There are a number of pet rabbits in homes, so it’s important for owners to understand their needs and behaviour. In addition to ensuring a nutritious diet, rabbits need annual visits to the vet to ensure they are healthy.
The word bunny is often used in place of rabbit, but this does not make sense as the terms are not interchangeable. Rabbit is the recognised name for over 20 species within the family Leporidae, and hare is the recognised name for a handful of related species in the order Lagomorpha.
It is not known why bunny became a more common term, although it may have something to do with its origin as a Scottish word meaning “hare tail”. During the 1600s and 1700s, ‘bunny’ was also an affectionate nickname for girls and young women.
In the wild, rabbits are prey animals and they live in a constant state of alert. This is why they don’t like to be picked up or cuddled – they see your hand as another predator trying to catch them! They will hide, run away or nip if they’re grabbed, so it is best to let them interact with you on their terms and respect their need for personal space.
Domesticated rabbits have more rounded ears and a flatter face than their wild relatives but their perspective of the world remains close to that of their wild cousins. They are intelligent, affectionate, and great companions but they do not enjoy being held and tend to nip or bite if handled unnecessarily.