You’re all familiar with rabbits, right? Indeed, rabbits are mammals with four legs and thick fur covering their entire bodies. Rabbits are divided into two types: pet rabbits and meat rabbits. Meat rabbits usually have larger bodies compared to pet rabbits.
Rabbits come in a wide variety, ranging from local breeds to those originating from abroad. Each rabbit breed comes with a different price tag. Here are some popular rabbit breeds that are commonly kept as pets.
Popular Rabbit Breeds for Petting
To help you choose the most suitable rabbit species for your petting needs, let’s explore the following rabbit breeds.
1. Angora Rabbit
Originating from Turkey, the Angora rabbit is particularly known for its valuable fur. While in Indonesia, Angora rabbits are typically kept as pets, in European countries, the Angora rabbit’s fur is utilized to produce wool.
Angora rabbits are characterized by thick and soft fur. Their ears and legs often have fur in different colors, such as white, brown, gray, and black.
2. Rex Rabbit Breeds
Hailing from Argentina, the Rex rabbit, much like the Flemish breed, is bred for both meat and fur. Rex rabbit fur is commonly used as material for jackets.
Rex rabbits come in various fur colors, including white rex, black rex, and dalmatian rex. Weighing only around 1-3 kg, these rabbits are not suitable for meat consumption.
3. Himalayan Rabbit
This rabbit breed is renowned for its distinctive color pattern, with a white base and different colors on the nose, tail, ears, and legs. One unique feature of the Himalayan rabbit is its red-colored eyes.
Himalayan rabbits are challenging to breed, and a single birthing may yield only 2-6 babies. This rarity contributes to the relatively high price of Himalayan rabbits.
4. Dutch Rabbit
As the name suggests, the Dutch rabbit originates from the Netherlands. Recognizable by its short and varied fur, Dutch rabbits are highly popular in Indonesia, both among breeders and pet lovers. Breeders favor Dutch rabbits because they can give birth to around 7-8 offspring.
5. Lop Rabbit Breeds
Unlike other rabbits with upright ears, the Lop rabbit stands out due to its ears that hang from the top of its head to its cheeks, resembling a dog’s ears.
Lop rabbits have unique fur, primarily white with black markings. Interestingly, as Lop rabbits age, their value increases, reaching up to 4 million Rupiah.
6. Satin Rabbit
Originating from the United States, Satin rabbits are commonly kept as pets, although some people also consume them. Satin rabbits are unique because they are usually larger than males, with a weight ranging from 3.8 to 5 kg. Their docile and obedient nature makes Satin rabbits an excellent choice for petting.
7. Dwarf Rabbit
The Dwarf rabbit is characterized by its small stature, rounded head, small ears, and short neck. Due to frequent crossbreeding with various rabbit breeds, Dwarf rabbits exhibit a wide range of colors. Despite the numerous color variations, white with red eyes remains the most sought-after variation for petting.
8. Holland Hop Rabbit
This rabbit breeds, originating from the Netherlands, is a popular show rabbit. Officially recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1979, Holland Hop rabbits are mini-sized, weighing approximately 1 kg. Despite their cute appearance, these rabbits are sensitive and may not enjoy extended confinement or being held too tightly.
9. Jersey Wooly Rabbit
This breed is a cross between the French Angora and Netherland Dwarf rabbits. Known for its thick, coat-like fur, the Jersey Wooly was introduced to the ARBA in 1984 and has since become one of the most showcased rabbit breeds in the United States. Their friendly personality makes them calm and easy to handle, but attention to fur maintenance is essential due to the risk of mites.
These are 15 rabbit breeds that you can consider as pets. Once you decide to adopt a rabbit, make sure you have all the necessary supplies. You can find everything you need for your rabbit on Gen’s Pet Shop. So, which rabbit breed are you interested in adopting?
