Rabbit facts: surprising things about rabbits

10 fun facts about rabbits

If you only read one section, make it this one.

1. They are not rodents. Rabbits and hares have their own family, the Leporidae.
2. They have four front teeth on top. A tiny second pair, called peg teeth, sits just behind the main upper pair.
3. Their teeth never stop growing. Only chewing hay and grass wears them down.
4. They eat for most of the day. About 70% of a rabbit's waking time is spent eating, mostly between 5pm and midnight.
5. They eat some of their droppings. Soft, shiny caecotrophs are eaten straight from the bottom for their nutrients.
6. They jump for joy. A binky is a leap with all four feet off the ground and a twist in the air.
7. They are dawn and dusk animals. The word for it is crepuscular.
8. They live in groups. Wild rabbits live in stable groups of 2 to 10.
9. They purr with their teeth. Soft, quiet tooth grinding means a contented rabbit.
10. The oldest rabbit lived to nearly 19. Flopsy, from Australia, reached 18 years and 10 months.

Are rabbits rodents?

No. Rabbits, hares and cottontails make up the family Leporidae, separate from rodents like rats, mice, hamsters and guinea pigs. The MSD Veterinary Manual explains the clearest difference: rabbits have two pairs of upper incisors, the main pair plus small peg teeth just behind, and one lower pair. Every domestic rabbit breed, from the tiniest dwarf to the biggest giant, comes from one wild species, the European rabbit.

Rabbit eating and teeth facts

• Grazing is their job. The Scottish Government's rabbit welfare guidance says rabbits spend about 70% of their waking time eating, mostly from 5pm to midnight.
• Hay is the main meal. The RSPCA says hay and grass should be about 85% of the diet, leafy greens 10% and nuggets just 5%.
• A bundle a day. A rabbit needs a bundle of hay at least as big as itself every day.
• Teeth grow for life. If a rabbit doesn't chew enough fibre, the teeth overgrow and can cut the tongue and cheeks.
• Two kinds of droppings. Hard, round pellets are waste. Soft caecotrophs are eaten for the nutrients they hold.
• Carrots are not a main food. The RSPCA says carrots are high in sugar, and the leafy tops are a better choice.
• Fruit seeds and stones are poisonous. Remove pips and stones before offering any fruit as a treat.

Our rabbit diet guide covers exact amounts, and our safe food list shows which foods are safe.

Rabbit body facts

• Huge size range. Adults weigh 1 to 10 kg (2 to 22 lb). A Netherland Dwarf is under 1 kg (2.2 lb), and the American Rabbit Breeders Association says Flemish Giants often top 20 lb (9 kg).
• They run hot. A rabbit's normal temperature is 39.4 to 40°C (103 to 104°F), warmer than ours.
• Heat is more dangerous than cold. MSD's vets warn that long spells above 27°C (80°F) can make rabbits ill.
• Fragile backs. PDSA warns that a rabbit's back is fragile and can break if it is dropped.
• They moult every few months. Expect a blizzard of fur, and brush more often while it lasts.
• Hidden pain. As prey animals, rabbits hide pain and illness, so small changes in eating or droppings matter.
• Scent glands under the chin. Rabbits rub their chins on things to mark them as theirs.
• Over 500 looks. The British Rabbit Council recognises more than 500 colour and pattern varieties.

Rabbit behaviour facts

Rabbits talk all day with their bodies. These meanings come from the RSPCA's guide to rabbit behaviour, and our page on rabbit body language explains more.

Rabbits are social animals

• They need a friend. The RSPCA says rabbits should not live alone unless a vet advises it, yet 42% of UK pet rabbits lived alone in 2024.
• Bonded pairs groom each other and lie side by side, the clearest sign of a close bond.
• They enjoy people on their own terms. Most rabbits dislike being picked up and prefer to come to you on the floor.
• They can learn routines. Many rabbits learn to use a litter tray; our guide to litter training a rabbit shows how.

Baby rabbit facts

• Short pregnancy. Gestation lasts 28 to 34 days.
• Litters by size. Dwarf breeds have 2 to 4 babies, medium breeds 4 to 6 and large breeds 6 to 10.
• Back-to-back litters. The RSPCA says a doe can get pregnant again within hours of giving birth.
• Born helpless. Wild baby rabbits are born blind and without fur, and stay in the burrow until about 3 weeks old.
• Brief visits. The mother comes back to the nest once a day to feed them, so a nest left alone is usually not abandoned.
• Weaned at 6 to 8 weeks. Kits are weaned at 42 to 56 days.
• Grown up fast. Small breeds reach puberty at about 4 to 5 months, so neutering timing matters.
• Names. Babies are kits or kittens, males are bucks and females are does.

Rabbits vs hares: what is the difference?

Facts from the RSPCA's guide to wild rabbits and hares. Despite the name, the Belgian Hare is a domestic rabbit breed.

Rabbit lifespan facts

• Pets live 8 to 12 years. That is the RSPCA's figure, and some live well into their teens.
• Wild rabbits live 1 to 2 years on average, says the Scottish SPCA.
• Small often outlives big. The Rabbit Welfare Association gives 12 to 13 years for small breeds and 4 to 7 for giants.
• The record is 18 years and 10 months, held by Flopsy, who died in 1983, according to Guinness World Records as reported by Rabbit.org.
• Spaying saves lives. The Rabbit Welfare Association says up to 85% of unspayed females develop reproductive cancers by age 5.

Read more in how long rabbits live, see which breeds are which in rabbit breeds, types and colours, and if you are thinking of keeping some, start with rabbits as pets and our complete rabbit care guide.