Rabbits are cute little cuddly creatures that make great pets.Also referred to as bunnies, these animals have often been used in pop culture to bring some memorable characters come to life. Rabbits are charming, pretty, and adorable domestic animals that can be great company.Rabbits, also known as bunny rabbits, belong to the family of Leporidae. Rabbits are mammals which means they give birth to young ones instead of laying eggs. Like many other animals, bunnies have various breeds that are distinguished from each other by a few distinctive characteristics and different life expectancies.Male rabbits are commonly called bucks, while female rabbits are called does. A group of bunnies is called a colony or a nest. Meanwhile, the term litter refers to the young ones birthed at a single time by a single female. At the time a bunny is born, it is hairless and blind. It needs a lot of attention and care as it grows and matures.Read on to find fascinating life expectancy facts about the breed of rabbits known as dwarf rabbits. Once you have finished reading this fun facts article, you might also enjoy discovering how long dwarf hamsters live, and how long ferrets live here on Kidadl?What are dwarf rabbits?There are many rabbit species that can be found in most parts of the world. One of the species is the dwarf rabbit. There are further-divided breeds of dwarf rabbits, of which a few are listed below.One popular dwarf rabbit breed is Netherland dwarf rabbit. Netherland dwarf rabbits differ from other rabbit breeds because of their unique personality. Netherland dwarf rabbits come in various colors such as blue, lilac, white, opal, and lynx. These bunnies have ruby-colored eyes. Netherland dwarf rabbits have been given the nickname ’the gem of the fancy’.The Netherland dwarf rabbit breed is considered to be the smallest bunny species. This breed of dwarf bunnies has a large head but a short face with big eyes and short ears. Netherland dwarf rabbits have short fur that returns to its original position even when brushed in the opposite direction.Other dwarf breeds include the dwarf lion head. Dwarf lionhead rabbits have a cute appearance with a compact body size. The dwarf lion head has a visible wooly mane that gives this bunny its name. These dwarf rabbits, when handled with care, are quite friendly and playful. These timid creatures require a lot of space and a well-balanced diet.Dwarf hotot rabbits are also one of the breeds of dwarf rabbits that are slightly bigger than Netherland dwarf bunnies. Although the two breeds are similar to each other on many accounts, dwarf hotot rabbits are more docile. Most of these rabbits have white fur, while some of them can also sport black-colored or chocolate-colored fur.Other breeds of dwarf rabbits include the Jersey wooly, mini rex, American fuzzy lop, and mini satin. All of these dwarf rabbit species have a similar body stature as they are small. Most of them tend to make great pets.Do dwarf rabbits live shorter lives?It is believed that the smaller the rabbit is, the longer its life expectancy. A dwarf rabbit, as the name suggests, is known for its small size and cute personality. Dwarf rabbits live for around 8-10 years on average. The life expectancies of the different dwarf rabbit breeds are as follows.The average lifespan of Netherland dwarf rabbits is up to 10-12 years. In contrast to these small dwarf rabbits, bigger rabbits can only live up to five or six years. The dwarf lionhead rabbit’s lifespan is around 8-10 years, while that of the dwarf hotot rabbit is 7-10 years. Both American fuzzy lop and mini satin rabbits have the same lifespan of five to eight years. Meanwhile, the Jersey wooly rabbit’s lifespan is more than 7-10 years. The mini rex breed can live up to 8-10 years, and the Holland lop can live for around five to seven years.Moreover, the lifespan of dwarf rabbits is influenced by genetics and the care they receive.Bunnies that are spayed or neutered and provided with a well-balanced diet and sanitized space can live for longer periods compared to others.How long do rabbits live as pets?Bunnies are domesticated creatures that are also great pets. If they are trained properly and cared for in the proper way, then as pets, they make wonderful company for children. However, you might wonder how long do rabbits live as pets when they are provided with excellent protection and nourishment.This actually depends on many different factors. Usually, healthy pet rabbits can have a lifespan of anywhere between 6-13 years when spayed and neutered. In the Guinness Book of World Records, there is a record for the oldest pet rabbit which was from Berwyn, Illinois. The Agouti rabbit named Mick was 16 years old by 2019.Moreover, the oldest pet rabbit that ever lived was from Australia. Its name was Flopsy, a white rabbit that lived up to the age of 18 in the ’60s.A bunny’s life expectancy can be greatly affected by its surroundings, diet, and health. A bunny kept as a pet in a cage can also have a longer lifespan if it is provided with optimum care and protection. In the next section, you will find ways you can ensure your pet dwarf rabbit’s good health and how you can make its life better overall.Top Tips For A Healthy Dwarf Rabbit LifeA rabbit is a tiny and cute animal that is quite energetic and loves to play. If you have a pet dwarf rabbit, you will find the tips below quite helpful for taking care of a bunny.The first thing to pay attention to is the placement of the rabbit. Whether you place the bunny indoors or outdoors plays a significant role in determining how long it can live and its health quality. The dwarf rabbit, which is typically housed inside a house, generally lives longer than ones housed outdoors. This is because rabbits are quite sensitive to weather changes and do not like too much heat or too much cold.Moreover, there is a threat to their life outside because of predators such as foxes, coyotes, and hawks potentially roaming around.Even though rabbits can find a lot of nutrition outside the house through a natural diet and can enrich their mental and teeth health by grazing on grass, they can catch infection through the parasites present in the environment. Even with natural food they can find outside, they still need supplementary food to be healthy.This then brings us to the topic of what food should be added to create a dwarf rabbit’s proper diet. Bunnies tend to eat for most of the day, and they tend to graze on grass or hay. Also, the digestive system of a rabbit is quite complex.To ensure that they are provided with a healthy, nutritious diet, you should give them fresh green vegetables, some small portions of fruits, and good-quality hay. You can also give your pet dwarf rabbit hay pellets to eat. Providing a proper diet to your pet dwarf rabbit can also reduce the chances of it suffering from any health problems.One of the diseases that is common in rabbits is cancer. Cancer usually develops in the reproductive tracts of both males and females. Apart from spaying or neutering which decreases the chances of this disease, if, unfortunately, the rabbit develops this illness or any other illness, it is best to get the proper treatment as soon as possible.In addition to these things, a pet dwarf rabbit also needs a good amount of exercise, a clean litter box, and loving treatment. These furry little creatures can really brighten up your life if treated and cared for properly.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked discovering how long dwarf rabbits live for, then why not take a look at what do rabbits eat in the wild or rabbit facts.
Rabbits are cute little cuddly creatures that make great pets.
