The oldest recorded rabbit, Flopsy, lived for almost 19 years…
Jump to:
Do rabbits make good pets?
Rabbits can make great companions. They can be clean, intelligent, gentle, affectionate, can use litter trays and even be trained to respond to simple cues.
As they have long lifespans, they’re also a big commitment, requiring high-quality care, routine vet visits and constant attention.
If you’re thinking of buying a pet rabbit, or searching for rabbits for sale, consider adopting rabbits instead. We have many rabbits at our rescue centres, and because they form deep connections with the rabbits they live with – becoming what us humans would call ‘best friends’ – we usually rehome them in pairs. However, we also have many individual rabbits, ready for a home where another rabbit may already live and is searching for a new friend (after losing their previous companion, for example).
Find out how to care for rabbits with our care guides below.
Are rabbits good pets for children?
Rabbits can make great pets, but they’re complex animals with complex needs. They’re better suited for older children who are able to handle them gently and understand the full scope of their responsibility, supported by adults who are prepared to help and take over when needed.
No child should be the sole owner of any animal – adult supervision is always required.
While intelligent and social, rabbits need careful, long-term commitment, including specialised care, space, and financial resources for a specialist vet. They’re fragile creatures who can be easily injured, and as prey animals, they prefer not to be picked up.
Children can enjoy spending time with rabbits by sitting quietly and watching them, allowing the rabbits to approach at their own pace. Any interaction should be gentle and calm, and children should be shown how to respect the rabbit’s space and signals. If the rabbits approach the child, they can be offered some tasty veg to help build up a positive association with human interactions.
For children who are older and ready for the shared responsibility, rabbits are incredibly fun and rewarding pets. There are many activities children can get involved in to keep their bunny happy and entertained.
Did you know?
A group of rabbits is called a colony or a nest.
Rabbit care guide
Rabbits have complex needs and feel a range of emotions. For rabbits to live happily and healthily, they need the right diet, suitable housing, regular health checks, the company of another rabbit – and more.
Explore our full rabbit care guide below, including information on general health and behaviour, home and environment, diet, mental stimulation, companionship and winter advice.
Rabbit facts and characteristics
We could rabbit on about these perky-eared pets all day – instead, here are some of our favourite rabbit facts:
- Rabbit males, females and babies all have different names: Male rabbits are bucks, female rabbits does, and rabbit babies kits.
- Rabbits are incredibly social animals: When they’re kept with a suitable rabbit companion, rabbits feel happier, safer, calmer and are less likely to become stressed. They even play games with one another.
- Rabbits are also very territorial: They form complex social relationships and may establish a social hierarchy in which some are more dominant and others more submissive.
- A group of rabbits is called a colony, or a nest.
- Rabbits eat their own droppings: Food is passed through their gut and special droppings (‘caecotrophs’) are produced. Rabbits eat these, allowing the food to be re-ingested, getting maximum nutrition.
- Rabbit teeth never stop growing: Their front teeth grow at a rate of 2-3mm a week! This is why hay is essential for rabbit dental health; it promotes constant, side-to-side chewing that wears down their constantly-growing teeth, helping reduce the risk of painful dental problems.
- Rabbits are intelligent: Just like dogs, pet rabbits can be taught to respond to commands using positive reward-based training. You can even teach them fun tricks, like high-fiving or fetching a toy!
- Rabbits purr: When they’re happy their teeth chatter gently, creating a soft purr (but teeth grinding can also be a sign of pain).
- Rabbits need more space than you might think: In the wild they live in interconnecting underground tunnels, which can cover more than two acres and house 50 rabbits! Domestic rabbits need space too. A hutch alone isn’t enough; they require at least 3m x 2m x 1m of space to move, play, exercise, hide and perform other natural behaviours.
- Rabbits can do more than just hop: Have you ever seen them leap really far, twisting and kicking midair? That’s called a ‘binky’.
- Rabbits are most active at dusk and dawn: This is called being ‘crepuscular’, which is different to being nocturnal (active throughout the entire night).
- Rabbits have incredible vision: They can see in almost every direction with their nearly 360° vision. Because rabbit eyes are on the sides of their head, they have a blind spot just under their chin and directly in front of their nose.
