Interesting Facts About Bunnies

Domestic rabbits still display many characteristics similar to their wild relatives, making them fascinating companions for owners and pet-care providers alike. Fairfield Animal Hospital of Cypress, TX provides some interesting facts about this popular domestic pet.

Baby rabbits are known as kits; adult females are called doe and adult males are known as bucks (just like cats). Rabbits possess almost 360 degree vision, with only limited vision near their nose.

They’re Crepuscular

Rabbits are adorable hopping creatures that can be very enjoyable to watch as they hop around freely, yet require special care and consideration for their wellbeing.

Many people mistakenly believe that rabbits are nocturnal animals; this is simply not true. Instead, crepuscular rabbits tend to be most active at dawn and dusk as this is usually when their predators are sleeping or less active allowing them to feed more safely.

Crepuscularity is an instinctual behavior found among prey animals, such as deer. This evolutionary adaptation allows animals to make use of both daylight and darkness for hunting, gathering or foraging purposes.

Wild rabbits spend most of their days underground, emerging only at dawn and dusk to forage for food aboveground. Since these species cannot see well in bright light conditions, these times provide important opportunities for them to remain active.

Rabbits are unique animals because of their farsightedness; both eyes sit on either side of the head with only 30 degrees overlap between their fields of vision. Additionally, there’s often an invisible blind spot in front of their nose or under their chin that affects them greatly.

Although this could make their eyes more susceptible to injury, it also provides them with a broader field of vision. Although rabbits lack depth perception, their whiskers and noses help navigate their surroundings. Furthermore, bunnies have been observed sleeping with both eyes open in order to ward off potential predators while sleeping.

They’re Not Nocturnal

As much as you might like to believe otherwise, rabbits aren’t night creatures like cats – in fact they’re crepuscular – they prefer being active at dusk and dawn to avoid predators and regulate body temperature more efficiently. Rabbits also sleep more during the day to protect themselves from harsh sunlight exposure.

Your furry friend will spend much of his day napping peacefully in his cage – providing an ideal opportunity to install a pet camera!

Rabbits make wonderful pets when trained properly! Rabbits bond strongly with their human families, often learning their faces or scents over time; some even respond when their name is called!

To encourage bonding between you and your rabbit, try stroking along their back legs – this practice, known as trancing, was once recommended to make bunnies feel safe and secure; however, recent studies have found that these animals often show physiological responses similar to those who experience trauma.

Feed your bunny treats to foster closeness – but take care not to overdo it as rabbits are susceptible to obesity and overeating can have severe health repercussions for them.

Though many consider rabbits easier pets than dogs and cats, they still require plenty of care. You must train your bunny to use the litterbox regularly and your home must be bunny proofed; otherwise your rabbit may decide to sharpen his or her teeth on electrical wires, houseplants or furniture! To prevent this from happening, provide plenty of safe chew toys so your rabbit has something fun and safe to chew on instead.

They’re Social

People often are surprised to learn that rabbits aren’t solitary animals. Rabbits need plenty of room and friends to play with; plus toys and hay to chew. Caged rabbits can become anxious or even depressed over time.

Rabbits spend much of their time in the wild grazing and resting, often being found in grasslands or open paddocks; however, they have also been known to reside in swampy areas or sandy beaches. Their adaptability lies in their relatively simple needs: shelter from which they can burrow underground; plentiful sources of greenery to consume for nourishment and water for drinking and bathing purposes.

Rabbits may lack the same vocal capabilities of cats; they communicate using sounds such as oinking and honking instead. When frustrated, rabbits will thump the ground with their back feet in an aggressive display to show irritation or aggression. While rabbits typically remain calm and peaceful companions, if threatened in any way they may become aggressive and become quite hostile if their territory is threatened.

Rabbits can often be found rolling, chewing and playing affectionately together when playing. Rabbits may even form bonds with their owners by sitting alongside them as they watch TV or read.

They’re Fast Breeders

Rabbits are famously prolific breeders. One of the few animals capable of reproducing quickly after giving birth, rabbits can produce up to six litters annually with anywhere between three and twelve young rabbits in each.

These animals are known for their rapid movement, reaching speeds up to 18 mph in short bursts. They have the ability to clear 9-feet vertically, as well as being adept jumpers.

Rabbits may be agile creatures, but their agility comes at a cost: rabbits are easily startled in nature. When threatened, rabbits tend to flee quickly by hiding or running. Unfortunately, when this fails, predators can set traps to capture them or they starve or hypothermia may result in their death – with domestic rabbits typically living 10 years depending on breed and living conditions.

Wild rabbits are prey animals hunted by predators like foxes, coyotes, cats and dogs for food. Due to their short lives span, it is necessary for rabbits to reproduce rapidly in order to keep population numbers stable – an average lifespan for wild rabbits being two to three years.

Domestic rabbits need to be fed regularly due to their quick breeding cycle. This often leads to obesity in rabbits; to combat this problem, their intake of fatty foods must be closely monitored while adding plenty of fresh vegetables into their diet to balance things out.

As is true of most mammals, rabbits possess open-rooted teeth that require them to chew regularly in order to avoid dental problems. Rabbits are sensitive to pain and will yelp or bite if injured or stressed out; rabbits also make purring sounds similar to cats’ purrs when happy; they even display “binkying”.

They’re Not Carrot Eaters

Rabbits may appear small, cute, and adorable; however, they’re actually smart and strong animals. Not scaredy cats like some other domesticated species, they will fight back if threatened, while also adept at hiding illness or injury from predators. Unfortunately many rabbits purchased as Easter treats end up either abandoned outdoors or taken as Easter basket surprises only to later end up abandoned at shelters – this highlights why it’s so essential that people adopt instead of shop for pets.

Bunnies live in warrens – underground networks of tunnels with separate rooms where single female rabbits (called does) or males ( known as bucks) nest. Baby bunnies, known as kits, live within these warrens.

Bunnies get their name from their affinity for hopping around and eating grass, which they can do surprisingly well! But these furry creatures don’t tend to be carnivorous in nature. While root vegetables and some fruits such as carrots may make up part of their diet, too much sugar in carrots could cause digestive distress.

Rabbits have open-rooted teeth that need to be chewed regularly for optimal oral health and to reduce dental disease risk. Provide your rabbit with plenty of timothy hay and wooden toys as chew toys to keep their mouth healthy and protect it against potential problems like periodontitis.

Bunnies may appear quiet pets, but they do make noises that could indicate displeasure or intimidation of any sort. When distressed, bunnies make grunting noises or make small oinking sounds that may alert others of what’s bothering them or try to scare you off. Rabbits also bark at foxes or any animals they fear before whimpering if hurt or sick and crying when injured; it is therefore wise not to pick up injured rabbits as this may put your life in danger – always visit an animal rescue instead!