How long do bunnies live as pets? Rabbits can make great pets, they are sociable and very affectionate with their owners, but raising rabbits takes a lot of time and effort to keep them healthy and live the longest.
How long do bunnies live as pets?
Rabbits can live 7 to 10 years in a well-tended captivity. Due to predators and other dangers, hares only live 1 to 2 years.
What factors will affect the lifespan of ornamental rabbits?
Rabbits typically live 7 to 10 years in captivity. Although, some sources say it’s not uncommon for rabbits to live past the age of 12.
In the wild, rabbits usually only live 1 to 2 years. This is because the wilderness is full of hazards and dangers to rabbits, such as predators and cars.
However, pet rabbits do not face these dangers, so they can live longer.
There are many factors that affect a rabbit’s lifespan, including diet, exercise, habitat, and health.
To keep your rabbits living as long as possible, you need to keep them happy and healthy by providing them with a balanced diet, good exercise, and a spacious habitat.
Some health problems cannot be completely avoided, especially if they are caused by bad genes or old age. Feeding and caring for your rabbit properly will greatly improve your rabbit’s overall health.
Rabbit Life Cycle
Male rabbits reach sexual maturity around 4 months, while female rabbits reach sexual maturity around 3½ months. Typically, rabbits mate in the spring and summer, as warmer temperatures and more food increase the baby’s chances of survival.
A female rabbit is about 30 days pregnant. Once bunnies are born, they are able to reproduce and become pregnant again.
Female rabbits usually have 3 to 7 pups per litter, although their pups are not uncommon.
Female rabbits can produce one litter per month during the mating season. Rabbits are born blind, deaf and hairless.
At about 10 days old, the bunnies can open their eyes. At about 18 days old, the bunnies will begin to come out of their burrows in search of plant-based food.
Between 21 and 25 days, the bunnies are gradually weaned. They will usually stay near the den until they are about 4 to 5 weeks old.
After this age, the bunny will leave the mother’s lair and start a life of its own.
When a rabbit is about 5 months old, they are considered mature and fully developed.
When rabbits are over 5 years old, they are considered old or older. However, most hares rarely live to their second birthday.
How long can the world’s longest-lived rabbit live?
According to Guinness World Records, the world’s oldest living rabbit has been recognized as Mick by Guinness World Records. On 9 days in February 2019, Mick was 16 years old.
Mick is a fat rabbit from Berwyn, Illinois, USA. Mick’s owner is Liz Rench, who has raised rabbits for many years.
How does a rabbit’s diet affect a rabbit’s lifespan?
Rabbits need a balanced diet to thrive. High-quality hay should be the main ingredient in your rabbit’s diet.
Rabbits need hay to keep their digestive systems working properly. Hay also provides rabbits with fiber and nutrients to keep them healthy.
Rabbits must have regular access to hay and never run out of hay for many other things.
In addition to hay, the rabbit should be fed leafy greens and a small portion of rabbit food/chicken nuggets daily.
It is best to avoid ingredients specific to rabbits as it is often high in fat. It is also known to cause dental and stomach problems.
Nuts can cause choking and can get stuck in your rabbit’s teeth and digestive tract.
Green vegetables, fruits and treats for rabbits
Rabbits should eat green vegetables every day. About a handful of adult-sized greens is a good serving. You should provide 4 to 5 different types of leafy greens and rotate the vegetables you feed your rabbit regularly.
Only fruits and vegetables (such as carrots) should be given to rabbits. They contain a lot of sugar and can be detrimental to your rabbit’s health if fed regularly. Feeding your rabbit a few times a week of fruit or vegetables is more than enough for your rabbit. Feed them only a small amount (about 2 tablespoons is a good portion).
Common store-bought foods should not be fed to rabbits as they are often high in calories and contain a lot of sugar and/or fat. Always give your rabbit clean water and fresh water every day. Do not use water from puddles, streams, rivers, etc. Use only tap, bottled or filtered water. A poor, low-nutrient diet can shorten a rabbit’s lifespan.
Rabbit cage
Choose a large rabbit cage. A properly sized cage or habitat is very important to your rabbit’s health. A rabbit needs at least 3.5 square meters of living space, and about 10 square meters of exercise space.