Rabbit lifecycle
How long do rabbits live? The lifespan of a rabbit depends on many factors, including genetics, diet, healthcare, housing, companionship and the opportunity to express natural behaviours.
If they live in a safe and stimulating environment, with a nutritious diet, regular health checks and appropriate companionship, a rabbit can typically live for 8 to 12 years – but some may live longer.
This means that pet rabbits are a long term commitment, as much as any pet cat or dog might be. And an incredibly rewarding one, too.
Did you know?
An average litter of rabbits is between 5 to 6 kits.
Average timeline of a rabbit’s life
BIRTH & GESTATION
Can last between 30-33 days
10 DAYS old
Kits open their eyes
4–8 WEEKS old
Kits begin to wean
3–5 MONTHS old
Puberty begins for rabbits
7–9 MONTHS old
Does fully mature at 7 to 8 months, and bucks mature at 8 to 9 months
5–8 YEARS old
Rabbits become senior
Rabbit reproduction
In general, a rabbit will reach sexual maturity between 3 to 8 months of age, meaning that female rabbits can get pregnant when still young themselves. Different rabbit breeds reach sexual maturity at different ages:
- Small breeds: 3.5 to 4 months old
- Medium to large breeds: 4 to 4.5 months old
- Giant breeds: 6 to 9 months old
Male rabbits’ testicles descend and become visible between 10 to 12 weeks, making it difficult to identify their sex before then. They can also retract their testicles when stressed or in cold weather, often leading to them being misidentified as female. Learn how to accurately sex rabbits here.
When rabbits reach sexual maturity, males and females may begin to show behaviours, such as scent-marking, circling around one another and humming. This is more common during spring and summer; longer days lead to the production of sex hormones that drive their sexual behaviours.
After mating, a doe is usually pregnant for around a month. A doe can have a litter of around 1 to 10 kits, with an average litter size of 5 to 6 kits, and can get pregnant again within hours of giving birth! Rabbits can mate for 14 of every 16 days.
Due to their ability to reproduce regularly and common difficulties with sexing rabbits, accidental litters frequently occur. This has led to a rabbit crisis, with more and more unwanted litters filling up rescue centres. With so many rabbits in need of homes, we encourage people to consider adopting rather than breeding rabbits. Help us campaign for better rabbit laws to prevent this crisis from getting worse.
Did you know?
test your knowledge
It’s true! ...Flopsy was born in Australia in 1964 and died in 1983.
Rabbits and their young
A timeline of newborn kits looks like:
- At birth: Newborn kits are born blind (eyes firmly closed), deaf and bald (they look like pink jelly beans)
- At 1 week: Fur begins to grow
- At 10 days: They open their eyes and ears
- At 4 to 8 weeks: Their weaning period begins
Did you know?
Because rabbits can repeatedly get pregnant, in one year, two rabbits could multiply to 82 rabbits!
2-3mm
A rabbit’s front teeth grow each week
180 degrees
A rabbit’s ears can turn to locate sound
360 degrees
A rabbit’s field of view (almost)
Handling rabbits
Rabbits can naturally be social and inquisitive, so developing a good relationship with them can be rewarding for both of you. With gentle, positive handling and interactions, rabbits can learn that humans are friends and companions, and safe handling can help with training.
Here’s how to handle and hold rabbits safely:
- Pick them up gently but firmly: Place one hand under their chest and front legs, using your other hand to scoop them up, supporting their bottom. Bring the rabbit close to your chest to keep them secure and prevent them from kicking.
- Hold rabbits gently but firmly: Ensure one hand supports their back and bottom at all times. Help them feel secure by holding all four feet against your body. Another way to hold rabbits is in the ‘C-hold’, where you hold the rabbit upright and close to your body to keep them secure, with a firm but gentle grip. Place your other hand under their bottom to support their weight, letting their legs extend in front of you. This is commonly used for small health checks (such as checking for flystrike) or sexing.
- Interact with your rabbit at ground level: This is less likely to scare them, and picking up your rabbit when you're close to ground level protects them from being dropped by accident.
- Never pick rabbits up by their ears or scruff: This is extremely stressful and can cause injury.
