Many of us are enamored with the idea of keeping rabbits as pets. Of course, you have to ensure that your pet is taken care of, completely – food, drink, exercise, etc. This entails that you have to know all about rabbits, majorly including their lifespan as well.
The average life span of a rabbit is between 7 – 12 years. However, it can vary from one specimen to another; some breeds survive for as long as 15 years, while others live for just 5 years.
Also, the life expectancy of rabbits differs, based on the food availability, predators, diseases, and how they survive in the provided environment. For example, rabbits of the same breed may live longer in captivity than in a wild habitat.
Wild Rabbit Life Span
The survival rate of wild rabbits is very low in comparison to pet rabbits. Though the average life span for wild rabbits is 6 – 7 years, most of them hardly live for one year, mainly because of the predator threats in the wild. They also have to compete for food and shelter among themselves, and with those that share the common diet and habitat.
Pet Rabbit Life Span
It is understandable that domestic rabbits life span is longer than those rabbits surviving in the wild. The reason behind this is quite obvious; favorable environmental conditions, no predators, less competition for food, and special attention when sick. Based on the breed, pet rabbits may live for 8 – 12 years, provided that special care is given to them.
Dwarf Rabbit Life Span
Dwarf rabbits are some of the most preferred pets, next to dogs and cats. There are several species of small rabbits, which are classified under the dwarf variety. Generally, they have a long life span. For example, the Netherlands dwarf rabbits usually survive for more than 8 years.
Giant Rabbit Life Span
On a general note, the larger rabbit species have a shorter lifespan than the dwarf or smaller species. Hence, contrary to the dwarf breeds that usually live for more than 8 years, giant rabbits survive hardly for 5 – 6 years. They are dull and less cheerful in comparison to the dwarf breeds.
Rex Rabbit Life Span
Rex rabbit breeds are available in various colors, such as amber, blue, chocolate, cinnamon, and black. Rex rabbits life span is quite short, about 5 – 6 years. Nevertheless, neutering these pets can lengthen the life expectancy to about 8 – 11 years.
Himalayan Rabbit Life Span
The life span of Himalayan rabbits is more than 8 years. They are small, weighing about 2 kilograms and have less fur. This type of rabbit breed is popular for its good temperament and minimal grooming requirements.
New Zealand Rabbit Life Span
On an average, New Zealand rabbits live for about 5 – 7 years. If you are looking for large, white bunnies, then New Zealand rabbits are the perfect choice. These house rabbits can even weigh up to 4 – 5 kilograms.
Lop Eared Rabbit Life Span
Lop eared rabbits are wonderful as pets and have a better temperament than the dwarf breeds. Dwarf and mini lop rabbits have a life span of 9 – 10 years. On the contrary, larger breeds of lop eared rabbits usually survive for 5 – 6 years. The Holland lop rabbits life span is about 5 – 7 years. Similar to other breeds, a lop rabbit can even survive for 10 years after undergoing the neutering procedure.
Lionhead Rabbits Life Span
The average life span for lionhead rabbits is 7 – 9 years. The coat color of lionhead rabbits can vary. At maturity, these rabbits weigh about 1.7 kilograms. They are friendly and make good pets for kids.
Polish Rabbit Life Span
Polish rabbit breeds are small in size and have a life span of about 8 – 10 years. Available in a wide variety of coat colors, this dwarf rabbit variety have less fur and don’t face any specific health problem.
In a nutshell, wild rabbits live for a shorter duration than pet rabbits, and smaller breeds have a longer life span than larger ones. Also, it is to be borne in mind that the neutered or sprayed rabbits survive longer than others
In case, you are not interested in increasing the population of your pet rabbit, consider neutering it in the early stages. Take proper care of your pet rabbit and help it live to the fullest!