Because of a rabbit's rapid growth in the first year, they are considered about 12 human years when the rabbit is 4 months old. By the time the rabbit is 1 year old, they are roughly equivalent to 20 human years. After which, every rabbit year is equivalent to approximately 6 human years.
A rabbit's lifespan is influenced by breed, living conditions and healthcare but the average lifespan is likely to be around 8 to 9 years. It can be helpful to think of one year in a rabbit's life as ten years in a human's life, so an 8 year old rabbit could be thought of as approximately 80 years old in human terms.
The average rabbit is considered elderly as they reach around 7 or 8 years. But every rabbit is individual and will start showing signs of ageing at different times. Some larger breeds have shorter lifespans and age more quickly. They're considered old when they're only 4 or 5, sometimes younger!
Rabbits, just like other domesticated animals, have an average lifespan which can help an owner keep their bunny in optimum health in every stage of life. Unlike their wild relatives, who live for an average of one to two years, domesticated rabbits can live between eight to 12 years.
Life expectancy for a house rabbit is between 8-14 years.
The oldest rabbit ever recorded was an Australian rabbit named Flopsy, who lived to be 18 years, 10 months, and 3 weeks old.
The female rabbit is called a doe, giving birth is called kindling and baby rabbits are called kittens.
Most of the time I consider rabbits to be elderly when they reach about 6 years old, but many rabbits won't show signs of aging until they are 8+ years. In general, larger rabbits will show signs of age earlier than smaller rabbits, but it always varies based on the individual rabbit.
Only 20 percent to 25 percent live for a year after birth. That means many rabbits never produce offspring of their own.
Rabbits Have Baby Teeth & Permanent Teeth – Just Like Us!
Just like humans, rabbits are diphyodonts, meaning they have two sets of successive teeth. Human children typically do not lose their first teeth until around six years of age, while rabbit babies lose their primary teeth when they are a few months old.
Adults have settled in their rabbit personalities and are less likely to overtake their owners with their antics. Once a bunny reaches their senior years (usually around 7-8 years), they may mellow out further.
Rabbits tend to nap more as they get older. You may notice that your rabbit takes longer naps or naps more often. This is totally normal and just part of getting old. Do make sure, though, that you have a nice soft thick bed or pillow for your rabbit to lie on.
Feeding. As with any rabbit, senior rabbits still require ad lib amounts of fresh hay, fresh water and fresh greens daily.
Urinary incontinence is most common in middle-aged rabbits (3-5 years old). And although it mainly affects the urinary and kidneys systems, the rabbit may also have skin burns and irritation around the genital areas due to urine leakage.
Rabbits enjoy being around people and can usually recognise their owners by sight and sound.
Rabbits might nudge, push, or toss things around as a form of play, to solicit attention from you, or as a territorial behavior meaning “mine!” or “get out of the way!” Rabbits can be very territorial and particular.
Bunnies are super-soft, and many will love cuddling with you as much as you love cuddling with them. Once a bunny is comfortable in their new home, they may claim you as their own by rubbing their chin on you to mark their territory. They might even groom you with little bunny licks to show you love!
Rabbits should have a daily diet of mostly hay, a smaller amount of fresh vegetables, and a limited number of pellets. Hay is the most important part of a rabbit's daily intake. Unlimited, high-quality grass hay, such as Timothy, orchard or brome, should make up the bulk of a rabbit's diet.
If the nest has been disturbed, the caller should: Remove injured/dead rabbits. Refer injured rabbits to the Helpline. Keep dogs and cats inside until the rabbits have left the nest on their own.