- Never hold rabbits on their backs. Rabbits held this way often remain still and appear relaxed. This is called tonic immobility – sometimes described as ‘playing dead’ – which is actually an involuntary fear response that occurs when a rabbit feels under extreme stress, similar to what can happen if they’re caught by a predator.
- Restrain rabbits as little as possible: Reduce stress and minimise the risk of injury by restraining your rabbits only as much as is necessary. This will depend on their temperament, health status and the procedure being carried out (such as health checks and taking your rabbits to the vet).
- Supervise children at all times: Only adults or responsible older children should pick up rabbits.
- Avoid placing rabbits on a slippery surface: Putting a towel down can help make rabbits feel more secure.
If you're concerned about your rabbit's behaviour, ask a vet to rule out any form of illness or injury that could be causing problems. Their reaction to handling may also depend on their past handling experiences, so you'll need patience to help grow their confidence around people.
Our top tips for rabbit handling
Start early
Start getting your rabbits used to human interactions as soon as possible. Interact with them for a few minutes every day so they associate being around people as a positive experience. Rabbits who’ve had limited positive experiences with people, or who experience rough handling, can find human contact distressing. Avoid handling rabbits younger than 10 days old as disturbing very young kits can cause stress for their mother and, in some cases, may lead to reduced care or rejection.
Be gentle
Move slowly and talk quietly around rabbits so as not to startle them. They're more likely to be relaxed in a quiet and calm handling environment. Some rabbits feel more secure when gently wrapped in a towel during handling or by hiding their face in the crook of your arm while being held, but make sure their nostrils aren't blocked.
Be safe
Rabbits’ fragile spines can be seriously, or even fatally, damaged if they feel insecure and struggle when held. Never place a rabbit on their back, as this will lead to tonic immobility.
Indoor and outdoor rabbits
With a safe, comfortable and enriching environment, rabbits can happily live both indoors or outside. As each rabbit is an individual, your decision should take into account their temperament, age, health, previous lifestyle and experience, as well as if their needs can be met in their indoor or outdoor home. Find out how to create a secure and inviting environment for both inside and outside rabbits.
Rabbits kept indoors
Many rabbits can develop deep and rewarding relationships with their owners when kept indoors. The proximity, warmth and quality time spent together can help to build a bond with your bunnies. And because you're spending more time with your rabbit, you can monitor their health and wellbeing more easily. Living indoors may be the right choice for some rabbits, as long as their needs continue to be met.
Rabbits kept Outdoors
Some rabbits are fearful of humans, especially when they’re under-socialised or have had negative experiences – which is true for many rescue rabbits. For these, living in your home could be very stressful, particularly if they’re used to living outdoors. If there's limited space, or children or other pets around, it might also be difficult to give rabbits the peace and quiet they need in your home. Living outside may be the best choice for their overall quality of life, as long as their individual needs continue to be met, especially in cold weather.
The costs and commitment of rabbit care
Rabbits are incredibly fascinating companions – and a big responsibility. Rabbit ownership not only means committing to their lifetime care and happiness, but also covering both expected and sometimes unforeseen costs, including:
- Medical care (routine and emergency)
- Housing (initial purchase and ongoing upkeep)
- Enrichment (toys, platforms, forage trays, etc)
- Home adaptations
- Equipment (litter trays, water bowls, cleaning supplies)
- Food (hay, vegetables, rabbits pellets/nuggets, the occasional treat)
- Holiday care (someone will need to look after your rabbits while you go away – and you might need to pay them!)
- Rabbit insurance
As rabbits should be kept in pairs (at least), this can double the expense. Make sure you’re fully aware of the commitment before bringing home rabbits of your own.
Adopting gives rabbits the opportunity to enjoy a loving home, while also reducing the growing pressure on rescue centres. Many rescue rabbits are already paired with a companion, neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, helping you get off to the best possible start.
Adoption and rehoming support
Adoption is one of the most rewarding acts of kindness – for both person and pet. And rabbits make incredible additions to the whole family.
We’ll always encourage rescuing rabbits over buying them. With hundreds of rabbits in our care – ready to burrow into your heart and home – the chances are we’ve already found the perfect rabbits for you. Meet our rescue rabbits here.
