Alfie, a pet rabbit that belongs to Billie Laing, has exceeded the 12 year maximum life expectancy for a rabbit. A half Dutch and half Lionhead rabbit most commonly lives no longer than a little over eight years, but Alfie has outlived this lifespan by four years.
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.
Rabbits generally live for 5 to 8 years depending on their environment and breed, but they can live for as long as 12 years. If you decide to purchase a rabbit, make sure you are prepared to care for them that long.
Pet rabbits have a life expectancy of 8-12 years. This number will change depending on the breed of rabbit and the quality of care they receive. Wild rabbits have a much shorter life expectancy of only about 1-2 years.
Smaller rabbits are said to be seniors from about the age of seven or eight, while large bunnies age more quickly and are usually classified as a senior rabbit at around four to five years old.
Life expectancy for a house rabbit is between 8-14 years. But when do rabbits become seniors? There is not an exact age when it happens. However, sometime between the ages of 5-8 a rabbit becomes a senior.
The average lifespan of a rabbit kept in an outdoor hutch is 3-6 years. The average lifespan of an indoor house rabbit is 8-14 years.
You might think that your rabbit will remain healthy and active for its entire life. Over time, however, your rabbit will start to slow down and sleep more. This is just one symptom of old age.
But in reality, rabbits need it to rest and prepare for a night of activity. They sleep about 12 to 14 hours a day, according to the Ohio State University website. The most active times for rabbits are early morning, night and dusk. The rabbit is quietest during the day, usually between noon and four in the afternoon.
And it's no surprise, as rabbits are highly intelligent, inquisitive animals. Owning rabbits can be extremely rewarding.
Rabbits are often considered to be cuddly animals that are easily taken care of and therefore, the perfect pet for children.
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.
At what age are rabbits considered elderly? With an average life expectancy of around 10-12 years, rabbits are generally considered elderly when they reach 6-8 years old. Larger rabbits that have a shorter lifespan may even start to show signs of a senior rabbit as early as 4 years old.
Are your rabbit's hormones affecting their mood? Male rabbits can get frustrated and grumpy, high levels of testosterone can make them less tolerant to lots of situations. They may be defending their territory against what they perceive as a threat or trying to spray urine to mark their territory.
After the first year, each rabbit year is equal to 6 human years. So by the age of 10 years a rabbit is 75 in human age. To help you find your bunny's age in human years, we've created a simple rabbit age calculator as well as a chart that you can save for future references.
It's extremely important to contact your vet straight away if you notice your rabbit is eating less than normal. There are many different problems that could have caused your rabbit to stop eating, but some of the most common include dental disease, stress, and gut problems.
Having two bonded rabbits can provide them with years of joy and fun. First, you'll want to make sure that both rabbits are spayed/ neutered prior to bonding as it will make the process easier. While female – male bonding tends to be easier, you can certainly bond two females or two males together.
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.
Feeding. As with any rabbit, senior rabbits still require ad lib amounts of fresh hay, fresh water and fresh greens daily.
Home comforts for older rabbits
Keep things accessible: make sure everything they need is within easy reach, such as water, food, toys, hiding places and bedding material. Dotting a few of each of these throughout their enclosure means they won't have to go too far to find what they need.
Old Age (How Long Do Bunnies Live?)
While some rabbits tend to still be very active at this age, it isn't uncommon to notice your rabbit calming down quite a bit. At this age, rabbits tend to really trust their owners and they like to spend a good amount of time around people.