Mixed breed (rabbit)

Coat and looks how to spot one

varies: short normal fur is most common, but lop ears, rex, long or woolly coats can all appear depending on ancestry

Every mixed-breed rabbit is a one-off. Ears may stand up or flop, the body may be small and round or long and rangy, and the coat can be anything from short and sleek to long and fluffy, depending on which breeds are in the family tree.14

Personality what they are like

Temperament depends on the individual rabbit and how it has been raised more than on breed. Rabbits are social, curious and intelligent: they can learn their name and simple tricks, show happiness by leaping and twisting in the air ('binkies'), and thump a back foot when alarmed. Most are most lively at dawn and dusk.21

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Needs daily freedom to run, jump, dig and stand up tall. The House Rabbit Society suggests at least four hours a day (or about 30 hours a week) of exercise time, along with toys, tunnels, platforms and forage trays for mental stimulation.32

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Depends on coat: short coats need a weekly brush, more often during moults, while long or woolly coats need frequent grooming. Check nails regularly. Hay chewing keeps the teeth, which grow around 2-3 mm a week, worn down. Neutering is strongly recommended by rabbit welfare groups.235

Home where they are happiest

A hutch on its own is not enough. UK welfare groups advise at least 3 m x 2 m x 1 m high for a pair of average-sized rabbits, with shelter, hiding spots and room to exercise. Indoor rabbits can use a litter tray.216

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Unlimited hay as the main food (about 80% of the diet), plus fresh leafy greens (about 10%), a small daily portion of pellets, and fruit only as an occasional treat. Carrots are a treat rather than a staple.321

Company who they like around

Very social. Rabbits should live with at least one other friendly rabbit, ideally a neutered male and neutered female pair, and enjoy gentle daily interaction with people. Pairs bond through mutual grooming.231

The story where it all began

Rabbits of mixed ancestry are as old as rabbit keeping itself. The Romans kept European rabbits in walled enclosures called leporaria, and by around the 12th century monks in southern France were deliberately breeding them. Domestication was gradual, running from Roman times into the 1500s. Distinct breeds were developed much later, and today there are hundreds of them. Whenever different breeds or unregistered rabbits are paired, the result is a mixed-breed rabbit. Keeping rabbits as indoor house pets took off in the 1980s, and many of the rabbits waiting in rescues today are mixed breeds.13

Recognised by the official bits

ARBA / British Rabbit Council

Not a breed and has no breed standard. Registries recognise named breeds only (about 52 with ARBA and 106 with the BRC per Wikipedia); mixed rabbits cannot be registered or shown in breed classes.1

Rabbit breeds worldwide

At least 305 rabbit breeds existed in 70 countries in 2017, and a mixed rabbit can carry the traits of any of them.1