Rabbit facts
We could rabbit on about them all day – instead, here are some of our favourite rabbit facts:
- Rabbit males, females and babies have different names: Male rabbits are called bucks, female rabbits are called does, and rabbit babies are called kits.
-
Rabbits are incredibly social animals: When they’re kept with a suitable rabbit companion, rabbits feel happier, safer, calmer and are less prone to stress. They even play tricks on one another.
-
Rabbits are also very territorial: They form complicated social structures, and when kept together, rabbits form a ‘pecking order,’ with some animals becoming more dominant than others.
-
A group of rabbits is called a colony, a nest, or a warren.
-
Rabbits eat their own droppings: Food is passed through their gut and special droppings (‘caecotrophs’) are produced. Rabbits eat these, allowing the food to be re-ingested, getting maximum nutrition.
-
Rabbit teeth never stop growing: Their front teeth grow at a rate of 3mm a week! This is why hay is essential for rabbit dental health; it promotes constant, side-to-side chewing that wears down their continuously growing teeth, preventing problems.
-
Rabbits are intelligent: Just like dogs, pet rabbits can be taught to respond to commands using positive reward-based training. You can even teach them fun tricks, like high-fiving or fetching a toy!
- Rabbits purr: When they’re happy their teeth chatter gently, creating a soft purr (but teeth grinding can also be a sign of pain).
-
Rabbits need more space than you might think: In the wild, they live in interconnecting underground tunnels. These can cover more than two acres and house 50 rabbits!
-
Rabbit can do more than just hop: Have you ever seen them leap really far, twisting and kicking midair? That’s called a ‘binky.’
-
Newborn kits are born blind (eyes firmly closed) and bald: Fur begins to grow a week later, and the kits typically open their eyes for the first time after 10 days.
-
A female rabbit can get pregnant at just four months old: Does can get pregnant very young, and are pregnant for just four weeks. She’ll have one to 10 kits in each litter, and if she wants to, she can get pregnant again within hours! In one year, two rabbits could multiply to 82 rabbits!
-
Rabbits are most active at dusk and dawn: This is called being ‘crepuscular,’ and means they’re most active at two specific points: dusk and dawn. This is different to being nocturnal, as nocturnal animals are more active throughout the entire night.
- Rabbits have incredible vision: They can see in almost every direction with their nearly 360° vision. Because rabbit eyes are on the sides of their head, they have a blind spot just under their chin and directly in front of their nose.
How long can rabbits live?
The lifespan of a rabbit is largely dependent on how healthy and happy they are.
If they live in a safe and stimulating environment, with a nutritious diet and plenty of company, a rabbit can typically live for 8 to 12 years – but some may live longer.
This means that pet rabbits are a long term commitment, as much as any pet cat or dog might be. And an incredibly rewarding one, too.
Average timeline of a rabbit’s life:
- Gestation period: 30 to 33 days
- Average litter size: one to six kits
- Kits open their eyes: 10 days old
- Kit weaning period: between 4 to 8 weeks
- Puberty begins: at 3 to 5 months old
- Does fully mature: 7 to 8 months old
- Bucks fully mature: 8 to 9 months old
- Rabbits become ‘senior:’ at 5 to 8 years old
Did you know?
The oldest recorded rabbit, Flopsy, was born in Australia in 1964...
test your knowledge
...Flopsy lived for almost 19 years!
Rabbit body language
Rabbits express a range of emotions, from curiosity to caution, fear to friendship. They’re constantly communicating.
Some body movements to look out for are:
- The jump for joy: The leap-twist that a rabbit does midair – the binky – is a sign that they’re very happy.
- Bunny boxing: If a rabbit is on their hind legs, ears up, lifting their front paws to bat at anything that comes close, sometimes accompanied with a growl, then the chances are they’re feeling aggressive and upset.
- Nipping (not biting!): If a rabbit gently nips you, they might be trying to groom you or get your attention.
- Ears stood to attention: If a rabbit’s ears are forward and they’re staring at a certain spot – sometimes on their hind legs, sometimes on all fours – they’re likely on high alert.
