Rabbit
Known for their long ears and soft fur, bunnies make appealing pets. However, they require specialized care and, like any pet, should only be cared for by those prepared for the responsibility.
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Mammalia
Order - Lagomorpha
Family - Leporidae
Genus - Oryctolagus
Species & Subspecies – O. cuniculus domesticus
Common Names – Rabbit, Bunny, Bunny Rabbit
Rabbit temperament varies by breed, but pet rabbits are often inquisitive and playful, and can form strong bonds with their owners.
Hay is an important part of their diet, though most domestic rabbits eat specially designed food pellets to ensure proper nutrition.
Domestic rabbits are typically small, though size is ultimately dependent on breed. There are many different selectively bred types of rabbit, that vary in coat pattern, fur softness, size, and more. Lop-eared rabbits are a popular variant, with ears that flop downward instead of sticking upward like most rabbits.
There are over 300 different breeds of domestic rabbit currently recognized throughout the world.
The domestic rabbit descends from the European rabbit.
A popular story states that around the year 600 AD, the pope declared that rabbit meat was considered “fish”, which meant they could be eaten during the Christian period of Lent. This led monks in France to scramble to begin domesticating and breeding rabbits for food.
However, this story is very likely not true. There is no one known source of domestication for the rabbit, and the reality is that it was a long process that may not have had one single source.
Originally kept as food, rabbits first became popular as pets beginning in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Though somewhat popular as a house pet, rabbits require specialized care. They have a strong urge to chew so can damage items in a home that is not properly prepared to house a rabbit. They are also delicate, with fragile bones, so they require owners who are able to handle them without injuring them.
Pet rabbits are a common gift around Easter holidays, which unfortunately leads to many rabbits being abandoned or sent to animal shelters by owners who are not ready for the responsibility. Anyone deciding to care for a pet rabbit should make sure they are properly prepared.