What breed of rabbit lives the longest? From experience, the American Rabbit is the breed that lives the longest. Even as a rare breed, the American rabbit can live for up to 12 years.
Lionhead breed and Himalayan rabbits also last very long, living up to 7 to 9 years old. As someone who loves his rabbits, you’re bound to get attached to them and will probably want your pet rabbit to be around you for a long time.
Therefore, it’s necessary to know several rabbit breeds and their longevity status in terms of their age.
This will make you put some effort into going for a rabbit breed with a considerable chance of being around for the longest time possible.
We will quickly look at the different popular rabbit breeds as well as their lifespan, so you will know which one to go for.
What Breed Of Rabbit Lives The Longest?
Rabbits come in several breeds. According to the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA):
There are officially about 50 unique recognize breeds of rabbits as of 2020, with Lionhead and the Argente Brun being the most recently recognized breeds.
And the British Rabbit Council recognizes over 50 rabbit breeds.
Now, among all the recognized breeds of rabbits globally, the American rabbit breeds have proven to live the longest as they can live up to 12 years.
Other breeds like the Netherland dwarf, dwarf lop, Argente Rabbits, Cinnamon, etc., also stays for a long time, with their lifespan ranging from 7 to 12 years.
Now, let’s look at other popular rabbit breeds and their lifespan:
Popular Rabbit Breeds and their Lifespan
The purpose of this topic is to give you a complete rundown of the top list of the longest living rabbit breeds.
This will enable you to choose the pet rabbit you want to keep as a company for as long as possible. Below are the seven longest living breeds;
1. Himalayan Rabbits
This breed doesn’t possess dwarf genetics, yet it is the smallest rabbit breed you will ever see. Its origin is bizarre.
For instance, contrary to other small rabbit breeds, the Himalayan possess a withdrawn, submissive nature, which makes them predisposed to healthy living in their lifetime.
If you happen to spray or neuter this breed and give them good exercise and food, they are bound to live at least 10 years or older.
2. Jersey Wooly Rabbits
This breed is a combination of different dwarf breeds mixed with Angoras and Chinchillas.
It exhibits all the traits of a rabbit breed with longevity. They possess a lovely and tender nature, which makes them easy to nurture.
Jersey Wooly is capable of living as long as their fellow dwarf breeds, which can be between 8 to 12 years old, as long as it is appropriately nurtured, fed, cared for, and is in a healthy state.
3. Lionhead Rabbits
This breed is a new discovery. It is made up of a cross between an unfamiliar bearded rabbit from Belgium and a wide range of smaller breeds, including the Netherland Dwarf.
Lynn M. Stone, in her book “Rabbit Breeds: The Pocket Guide to 49 Essential Breeds,” quotes their “generally winning temperament and adaptable nature” as the main reason behind their fame.
Aside from other striking features of the Lionhead breeds, the above features on quote alone can always inspire their longevity and span, ranging between 8 to 12 years.
4. Cinnamon Rabbits
These breeds are naturally kind type breed and easy-going. They are so receptive to care, which makes it easy for their owners.
This nature has seen them earn a longer life span that ranges between 10 to 12 years.
5. Holland Lop Rabbits
This is also a small rabbit breed that can be recognized by its linebacker-like builds. They are widely regarded as one of the best three popular rabbit breeds in the U.S.
They are little in size and simple to nurture and are lovely and tender pets known for their high-spirited natures.
When properly taken care of, they are capable of living almost 12 years old. But their average age shouldn’t be anything less than 8 years old.
6. Mini Rex Rabbits
The Mini Rex Breed has an astonishingly plush fur-appealing nature, and they all originate from similar stock: one pair of dwarf Rex Rabbits won in a 1986 raffle.
They are not more than five pounds, as they are an amazingly renowned low-maintenance rabbit breed, famous for their lovely and humble natures. With due care, these breeds can have a longevity of 8 to 12 years.
7. American Fuzzy Lop Rabbits
This particular rabbit breed is a domesticated pet rabbit. It is a lovely creature to have around as a pet. It is a pet that loves to be pampered and cared for.
It is lovely in nature, which is the one feature that makes it appealing to its owners. It has a life span of 10 to 12 years.
8. Netherland Dwarf Rabbits
Despite their dwarf nature, the Netherland Dwarf breeds are strangely so powerful and aggressive. However, no matter how aggressive they may prove to be, they are not large enough to destroy themselves or others.
Most times, their agilities or strong tempers are acceptable by their owners since it is one of the three most renowned rabbit breeds that you can currently see.
When properly taken care of, the Netherland Dwarf is capable of longer between the ages of 7 to 12.
9. Polish Rabbits
These breeds can sometimes be mistaken for the Netherland Dwarf breeds. This is because they are both smallish and have perky ears. They are compact rabbits that can be seen in different colors.
However, the compatibility ends there because they possess contrasting genetic heritage; for instance, the Polish breed is much more submissive and humbler than the hostile and arrogant Netherland Dwarf.
The Polish breed can live as long as 8 to 12 years when properly bred and cared for.
10. Argente Rabbits
There are three fundamental kinds of Argente rabbits: Brun, Crème, and de Champagne). They are known as French show rabbits.
They belong among the oldest group of rabbit breeds. As far as their longevity are concerned, they have a life span of 8 to 10 years.
11. American Sable Rabbits
These are one of the best breeds you can ever have as pets. They are so lovely are humble that you can carry them along with you wherever you go, coupled with the fact they look so attractive.
However, the sad news is that they are commonly reared for commercial purposes or usage. Despite that, they still have a long life span of 8 to 10 years.
What Breed Of Rabbit Lives The Shortest?
When it comes to a rabbit’s lifespan, it is generally believed that the larger a rabbit is, the shorter lifespan it’ll have.
In other words, giant rabbit breeds have the shortest lifespan, as they can live between 5 to 6 years tops. In this case, the Flemish Giant rabbit is considered to have the shortest lifespan.
The Flemish giant breed is the largest bunny, averaging 14 pounds weight. It’s also worth noting that the heaviest Flemish Giant can weigh up to 22 pounds.
Final Thoughts
Having gone through the above article on the breeds of rabbit that lives the longest, we believe we have briefly given you a brief hint of what breed you need as a pet that will be around you for a more extended period.
However, whichever one you chose amongst them as your pet, you also have a big role to play in ensuring its longevity.
You can do this when you spray them or have them neutered, as well as paying close attention to them in terms of their nutrition and exercise. With this, you are sure to spend as many years together as possible.
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