- Trademark thumping: When a rabbit thumps their hind legs, it can actually mean that danger is nearby – or it’s a ‘grump thump’, and they’re mad at you.
Do rabbits need company?
Rabbits are a highly social species, yet 42% of pet rabbits in the UK lived alone in 2024. They need companionship almost as much as they need a healthy diet. Two rabbits together can swiftly become best friends, if bonded appropriately – they're sociable creatures who suffer when alone, even developing abnormal behaviours without a companion.
Bunnies need buddies. A good combination is a neutered male and a neutered female, as neutering reduces the likelihood of fighting in both sexes.
Did you know? Sometimes rabbits mount one another, even after they’ve been neutered, as it’s not just a sexual behaviour, but a show of dominance.
Pet rabbits can see humans as important companions, too. If your rabbit has to be kept alone (which should only be the case if advised by your vet), it’s vital you interact with them daily.
It’s better to adopt rabbits rather than buying them from a pet shop. That way you know you’re giving them a second chance. Also, RSPCA staff made sure our pair were toilet trained and neutered, and advised how to look after them.
Do rabbits make good pets?
Rabbits can make great companions. They’re quiet, clean, gentle, affectionate, can use litter trays and even be trained.
As they have long lifespans, they’re also a big commitment, requiring high quality care, routine vet visits and constant attention.
If you’re thinking of buying a pet rabbit, or searching for rabbits for sale, consider adopting a rabbit instead – preferably two together. We have many rabbits at our rescue centres, and because they form deep connections with the rabbits they live with – becoming what us humans would call ‘best friends’ – we usually rehome them in pairs.
Are rabbits a good pet for children?
Rabbits can make great pets, but they are complex animals with complex needs. They’re better suited for older children who are able to handle them gently and understand the full scope of their responsibility, with adults around who are prepared to put in the time to help, support and take over when needed.
No child should be the sole owner of any animal – adult supervision is always recommended.
While intelligent and sociable, rabbits require careful, long-term commitment, including specialised care, space, and financial resources for a specialist vet. They’re fragile creatures that can be easily injured, and as ‘prey’ animals, they prefer not to be picked up.
With that in mind, for children who are older and ready for the shared responsibility, rabbits are incredibly fun and rewarding pets. We will always encourage children to help with pet care, and as intelligent and inquisitive animals, there are many activities children can get involved in to keep their bunny happy and entertained.
Rabbits come in a variety of breeds, shapes and sizes, and each bunny has their own unique personality. Rabbits require long term commitment as they typically live for 8 to 12 years, but some may live longer.
Pet rabbits are related to the wild European rabbit and the biology and behaviour of pet rabbits is very similar to that of their wild cousins.
Top facts about rabbits:
- Rabbits are highly social animals - they must not live on their own unless advised by a vet. See our advice page on how to introduce rabbits to each other.
- Rabbits are territorial animals and form complicated social structures.
- Rabbits have an unusual digestive system – food is passed through their gut and special droppings (‘caecotrophs’) are produced. Rabbits eat these, allowing the food to be re-ingested, getting maximum nutrition. Ensure your rabbit's digestive system is kept in tip-top condition by feeding them a healthy diet.
- Rabbits have continuously growing teeth – a rabbit's top front teeth grow at a rate of 3mm a week! Keep your rabbit healthy by following our health and welfare advice.
- Rabbits are intelligent – pet rabbits can be taught to respond to commands using positive reward-based training. Discover more about rabbit behaviour.
- Rabbits need far more space than you might think. In the wild, they live in interconnecting underground tunnels. These can cover more than two acres and house 50 rabbits! We have lots of information on how to house your pet rabbit, so they feel at home.
-
A female rabbit (a ‘doe’) can get pregnant when she’s four months old and is pregnant for just four weeks. She’ll have one to 10 kits in each litter and can get pregnant again within hours! The female kits can also get pregnant when they’re just a few months old. In one year, two rabbits could become 82! To avoid unwanted litters, take a look at our guide to sexing and neutering your rabbits.
Rabbit care guide
Rabbits have a complex set of needs and feel a range of emotions – all of which need to be cared for.
Explore our full rabbit care guide below, including information on general health, home and environment, diet, mental stimulation and companionship.
