14 Cutest Bunnies You’ll Want to Take Home
Updated: Apr. 09, 2020They're soft, cuddly and irresistibly cute! Which rabbit breed will be your next cuddle bunny?
Do rabbits make good pets?
Enter #bunnies on Instagram, and you’ll be one of the over three million people smitten with the too-cute-for-its-own-business animals. But does it make a good house pet? Unlike cats and dogs, who are considered predators, rabbits are prey. It’s not in the furry little creatures’ nature to enjoy being picked up because that’s how predators capture them. You have to take a more deliberate approach to earn a bunny’s trust, according to the House Rabbit Society. You can do this by getting down to its level and spending time with them out of its cage (rabbit proof the room first). Gently handle, pet, and interact with it softly, and you will have the cuddly snuggle bunny of your dreams.
Dutch
The Dutch Rabbit is one of the most popular and recognizable breeds, according to the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). A Dutch rabbit named Bernie even graces the packages of Annie’s Homegrown Foods. Bernie was Annie’s beloved rabbit and acts as the Rabbit of Approval seal for the natural and organic food brand. It’s likely a favourite because it’s also well known for its gentle and friendly disposition. The Dutch rabbit is often depicted on Easter cards, baskets, and candy.
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Harlequin
The Harlequin rabbit comes in two gorgeous varieties—the Japanese and Magpie. The Japanese rabbit is orange or fawn and either black, blue, chocolate, or lilac. The Magpie is white and either black, blue, chocolate, or lilac and both varieties are around 10 pounds of stunning beauty. When it comes to showing the Harlequin at a rabbit show (yes, those exist), the colour split on the face must be clearly discernible or the rabbit will be disqualified. Precise markings or not, the Harlequin is a sweet and gentle breed, who is active and curious. In the world of rabbit mothers, it takes top honours alongside the Dutch rabbit, for its maternal nurturing.
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Holland lop
Originally from the Netherlands, the Holland Lops has down-facing ears, a compact body, and a large round snuggleable face. The hallmark features are quite possibly the reason it’s one of the top five most popular breeds in the ARBA. Its mini cuddle bunnies at just three inches high and four pounds. Hollands are calm, gentle, and thrive on attention from its humans. It’ll be content with plenty of space to roam and cat toys. Yes, Holland Lops like cat toys!
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French lop
Easygoing and relaxed in temperament, the French Lop thrives on interacting with its human caregivers. It loves to be picked up and petted—and at an average of 10 to 15 pounds, you’ll tone your own biceps at the same time. The French Lop is hardly dainty with its massive, heavy-boned physique and broad sturdy head. But, hey, you gotta have a sturdy base to hold those thick and supple adorable ears that hang so low.
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Lionhead
It’s a far stretch from lion to a rabbit, but this petite little four-pounder sure is trying to come off as the king of the jungle with its distinctive mane. Yet, it has no desire to stalk and pounce, unless it’s for some bunny to love. Lionheads are super friendly and love to bond with people, whether it’s interactive playtime or being a lap bunny for some quiet time. It’s no wonder people are hopping to breeders to bring one home.
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Flemish giant
As breeds go, the Flemish Giant is well, a giant, it averages around 14 pounds but it’s known to tip the scales at over 20 pounds. The docile personality of the Flemish Giant has earned it the nickname “Gentle Giant,” and some say the breed acts more like a dog than a rabbit. Flemish Giants are good listeners, too, with erect ears about eight inches long—big enough to hold all your secrets and soft enough to rub against your cheeks.
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American chinchilla
Stand aside other rabbits of note: Chinchillas can be credited with the development of more breeds and varieties of rabbits worldwide than any other domestic breed, according to the ARBA. This salt-n-pepper hunka-bun is the rarest of all the Chinchilla breeds. But don’t confuse it with another small pet— the Chinchilla, who is actually a delightfully cute rodent. These bunnies are gentle and love for its soft, rollback coat to be petted. Easy to care for and hardy, its around 12 pounds.
Himalayan
The Himalayan has a few uncommon traits not seen in other rabbit breeds. First, it’s shaped more like a cat than a rabbit; it’s the only cylindrical typed breed recognized by the ARBA. The other trait this bunny pulls from its hat is the ability to change colours. Most Himalayans are born with white fur, but depending on the climate or even changes in seasonal climates, its colour can vary. A white rabbit living in a cold climate turns black, for example. Himalayans also do something known as head weaving, which it does to focus its sight.
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Netherland dwarf
The sweet and delicate little bun-bun is the smallest breed of domesticated rabbits, weighing in at just two and a half pounds. Its popularity has surged in recent years, with 25 new colour varieties recognized by the ARBA. And who can pass up that face? Its adorable short round head and chubby cheeks, paired with those little-bitty perky ears, make these honeybunnies hard to resist. And this breed is wound up like the Energizer bunny, with loads of energy, playfulness, and charm. Still, bunnies need to flop and snooze too.
Checkered giant
Don’t wave the checkered flag around this breed, because it will likely ignore it and keep hopping! The Checkered giant is known for its unique, bold markings and arched body type. ARBA doesn’t specify a maximum weight for competitive shows, but typically the Checkered flops down 11 pounds when it rests on the scale. It’s especially active and requires lots of room to hop around. Most rabbits can be litter trained, but the checkered is noted for being easy to litter box train and are quite fastidious groomers.
Rex
Fans of the Rex love its dense, velvety-fur. Regarded as the “King of the Rabbits” it was first shown at the Paris International Rabbit Show in 1924 and soon after, introduced to swooning fans in the United States. The Rex can be shown in 16 colour varieties that show off its Chinchilla-like fur. On the longer side, it boasts a 10-pound frame on a long, muscular body, contributing to its strong athletic jumping ability. The Rex welcomes handling and petting and is particularly sweet and charming. But all bets are off if you bring home an unwelcome furry roommate!
Thrianta
There’s a new-ish breed hoppin’ down the bunny trail, and it’s turning heads with its brilliant fiery reddish fur. The Thrianta is the newest breed passed in 2005 by the ARBA Standards Committee since 1988. It was originally developed in Sweden for the Royal House of Orange-Nassau in the late 1930s. The Thrianta might be a little bit harder to find, but if you’re looking for a gentle and sweet bunny, who is an ideal breed for first-time rabbit parents, it’s worth the wait.
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Angora
Back in the day, you probably heard of or owned a soft angora sweater and you can thank the Angora rabbit for it. Luckily, it didn’t have to give up its life to keep you soft, and cozy because these fluffy beauties shed luxurious soft wool (except for the giant angora, which is the only angora breed that doesn’t naturally shed, so it has to be shorn). All angoras are super soft but require daily grooming to prevent painful knots. It can be time-consuming, but the daily grooming helps them acclimate to human handling, thus making them calmer and docile.
Belgian hare
The Belgian hare is reminiscent of the mythological rabbits in old folklore—and it very well could have been the inspiration for those since the Belgian has been around since the late 1800s. But is it a rabbit or a hare? It was developed from rabbits in Belgian and wild hares in England. Despite its name and that it resembles a hare, with a long, muscular flank, arched back, and well-rounded hindquarters, this breed is a rabbit. It’s sharp and can be taught to respond to its name and come when called, or sit up to take food.
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