A properly sized cage or cage should be able to hold all necessary items such as food plates, toys, hiding places and water bottles/bowls. Rabbits must be able to lie down and stretch as well as stand up without their head or ears reaching the top of the cage/cage.
If you have a lot of rabbits, then you need to give them more living space. Having many rabbits in a small cage can lead to aggression and territorial problems. The bigger the better, so try to give your rabbit as much room as possible.
Rabbit toy
Provide your rabbit with plenty of toys to exercise. Rabbits are very active animals and need a lot of exercise to stay healthy. Exercise provides rabbits with mental stimulation and a way to burn their breath.
Rabbits need at least 3 hours of exercise a day. Using a track or fence indoors or outdoors is ideal for exercising. The track or game table must be large and spacious. 2.2m x 1.2m x 1.2m is the minimum size a running rabbit or playpen must accommodate a rabbit.
If you don’t give your rabbit regular or adequate exercise, they can become irritable, frustrated, and bored. Low activity levels can also cause various health problems in rabbits. Rabbits need exercise to stay in shape. Without exercise, rabbits can become overweight, leading to many complications.
Health Issues That Can Affect Rabbits’ Longevity
Rabbits can face many health problems that can affect or shorten their lifespan. Here are some health issues to be aware of that may affect your rabbit’s lifespan.
Obesity
Obesity in rabbits is often caused by poor diet and lack of exercise. Rabbits need plenty of hay in their diet, supplemented with leafy greens and high-quality pellets. If rabbits eat too much sugary or fatty foods (such as fruit and store-bought foods), they are likely to be overweight.
Obesity in rabbits can lead to many complications such as heart disease, fatty liver, and muscle infections. In addition to causing many health problems, obese rabbits can have a shortened lifespan if left untreated. That’s why a balanced diet is so important to your rabbit’s health.
If your rabbit is gaining weight due to a poor diet and/or lack of exercise, your veterinarian can advise you on a feeding and exercise program.
Flatulence
The disease is often caused by poor diet and low activity levels. Bloating is when your rabbit’s digestive system stops working properly and slows down.
This can cause bad bacteria to build up in the rabbit’s gut, causing bloating. Gastrointestinal stasis can be fatal if severe or untreated.
Common causes of intestinal stasis include poor diet (lack of fiber and too much fat/carbohydrate), inactivity, dehydration, limited mobility (eg, obesity), and stress.
Signs of colic include loss of appetite, bloating, lethargy, urination/weird shape, or inability to have a bowel movement.
If you notice these symptoms in your rabbit, take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Exercise your rabbit for at least 3 hours a day and provide them with a balanced diet to prevent gastrointestinal stasis.
Infectious Diseases
Muscular dystrophy in rabbits is a frightening and life-threatening disease. Infection occurs when flies (usually the green bottle fly) lay their eggs on moist areas of the rabbit’s skin.
Flies are attracted to wet urine, feces and fur and often lay their eggs on the bottom of the rabbit. These eggs will hatch into maggots within 24 hours and start eating the rabbit (and thus secrete a nasty poison).
Infections are usually fatal, so if you suspect your rabbit has it, get them to the vet as soon as possible. Infections are more common in summer. To help prevent disease, it’s important to keep your rabbit’s living area clean.
Do not let your rabbit sit on a dirty bed or live in an unsanitary environment. You should clean your rabbit cage or cage at least once a week. If you have a small rabbit cage, then you will need to clean the habitat more than once a week (like with many rabbits).
Regular spot cleaning can reduce the time it takes to clean your rabbit cage. Spot cleaning includes daily litter removal.
If your rabbit is overweight or old, they may not be able to clean themselves properly. If this is the case, you will have to clean the rabbit yourself.
Overfeeding fruits and vegetables can cause diarrhea in rabbits (which attracts flies!), so make sure you don’t overfeed them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Can rabbits live outside?
Rabbits can live outdoors all year round. However, during severe weather and winter, you should consider bringing your rabbit indoors and make sure their cage is protected from rain, wind and snow.
Question 2: Can rabbits live with other animals like hamsters?
Do not. You should not keep or introduce other animals to rabbits, even guinea pigs. Rabbits can only live with other rabbits.
Question 3: Are rabbits friendly?
Rabbits can be very friendly and affectionate pets if they are attached to their owners and tame.
