15 Interesting Facts about Rabbits
You may love your adorable bunny to bits, but we bet there are still some interesting facts about rabbits that you’re not aware of. So we’ve put together these cool and fascinating information about one of the country’s top pet picks. See how many of them you already know.
Interesting rabbit fact #1: Your bun’s ears are pretty fascinating
The ears are probably a rabbit’s most distinctive feature. But it’s not just the length that makes their ears part of the list of interesting facts about rabbits. Not only do those lugholes grow up to 25 centimeters long, but your bun can turn them by 180 degrees, letting him pinpoint the direction of approaching potential threats.
What’s more, these oversized organs of hearing help your pet cool down on a hot day. Rabbits don’t sweat. Instead, they release their body heat through other means. Their ears are one of those means. The blood vessels running through those extra-long appendages expand when your bun gets hot to dissipate the extra heat.
Interesting rabbit fact #2: Rabbits try their best not to show pain
Other animals prey on rabbits, so as much as possible, bunnies avoid showing signs of weaknesses. Being sick or in pain means a rabbit probably won’t move quickly enough to escape predators. To avoid calling the attention of those who prey on them, rabbits usually don’t display pain symptoms. That’s why it’s essential to observe your pet’s behavior because sometimes that’s where you’ll see indications of illness.
For example, rabbits who growl or struggle when picked up may be feeling off or nursing an injury.
Interesting rabbit fact #3: Rabbits are great athletes
Just look at your pet’s impressive back legs, and you’ll get an idea where they get their jumping and running prowess. With a body that’s built to evade predators in the wild, a rabbit can jump impressive heights and distances.
The highest rabbit jump on record is 3.26 feet high, and the farthest one reached almost ten feet.
Interesting rabbit fact #4: Bunnies can’t live on carrots
Thanks to a famous cartoon character, many people think that carrots are a bunny’s favorite food. But the truth is, carrots aren’t part of a rabbit’s natural diet as they don’t eat root veggies in the wild. Instead, buns in their natural habitat usually munch on greens, such as grasses and weeds.
Eating too many carrots can even give your pet an upset stomach. You can still feed him some carrots, just don’t overdo it.
Interesting rabbit fact #5: Rabbits purr
Because they’re predatory animals, rabbits don’t want to call attention to themselves. That’s why they tend to be quiet creatures. But they can also make a lot of sounds. Long-time rabbit parents can usually tell what their pet’s vocalizations mean.
One fascinating noise that rabbits make is purring. Yes, purring. It doesn’t resemble a cat’s purr but is more like the sound of teeth chattering or light chomping. Bun parents swear this is the sweetest noise they’ve heard, especially since it usually means that their pet is happy and contented.
Interesting rabbit fact #6: Rabbits binky when they’re super-happy
What’s a rabbit binky, you may ask? Well, this delightful sight is hard to miss. When your pet is extremely happy, he may suddenly hop and flick his head and feet in midair. The gesture looks akin to a happy person jumping and clicking their heels together. This adorable behavior is your pet’s expression of extreme joy and is a sight to behold.
Interesting rabbit fact #7: Bunnies can see almost 360 degrees
Try sneaking up on your pet. Chances are you won’t succeed. Rabbits eyes are positioned at the sides of their heads, which let them see almost all the way around them. This means that bunnies can spot anyone coming at them from behind or from all sides without turning their heads.
They do have a blind spot, however. It’s ironic, but they can’t see what’s directly in front of their faces.
Interesting rabbit fact #8: Rabbits can be aggressive
Yes, those fluffy and cuddly creatures do turn nasty at times. As gentle as they are, buns can show aggressive behaviors such as growling, biting, or thumping their feet. But they’re not being mean just for the heck of it. Rabbits usually turn aggressive because of fear, frustration, or the need to defend their young or their territory.
Illness or pain can also make your bunny act up. But because rabbits don’t typically display signs of weakness, you may not be able to tell that your pet is sick or injured.
Interesting rabbit fact #9: Buns eat their poop
No, your pet isn’t being gross, and it’s not the fecal pellets you see on their litter box that rabbits usually consume. Rather, it’s the special poop they excrete at night that they eat. Called cecotropes, these night droppings are softer and stickier than the fecal material lying on the bottom of their cage.
Grass and hay, which rabbits typically eat, aren’t that easy to digest. Even after going through their digestive system, the fibrous materials still have plenty of nutrients. So your pet eats his poop to digest it a second time and extract the proteins, fibers, and other nutrients that remain in the night feces.
The round, hard droppings you see are the result of the second round of elimination.
Interesting rabbit fact #10: A rabbit’s teeth keep on growing
A rabbit’s teeth have open roots. As a result, the teeth don’t stop growing. Which can actually be a good thing. In the wild, a rabbit’s diet is fibrous in nature, consisting mainly of hay, wildflowers, tree barks, and other hard materials that need to be thoroughly chewed. If a rabbit’s teeth don’t keep on growing, they will wear down due to all that gnawing, making it difficult for bunnies to continue eating a fiber-filled diet.
Their continually growing teeth aren’t too much of a problem for rabbits in the wild since they have unlimited access to the food that prevents their teeth from getting too long. Pet buns don’t get to munch on fibrous plant material, so you need to provide them a continuous supply of grass and hay to wear down their teeth constantly.
Interesting rabbit fact #11: Buns need a lot of exercise
Whether they live indoors or outdoors, rabbits should have enough space to exercise. If they can dig, run, jump, stand up, and stretch out, they’ll be living the way they do in the wild.
Young rabbits who don’t get enough exercise might not be able to build up their bodies. Consequently, they may become susceptible to broken bones as adults.
Interesting rabbit fact #12: Rabbits live a long life
Maybe because buns look fragile, people tend to think they have a short life span. The truth is, rabbits can live for about 10-12 years. In fact, one bun on record lived to a ripe old age of 17 years.
With proper care and the right environment, there’s no reason why your pet can’t be your long-time companion.
Interesting rabbit fact #13: Bunnies move fast
Their strong back legs and long feet enable rabbits to maneuver quickly to evade their predators. They’ve been known to move at speeds close to 50 mph in short bursts. Add that to their ability to leap almost four feet straight up, and you can imagine how difficult it is to catch an escaped bun. So make sure that your rabbit’s enclosure is high enough to keep your pet in.
Interesting rabbit fact #14: Rabbits love sweets
It may surprise you to discover that your pet has a sweet tooth. But yes, some buns love eating sweet stuff. However, don’t be tempted to share your treats with your rabbit, as some human food may be toxic to bunnies.
Fruits can usually satisfy your pet’s craving for sweets. Some healthy options include bananas, strawberries, and apples (minus the seeds).
Interesting rabbit fact #15: Baby rabbits are called kittens
If you’re unaware of that, you’re not alone. A lot of people think that baby rabbits are called bunnies. Well, they’re not totally wrong because bunny is the unofficial name for baby rabbits, while kitten, or kit, is the technical term.
There you have it, the interesting and fun facts about rabbits. We hope you enjoyed learning new things about your wonderful pet.
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