20 Rabbit Breeds That Will Make You Forget All About Other Pets

Height: 7 to 14 inches (18 to 36 cm)

Weight: 2 to 4 pounds (0.9 to 1.8 kg)

Lifespan: 7 to 10 years

The Holland Lop is a small breed of rabbit that originated in the Netherlands. They have a compact size making it perfect for apartment living. They have lusciously floppy ears that give them an endearing, charming look. They also have a gentle and affectionate nature, making them ideal for families, couples, or solo pet owners.

They play a significant role in the rabbit show circuit, where they are showcased for their excellent breed standards and cuteness. They also serve as therapy animals, providing comfort and companionship to people in various healthcare settings. Their low-maintenance needs make them a practical choice, requiring only a clean hutch and a balanced diet.

Height: 6 to 7 inches (15 to 18 cm)

Weight: 1.1 to 2.5 pounds (0.5 to 1.1 kg)

Lifespan: 7 to 10 years

The Netherland Dwarf is a remarkably cute rabbit breed renowned for its petite size as the name suggests. With a maximum weight of just 2.5 pounds, they embody compact charm. These bunnies boast a round face, expressive eyes, and perfectly proportioned ears, creating an undeniably adorable appearance.

The breed originated in the Netherlands in the early 20th century. Their fur comes in various colors and patterns, including self, shaded, and agouti. Don't be fooled by their dwarfness because Netherland Dwarfs have big personalities, often displaying playful and friendly behavior. They are quite affectionate and able to form strong bonds with their humans.

Height: 17.5 to 19.5 inches (44 to 50 cm)

Weight: 7 to 10.5 pounds (3.2 to 4.8 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 7 years

The Rex Rabbit, also known as the Velveteen Rabbit, originated in France in the early 20th century. They primarily possess exceptionally soft and velvety fur, a unique trait that sets them apart from other rabbit breeds. This plush coat, known as "rexing," lacks the typical guard hair found in most rabbit fur, resulting in a denser, smoother, and incredibly soft texture.

Apart from the fur, they have cute compact bodies and a chill personality. These cool bunnies are always up for some cuddles and vibes, so you can't help but love them. if you're all about softness and cool vibes, Rex Rabbit is the choice. 

Height: 7 to 9 inches (18 to 23 cm)

Weight: 2.5 to 3.75 pounds (1.1 to 1.7 kg)

Lifespan: 7 to 10 years

Lionhead rabbits are a relatively new breed that originated in Belgium. They have a distinctive wool mane, which gives them their lion-like appearance. These rabbits have small to medium-sized bodies with broad heads, and their mane can grow up to 3 inches long.

These intelligent bunnies have a friendly and playful temperament, making them popular as pets. Their fur comes in various colors and patterns, including solid, broken, and shaded. Unlike other long-haired rabbit breeds, Lionheads do not require excessive grooming. Their mane is low maintenance and only requires occasional brushing to prevent matting.

Height: 10 to 14 inches

Weight: 9 to 11 pounds (4 to 4.9 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 8 years

The Chinchilla rabbit originated in France in the early 20th century. There are two main types of Chinchillas: the American Chinchilla and the Standard Chinchilla. The American ones are larger and the latter has a more compact size.

Their exquisite fur resembles the fur of the Chinchilla rodent, with a silver-gray coat and a white underbelly, creating a stunning contrast. These rabbits are highly regarded for their fur quality, once used in the fur trade but now primarily kept as pets or show animals.

Height: 17 to 20 inches (43 to 51 cm)

Weight: 8 to 12 pounds (3.6 to 5.4 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 8 years

The Beveren rabbit, originating in Belgium, is a striking breed admired for its beauty and charm. These rabbits are also further divided into two primary types: the Blue and White varieties, each known for its stunning coat color. The Blue Beveren has a deep, glossy blue fur, while the White Beveren boasts a pure, snow-white coat.

They are considered one of the oldest and rarest rabbit breeds globally, originating in the 19th century. Their unique fur quality has made them historically significant in the fur trade, although they are now cherished as show animals and pets. Their docile and friendly nature makes them great companions.

Height: 13 inches (33 cm)

Weight: 3.5 to 5.5 pounds (1.6 to 2.5 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 8 years

The Dutch rabbit is also known as the Hollander or Brabander. It was initially bred for meat and fur but gained popularity as a show and pet rabbit due to its striking appearance. Dutch rabbits are small to medium-sized with compact, muscular bodies and a distinctive color patterns.

