever knew existed.

Rabbits can be shy and offish, but usually that is a reflection of how often they are handled and given attention. They do have distinct personalities and they do play with toys. They can also live longer than a lot marriages - 7-10 years.

Some people enjoy viewing wild rabbits and hares, some enjoy keeping the domestic variety, but whatever the case, people remain fascinated with them.

Come in and find out why your pet rabbit can't breed with a wild one if he gets loose in Rabbit Reproduction. Find out if a rabbit is a rodent or not in The Difference Between Rodents and Lagomorphs. What makes angora wool special? Read Raising Angora Rabbits for Wool. Learn more about rabbit health in Wool Block in Rabbits and Myxomatosis: The Rabbit Killer.

Come learn about rabbits - wild and not so wild in Mammals at Suite 101.