Rabbits are of different breeds and the willing owners may need to know about all the cute and lovely breeds that they can get as pets. Himalayan rabbits are medium-sized rabbits that are rare to be found. They look similar to the Californian rabbits but are not the same as them.
There are some interesting color options available among the Himalayan rabbits like blue and lilac, while the common colors are chocolate and black. They have a pink iris that is not red like the albino rabbits. The chocolate and black-colored Himalayan rabbits are easier to be found than the blue and lilac ones. Among all the color combinations the lilac one is rarest to be found among Himalayan rabbits.
Their body is cylindrical and they weigh around 3 to 4.5 kg. The colored point of their body makes them look distinct. Their hinder and front legs are also colored at the end which are called socks and boots. They also have a dark noses. Their eyes, genitals, and some other parts sometimes get black due to the cold weather and snow.
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What is the origin of the Himalayan rabbit?
The origin of this old rabbit breed is not found as they are so old that their location is lost with time. They are called by different names in different places. In China, they are found under the name of the black nose and are also called Egyptian smut or Russian rabbit.
It was brought to the US in the 1900s and this was one of the first breeds of rabbits to be accepted and recognized by the official rabbit breeder association of America. Since then it was officially bred in the US and brought to other places.
Are Himalayan rabbits good pets?
Himalayan rabbits are much gentle and thus can be good as pets. They are not shy of humans and thus they can be around humans all the time. Their easy-going nature makes them a favorite as house pets. They can also be loved and adored by the kids as they are quite fond of them too. They are not very hyperactive or energetic in nature and thus, you can easily keep them at the house. They do not have the biting habit which is a plus for the owners too.
Why do Himalayan rabbits turn black?
The specific body parts of the Himalayan rabbit, which are ears and feet, usually stay black as these are colder body parts of this creature. The area where the Himalayan rabbits live usually gets ice or snow and that makes their bodies black most of the time.
When some genetics experiment is done on Himalayan rabbits, their back is shaved and an ice pack is applied to the shaved part. The new fur grows after some time and it is usually black in color.
How long does a Himalayan rabbit live?
The usual life span of Himalayan rabbits is seven to ten years. They are not very long living creatures but the minimum age that they live for is five years.
How do you take care of the Himalayan rabbits?
Himalayan rabbits do not need much grooming thanks to their short coat. They need minimum time from their owners to stay in good condition.
Himalayan rabbits can learn to use the litter boxes as they are pretty smart. They can be kept in medium-sized boxes and they can be kept clean as they will only poop or urinate in the litter box.
They have a soft and flyback-furred coat. The specialty of this kind of fur is that the fur gets back to the normal position after the rabbit is petted and the owner touched or runs through the fingers on the coat.
They do not have many shedding problems so you can brush them once or twice a week to groom them. Nothing else other than these is needed to keep the rabbits in shape. The markings on the paws, ears, and nose of the rabbits get deeper with the age.
Clean grass or hay is their best food option. You should always be ready with an ample amount of grass and hay to feed these creatures. Also, they can have ½ or ¼ cup of pellets which should be of high quality. The pellets should contain at least 18% protein and that will be much useful for the pets. they can also occasionally have fruits and vegetables.
What is the right kind of atmosphere for the Himalayan rabbits?
The baby Himalayan rabbits are quite sensitive to temperature. They love to stay in warm conditions and they look much like albino rabbit babies. The color of their bodies gets brightened only by the cold weather. When the babies go through a very cold phase then they get dark spots or bands on their neck and other parts of them.
Are Himalayan rabbits rare?
Yes, Himalayan rabbits are rare and thus they can be availed at a higher price than regular rabbits. They have a white body with colored points in shades of chocolate, blue, lilac, or black. They are actually one of the oldest rabbit breeds in the world.
Are Himalayan rabbits hypoallergenic?
No, Himalayan rabbits are not hypoallergenic and thus they can be easily kept at the house, the owners need not be very cautious about their upbringing. They are much easy to handle and thus any owner can adopt them.
How many babies do Himalayan rabbits get?
The female Himalayan rabbits give birth to at least six or seven babies which are called kittens. It can be as many as twelve for some rabbits though.
When the rabbits become pregnant, the phase is called “in kindle”. It takes 31 days to complete this period. The babies come out after the completion of this period as hairless and blind kittens. After the age of 10 days, they get eyesight and they also grow their fur later.
Where can you keep the Himalayan rabbits?
Domestic rabbits of any breed are kept in a protected area so they do not get lost or get attacked by some other creatures. The house pets like dogs or cats even can harm them, so before the pets get easy with each other, the rabbits should be kept protected in a large hutch.
The size of the hutch should be wide enough so the rabbit gets some space to move and roam inside it. They do not like to sit idle for the whole day. Though Himalayan rabbits are not much energetic, they should be given space to get relaxed and easy inside their hutch.
How friendly are Himalayan rabbits?
This medium-sized rabbit is one of the calmest breeds of rabbits. They are a gentle and easy-going creature who makes great friends with all their family members. They are much interactive and get along well with the people around them.
They can also be held as they do not have the habit of scratching or biting. Of course, they do bite but when pushed far towards the aggressive side. Otherwise, they prefer to stay calm and do not bother to bite even the small kids. Thus they can be called the ideal ones as house pets.
How active are Himalayan rabbits?
As we have mentioned earlier in this guide, Himalayan rabbits are much laid back in nature. But they need time to run and roam too. You should not keep them inside the hutch for the whole day but should release them from the cage for at least one or two hours. The rabbit will enjoy the free time by moving and running around the house and also this will be its chance to communicate and mix with other family members.
They love to play with toys so you should get some interesting toys for them. Also, it loves to explore the house and thus you must make sure that the house is fully rabbit-proof.
What kind of enclosure will be better for the Himalayan rabbits?
The wire cages are better for the Himalayan rabbits but they should come with a hard bottom. The wire cages allow air and light to enter the hutch of the rabbits and thus the pets stay healthy. But the wired bottom is not good for the feet of the rabbit as they get hurt while staying for the whole day on such floor. So you should get a plank or a sheet of wood to cover the floor of the cage.
How often should you clean the cage of the Himalayan rabbit?
The cage of the rabbit should be cleaned once a day so the droppings get cleared. Other than the droppings and urine there are also the food particles found in the cage of the rabbits. You must pay attention to all kinds of dirt as these may attract flies and bugs and other kinds of pests which will infect the pet.
The whole cage should be completely wiped and cleaned with some solution, preferably the solution of white vinegar and water, once a week. This solution keeps the germs in check and also does not let the pets get harmed by any chemical cleaner.
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