Who wants to know boring facts about rabbits? We do not!
Here are some fun little known facts that are a bit more interesting than the usual ‘biggest rabbit’ and ‘longest ears’ kind of thing!
Rabbits hate baths (and don’t need them)
Ok, some of you may know a pet rabbit who doesn’t mind taking a bath or shower (even with you!), but rabbits generally don’t like baths and should never be given one. Their fur takes a long time to dry, so they could catch a cold while drying, and wet fur can attract parasites. Rabbits like to spend much of their day grooming themselves and this, along with a little human help in the form of brushing, is usually all they need to keep themselves clean and tidy.
Rabbits’ claws do not retract.
Unlike cat claws that extend to catch prey, snag a toy, and scratch your favorite couch, rabbit claws extend permanently. They need them for traction when walking, so never declaw your rabbit. It is a very painful procedure and also makes it difficult for them to walk on smooth surfaces.
bunnies like chocolate
The bunnies have a sweet tooth and will be happy to eat chocolate, sweets and cookies. That’s not to say you should give them to your bun. They have no nutritional value and have no place in your diet! Scones also love vegetables and fruits that are high in natural sugars like carrots and apples, but at least they’re good for them in moderation.
Rabbits can sleep with their eyes open.
If you’ve ever wondered why your bun sits in his cage and seems to stare at you with wide eyes, it may be because he’s asleep. The telltale sign is his nose. If he’s shaking, he’s still awake, but if he’s still, then he’s catching some Zs.
Rabbits love to try new things.
Rabbits have more than 17,000 taste buds in their mouths. Compare that to humans who have around 10,000. Your muffin loves to try new things and in the wild this comes in handy as they meet their daily nutrient needs by taking a bite here and there from many plants. You can satisfy your bunny’s refined palate by offering him a wide variety of vegetables, plants, and fruits to eat alongside his hay.
Rabbits really do breed well, rabbits!
Female bunnies can have a litter every month. Let’s say only one mother rabbit starts out and has a litter every month and three of them are female babies. She and her babies will have the same (3 girls, 12 times a year) as will her offspring. After three years there will be more than 50,000 rabbits and after four years, just one year later, there will be 1.8 million… scary stuff!
Granted, this example was kind of funny because the conditions wouldn’t always be perfect (babies would die, etc), but it does show what could potentially happen.
We hope you’ve enjoyed them and they help you understand a little more about your precious, intriguing and fabulous bunny.