50 Fun Facts About Rabbits You Didn’t Know

Rabbits can jump 3 feet high and 10 feet long in a single leap!

They can run up to 45 mph (72 km/h) – faster than most dogs!

Rabbits have nearly 360-degree vision and can see behind them without turning their head.

They have a blind spot directly in front of their nose, which is why they tilt their heads to see objects close-up.

Rabbit ears can rotate 270 degrees independently to pinpoint sounds.

Their ears act as natural air conditioning – blood vessels help regulate body temperature.

Rabbits have 28 teeth that never stop growing (about 3-5 inches per year!).

They can’t vomit – their digestive system is one-way only!

A rabbit’s powerful hind legs can break their own spine if they kick while being held improperly.

They have 28,000 taste buds (humans have only 10,000!).

Rabbits are as smart as dogs and can be trained to do tricks, use litter boxes, and come when called. Learn more in our complete behavior guide!

They can recognize their names and respond to them.

Rabbits dream just like humans and can experience REM sleep!

They’re crepuscular – most active at dawn and dusk, not nocturnal as commonly believed.

A happy rabbit “binky” – a joyful jump-twist-kick combo that means they’re ecstatic!

Rabbits purr when happy – not with their throat but by gently grinding their teeth.

They have scent glands under their chin and rub objects to mark territory (called “chinning”).

Rabbits can be litter trained as easily as cats!

They’re very social and can die of loneliness – they’re happiest in bonded pairs.

Rabbits grieve when they lose a bonded partner and show signs of depression.

Rabbits produce two types of poop – hard pellets and soft cecotropes that they eat! Learn all about proper rabbit nutrition.

Eating their cecotropes is essential – they extract vital nutrients during the second pass.

A healthy rabbit produces 200-300 poop pellets per day!

They eat their body size in hay every day – that’s like a human eating 150 lbs of salad daily!

Rabbits can’t eat human “rabbit food” like carrots as a main diet – hay is 80% of what they need!

They have bacteria-filled cecum (like a second stomach) that ferments fibrous food.

Not eating for 12 hours is life-threatening for a rabbit – their digestive system must constantly move.

Rabbits are herbivores but in the wild eat a surprising variety – over 100 plant species!

Female rabbits can get pregnant within hours of giving birth – they have two uteruses!

One pair of rabbits can produce up to 90,000 descendants in 5 years if left unchecked!

Baby rabbits are called “kits” or “kittens” – not “bunnies”!

Kits are born blind, deaf, and hairless – completely helpless for first 2 weeks.

Well-cared-for indoor rabbits can live 10-12+ years – as long as many dogs!

The oldest recorded rabbit lived to be 18 years old!

Female rabbits (does) are usually more territorial than males (bucks).

There are over 50 recognized rabbit breeds worldwide! Check out our top 10 breeds for beginners.

The smallest breed (Netherland Dwarf) weighs just 2 lbs, while the largest (Flemish Giant) can exceed 20 lbs!

The longest rabbit ears ever recorded were 31.1 inches long (English Lop)!

Rabbits come in over 300 color variations!

Despite the name, Belgian Hares aren’t hares – they’re domestic rabbits!

Hares and rabbits are different species – hares are born with fur and open eyes, rabbits aren’t.

Wild rabbits live in underground warrens with complex tunnel systems.

Rabbits have been domesticated for over 1,500 years – originally by French monks!

They’re the 3rd most popular pet in the US and UK (after dogs and cats).

Ancient Egyptians saw rabbits as symbols of rebirth and fertility.

In China, the rabbit is one of the 12 zodiac animals representing luck and gentleness.

The “rabbit’s foot” good luck charm is an old superstition – sad fact: not lucky for the rabbit!

Easter bunnies come from German folklore about an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase.”

Rabbits sleep with their eyes open – a prey animal defense mechanism!

They can literally die of fright – their hearts can stop from extreme fear!