Rabbits do not only eat carrots, groom themselves like cats, and can die from fear.
These fluffy creatures are among the most popular pets in the world, with a population exceeding 700 million individuals. But what do we know about them besides their fertility and love for carrots?
1. Rabbits can rotate their ears 180 degrees, which helps them accurately determine the source of sound. Their ears also play an important role in thermoregulation, as the large surface area of the ears is used to dissipate excess heat.
2. Rabbit teeth grow throughout their lives, so it is important for them to eat foods that help naturally wear down their teeth. Otherwise, overly long teeth can injure the pet's mouth.
3. Carrots are not a staple food for rabbits. In fact, they contain a lot of sugar, and they should only be given to rabbits on rare occasions. Their main diet consists of hay and grass.
4. Rabbits are very fast: they can reach speeds of up to 48 km/h, jump 2.7 meters in length, and nearly 1 meter in height.
5. Not all rabbits are small! For example, giant Flemish rabbits can grow up to 70 cm in length and weigh an average of 7 kg. They have a calm temperament, which makes them popular pets.
6. Rabbits groom themselves just like cats: throughout the day, they lick their fur and ears several times to maintain cleanliness.
7. Not the cutest fact about rabbits: they eat their feces, and this is completely normal behavior. Their diet consists of food rich in rough fiber, and digesting such food needs to happen twice.
8. On average, rabbits live from 5 to 10 years, but the oldest rabbit in the world, named Flopsy, taken in by its owner from the wild, lived for 18 years and 10 months. This achievement is recorded in the Guinness World Records.
9. Rabbits can die from fear. In the wild, they are preyed upon by predators, which explains their skittish nature. Loud noises and sudden movements can cause them to become extremely frightened, sometimes leading to heart failure.
10. Rabbits are very prolific. Females are ready to breed as early as four months of age, pregnancy lasts only 30 days, and the litter size ranges from 4 to 12 offspring!
11. Rabbits get sad when alone. These animals are very social and need the company of their kind. In the wild, they live in large families. Lonely rabbits can become depressed and stop eating, which in some cases can lead to death.
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