Their fur is short, dense, and glossy. The most common color combination is a white blaze on the face, a white belly, and a solid-colored coat on the rest of the body, which can be black, blue, chocolate, or tortoiseshell. They have a friendly and docile temperament, making them ideal pets. Dutch rabbits are also intelligent and can be trained to perform tricks.

Height: 11 to 12 inches (28 to 30 cm)

Weight: 8 to 10.5 pounds (3.6 to 4.8 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 10 years

The Californian rabbit is an American rabbit breed born in the 1920s. Known for its distinctive black ears, nose, paws, and tail, contrasted against a creamy white coat, this breed is elegantly adorable. Its coat color scheme has earned it the nickname "the Himalayan of the West."

Californians descended from Himalayan and Chinchilla rabbit breeds. Californian rabbits have carved a special place in the world of rabbit breeds, both as a cherished pet and a reminder of their agricultural roots as they were originally bred for meat.

Height: 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm)

Weight: 3.75 to 4.75 pounds (1.7 to 2.2 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 7 years

The Mini Rex rabbit breed originated in Texas, USA in the 1980s through a crossbreeding program. They were developed by selectively breeding small-sized rex rabbits to create a compact, cute, and friendly breed.

Mini Rex rabbits come in a wide array of colors, including black, blue, chocolate, and white, with unique coat patterns like otter, broken, and shaded. Their short, velvety fur gives them a luxurious appearance and a perfect pocket-sized cuddly partner. They are also used in therapeutic settings due to their calm and gentle demeanor.

Height: 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm)

Weight: English Angora -  5 to 7.5 lbs, French Angora - 7.5 to 10.5 pounds

Lifespan: 7 to 12 years

The Angora rabbit is believed to have originated in Ankara, Turkey. Its history dates back to the 18th century when French sailors discovered these rabbits and brought them to Europe. There are several types of Angora rabbits, including English, French, Giant, and Satin. Each type has its distinct characteristics, such as size and fur texture.

Angoras come in various colors, including white, cream, fawn, blue, and chocolate. They have long, silky fur that requires regular grooming. Their fur is highly prized and used for making luxurious garments and accessories. Aside from their fur, Angoras make wonderful pets due to their gentle and affectionate nature.

They are also known for their exceptional jumping ability, often leaping several feet in the air.

Height: 20 to 28 inches (51 to 71 cm)

Weight: 13 to 14 pounds (5.9 to 6.4 kg) or more

Lifespan: 5 to 10 years

The Flemish Giant, believed to have originated in Belgium, is a colossal breed with a fascinating history. These sweet giants are known for their impressive size and come in various colors, including black, blue, fawn, and more. Their massive build and luxurious fur make them too cute.

Remarkably, the world's largest rabbit on record was a Flemish Giant. Despite their substantial size, they're known for their laid-back personalities, and they often enjoy cuddling with their owners.

Height: 5.5 to 6.5 inches (14 to 17 cm)

Weight: 3 to 4 pounds (1.4 to 1.8 kg)

Lifespan: 8 to 10 years

The Mini Lop is a popular breed of domestic rabbit renowned for its adorable appearance and playful nature. It was created by selectively breeding the German Lop and the Chinchilla rabbit during the 1970s. This resulted in a compact and cute rabbit with lop ears.

Mini Lops come in a wide variety of colors, including solid, broken, and shaded. Some common colors include black, white, brown, and blue. Their fur is soft and dense. These rabbits are highly sociable and often entertain themselves with toys or even playing games of chase. Their playful nature makes them great companions, especially for children.

Height: 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm)

Weight: 3.5 to 6.5 pounds (1.6 to 2.9 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 8 years

Himalayan Rabbit is an American rabbit breed that has a pure white body with color points on the ears, nose, paws, and tail. Their striking coat creates a captivating beauty reminiscent of the Siamese cat.

A unique fact about this breed is that their coloration is temperature-sensitive, meaning the darker points develop in cooler areas of their bodies. These rabbits now shine as show animals and pets due to their calm and friendly nature but they were originally bred for meat.

Height: 7 to 8 inches (18 to 20 cm)

Weight: 1 to 3 pounds (0.45 to 1.4 kg)

Lifespan: 7 to 10 years

Jersey Wooly is a unique and small rabbit breed best known for its adorable appearance and soft, wool-like fur. It has a "wool gene" that makes its fur similar in texture to that of Angora rabbits. However, unlike Angoras, the Jersey Wooly does not require excessive grooming and maintenance.

