Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
The rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is the European rabbit, the wild ancestor of domestic pet, show, meat, laboratory, and fiber breeds kept around the world. Rabbits are lagomorphs, not rodents, with continuously growing incisors, a high-fiber hindgut, and the habit of eating soft cecotropes to recover nutrients. Wild European rabbits live in social warrens and have shaped many landscapes where they are native, while introduced populations have become serious pests in some regions. Domestic rabbits range from tiny dwarf breeds to large commercial types, but their basic digestive and behavioral needs remain the same.
Good rabbit keeping starts with hay as the staple food, room to move, safe chewing material, and housing that protects from heat, damp, and predators. Many pet rabbits live indoors and can be litter trained; outdoor hutches alone rarely provide enough exercise or social contact. Nail trimming, coat care in long-haired breeds, and dental monitoring are routine. Spaying or neutering is common for companion rabbits and helps prevent unwanted litters and some health problems. Vaccination against rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis may be recommended or required depending on the country.
