Top 10 Rabbit Breeds That Makes The Best Pets

Rabbits are adorable and sociable pets, and you will have fun watching them leap on your lap and stroking them. However, before you bring that rabbit home, you have to make sure that it is the right breed for your family. In this article, we have compiled a list of the 10 best rabbit breeds to help you make that choice.

Himalayan Rabbit

You can easily spot a Himalayan Rabbit because of its unique dark markings on the ears, tail, and feet. The fur on its body is white, and the nose has an egg-shaped mark. It is medium sized, as it weighs 5lbs when fully grown. Because of its short fur, it cannot withstand the winter cold, so you should make arrangements to transfer it indoors during winter. The Himalayan is a gentle rabbit, and it’s very calm even when the kids handle it roughly.

Dwarf Hotot

The Hotot is a small breed with unique coloring, and they are famous for the dark coloring around the eyes and their all-white coat. Their ears are upright and they only weigh less than 3lbs; also they have a lifespan of 8 years. You can keep them in small cages because of their small size. When feeding them, make sure they don’t overeat.

Mini Lop

One distinguishing feature about the Mini Lop is the large head and the long thick floppy ears. Also, it has a round body, and the fur is patterned in a variety of colors. They weigh 6lbs and they have no specific health concerns. The Mini Lop has a lifespan of 10 years, so you have to plan your finances to cater for this rabbit throughout its lifespan. This bunny is playful and cheerful, and it can also be trained.

Netherland Dwarf

The Netherland Dwarf is a small rabbit with small and short ears. They weigh 2.5lbs and they have a lifespan of 12 years. These bunnies are susceptible to malocclusion when young, that’s why proper feeding of the rabbit with fibrous feeds such as grasses and hay are recommended. When purchasing this bunny, look at the dental alignment first so that you don’t end up buying a rabbit with malocclusion.

Lionhead

The Lionhead is a crossbreed between the Swiss Fox and the Netherland Dwarf. The long fur around their ears resembles a lion mane, which makes it unique. It weighs 3.5lbs and has a lifespan of 10 years. The long hair needs to be groomed daily, as the fur can easily get tangled in objects as it runs around the house or outdoors. There are no specific health issues with this breed, other than the general illnesses of most rabbits. This bunny loves to be picked up and carried everywhere.

Jersey Wooly

This bunny is a cross between the Netherland Dwarf and the French Angora. The heads are bold and square, which gives it a unique appearance. The ears are short and small, and they only weigh 2lbs due to their small size. They only need a small sized cage, and a lot of grooming, since they are wooly. That’s why they are at a higher risk of suffering from a wool block. The Jersey wooly bunny makes an excellent pet for cuddling, because of their wooly nature, in addition to their docile personality.

Mini Satin

The Mini Satin has a shiny coat with many colors and patterns, and the shiny brown color is synonymous with this breed. The head and the body are round in shape, and it weighs 3.5lbs. Because of its small size, you can purchase a small cage or enclosure, which saves space if you live in a small apartment. No specific conditions are known to affect the Mini Satin rabbit breed.

Mini Rex

You can easily spot this breed because unlike most rabbit breeds, the Mini Rex fur sticks out, as opposed to lying flat on the body. They have short necks, and the ears are long and erect. The fur is dense, and you can quickly feel the velvety undercoat. You will also notice that they have rounded backs, and they weigh 3.5lbs when fully grown. They are also extremely friendly and calm, and when they become familiar with the kids, they will follow them around to cuddle.

Harlequins

The Harlequins are known for their distinctive coatings and their broadheads. The body markings come in many colors and are either bars or bands. The ears are long and floppy, and they are more prominent as they weigh 9lbs when fully grown. The average lifespan of this bunny is seven years. Also, no specific health conditions are affecting this breed. This bunny likes socializing and playing, which makes it a great play companion for kids.

Chinchilla

The Chinchilla is a cross between the Himalayans and the wild rabbits. They have a plump body, as they weigh 7lbs when fully grown. Also, they have short and soft fur, and the ears are erect. The Chinchilla is highly susceptible to ear mites, so you should always be on the look-out. They have a lifespan of 8 years.

This breed is famous as a pet breed because of its docile and calm nature, and the Chinchilla loves being cuddled.

So here we are at the end of exploring some of the best pet rabbit breeds that you might consider while you buy one for yourself.