This pet rabbit breed was developed in the 1970s by crossing a French Angora rabbit with a Netherland Dwarf. Jersey Wool has a rounded body, short ears, and a friendly and docile temperament. It comes in various colors, including black, blue, chocolate, and tortoiseshell, with different shades and patterns. 

Height: 5.5 to 6.5 inches (14 to 17 cm)

Weight: 6 to 9 pounds (2.7 to 4.1 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 8 years

The harlequin rabbit is one of the most sought-after breeds among rabbit enthusiasts. The breed originated in France in the 1880s by crossing Dutch rabbits with wild rabbits.

What sets Harlequins apart is their distinct coloration, characterized by alternating patches of two different colors. The most common variety is the Japanese Harlequin, with a base color of orange or fawn and patches of black or blue. Another variety is the Magpie Harlequin, with a white base and patches of black or blue.

Height: 19 to 21 inches (48 to 53 cm)

Weight: 9 to 12 pounds (4.1 to 5.4 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 8 years

The Silver Fox rabbit is a unique breed that stands out with its beautiful silver-blue fur. Their fur is so soft that it's often compared to the feel of fox fur. They were developed as a dual-purpose breed in the early 1920s by Walter B. Garland, primarily raised for both meat and fur production. However, their beautiful coat also makes them popular as show rabbits and pets.

It is one of the few rabbit breeds with a naturally occurring "silvering" gene, which causes their fur to transition from dark to silver as they age. This unique feature, combined with their beautiful coat, makes them a remarkable and sought-after breed in the world of rabbits.

Height: 11 to 13 inches (28 to 33 cm)

Weight: 2 to 3 pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kg)

Lifespan: 7 to 10 years

The Dwarf Papillon rabbit, also known as the Miniature Papillon or the Netherland Dwarf Papillon, is a unique breed that stands out due to its small size and distinctive appearance. Their color varieties include black, blue, chocolate, lilac, and tortoiseshell. Their eyes can be brown or blue, depending on the color of their fur.

This breed is primarily kept as a pet due to its adorable appearance and friendly nature. Originating in the Netherlands, Dwarf Papillon rabbits were developed by crossing Netherland Dwarfs with Papillon rabbits. They were first recognized as a distinct breed in the 1970s and have since gained popularity worldwide.

Height: 17.5 to 20 inches (44 to 51 cm)

Weight: 6.5 to 9.5 pounds (2.9 to 4.3 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 8 years

The Belgian Hare, despite its name, is not actually a hare but a breed of domestic rabbit. This cute breed was developed in Belgium during the mid-19th century and is renowned for its sleek, hare-like appearance. They have a slender, athletic build, and an elegant arched back.

Belgian Hares have incredible agility and are often likened to feline behavior due to their playful and acrobatic antics, which sets them apart from other rabbit breeds. They are highly active, engaging in spirited antics and displaying a charming and lively disposition.

Height: 8 to 9 inches (20 to 23 cm)

Weight: 2 to 3 pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kg)

Lifespan: 7 to 10 years

The Dwarf Hotot is a small breed of rabbit that originated in Germany. Their distinct appearance is featured by a white body and a black band around their eyes, resembling a "panda" or "hotot" appearance. This unique marking is their most defining feature.

In addition to their white and black coloration, some Dwarf Hotots may exhibit slight variations in their markings, such as having a small white blaze on their forehead. However, the black eye bands are always present. They have a compact and rounded body shape and their fur is short and dense, requiring minimal grooming. They are primarily kept as pets and show rabbits due to their adorable appearance and friendly nature.

Height: 16 to 18 inches (41 to 46 cm)

Weight: 6 to 9 pounds (2.7 to 4.1 kg)

Lifespan: 5 to 8 years

The Silver Marten is a playful and charming breed of rabbit that originated in the United States in the early 1900s. It is a result of crossing Chinchilla and Dutch rabbits, resulting in its distinctive silver-tipped fur. This breed is known for its beautiful coat, which is dense, soft, and glossy. The Silver Marten comes in various colors including black, blue, chocolate, and sable. 

An interesting fact about this breed is that it has a naturally occurring genetic mutation called "Vienna Markings," which causes white spots on the body. This adds to the breed's appeal and uniqueness.

Apart from their beauty, these rabbits are highly sought after as pets due to their playful and friendly nature. They make excellent companions and are interactive with their owners. The Silver Marten is also a popular breed for show purposes due to its unique appearance and temperament.