If you are looking at getting a rabbit as a pet, you may wonder how long they live for. Many years ago, there was a myth that rabbits only lived a year or two. This is not the case.
Thanks to changes in lifestyle, veterinary care, and the right stimulation, a rabbit can live a long time. Let's give you some information, but also how to help your rabbit live longer.
How Long Do Pet Rabbits Live?
Although outdoor and wild pet rabbits have a low life span because they encounter harmful conditions, a pet rabbit raised at home can live up to 10 years or even 12 years in some cases.
Rabbits that are raised outdoors are usually expected to live between 2 and 3 years. But there have been instances of rabbits living much longer. The oldest recorded domestic rabbit lived 17 years and the oldest domesticated wild rabbits lived to 18 years and 10 months.
How Can I Make My Rabbit Live Longer?
If you are looking after your rabbit properly you will guarantee them a long and healthy life. But there are a wide variety of factors that you need to consider. These include the following:
- A high-fibre diet, full of quality loose hay, leafy greens and minimal pellets.
- Keeping their stress levels down.
- Giving them plenty of space for exercise.
- Give them lots of love and care.
- Provide them with adequate mental stimulation.
- Avoid hot environments and extreme changes in temperature as rabbits are very sensitive to this.
Choosing Long-Living Breeds
There are certain breeds of pet rabbits that are known to live longer than others. If you are looking for a rabbit to live into double digits, miniature breeds such as Mini Lops, and Dwarf rabbits are an ideal choice. Larger breeds such as Flemish Giants and French Lops, as a rule, won't live as long.
Common Causes of Death in Rabbits
For rabbits kept outside, their biggest threat are predators, such as hawks or owls. If your rabbit likes to run freely around the garden, you need to keep a close eye on them in case large birds sweep down and grab them. The other main cause of death in rabbits is illness.
When they're not given the right diet or aren't given enough space, they can develop a wide variety of illnesses including obesity, hairballs, and myxomatosis. The longer a rabbit lives, the likelier they will get a disease.
Rabbits are a duty that you need to be committed to. Rabbits need to be kept inside as they will have a better quality of life. As a rule, indoor rabbits will live 5 times longer than outdoor rabbits.
If you take care of them properly, a pet rabbit can be a part of your life between 10 and 12 years, but the right lifestyle and attitude to caring for them could mean they may live much longer and can live up to 15 years old. The lesson is simple: if you look after them properly, they will have a long and fulfilling life.