10 facts about rabbits – Foundation for Animal Welfare in Germany
- The oldest rabbit was 18 years old: «Flopsy» was originally a wild rabbit. In the care of his owner, he lived to be 18 years and 10 months, making it into the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest rabbit.
- Rabbits can independently move their ears in all directions. The rabbit can perceive 360 degrees of its surroundings with its ears – without turning its head.
- Rabbits can’t throw up: The smooth muscle of the esophagus allows movement in only one direction. Therefore, a balanced diet is extremely important for the animal.
- Rabbits can be housetrained: There are a few simple tricks for this. Since rabbits like to do their business in different corners, the owners should set up several boxes accordingly.
- Rabbits can jump high: In June 1997, «Mimrelund’s Tösen» from Denmark jumped 99.5 cm in the air and made it into the Guinness Book of Records.
- Rabbits can die of fear: In the wild, rabbits are prey. That explains her frightful nature. Loud noises, sudden violent movements can trigger extreme fear in the animal and result in a fatal heart attack.
- Rabbit teeth are constantly growing back: It is the incisors and molars that grow back throughout life; the incisors grow up to 1.5-1.8 mm per week. The abrasion of the teeth takes place through a sufficient number of grinding movements when crushing the feed. Suitable feed such as grass and hay guarantees sufficient grinding movements.
- Rabbits can reproduce from the age of 4-6 months. In larger breeds, sexual maturity sets in later. Owners who want to avoid offspring in the rabbit hutch should have the animals neutered at an early stage.
- Rabbits are very social comrades: They groom each other, eat together and like to lie next to each other.