Last Updated on June 22, 2023 by Admin
If you live in an apartment complex and you’re probably wondering whether it’s a good idea to adopt a bunny, rest assured it is. Although rabbits are high maintenance, they certainly make great indoor companions since they don’t much space. Below are some of the best rabbit breeds ideal for apartments in terms of temperament, care, and indoor house training.
- American
The American rabbit is a great apartment rabbit with a passive and sweet temperament. On average, they weigh between 9 to 12 pounds and need an indoor cage or hutch measuring 6 ft. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. In terms of care, brush their fur once a week and trim their toenails after every one or two months. In terms of life expectancy, the American rabbit has an average lifespan of 8 to 12 years and comes either blue or white color coats.
- American Fuzzy Lop
If you want an apartment rabbit that’s active and playful, then the American Fuzzy Lop is a great choice. Weighing on average 3 to 4 pounds, this miniature breed is better suited to live in a cage measuring 6 ft. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. In addition, it also needs a playpen or secluded spot to exercise in.
American fuzzy lops have long fur that needs grooming at least once or twice per week and occasional trimming after every couple of months. This dwarf breed has a white coat that’s mixed with either chestnut, lynx, squirrel chinchilla, or opal. Lastly, their life expectancy is 5 to 8 years.
- Blanc de Hotot
The Blanc de Hotot is another friendly and affectionate rabbit breed that will do great in apartments with singles, seniors, or large families. They weigh on average 8 to 11 pounds and need a 12 square feet cage to live comfortably. Blanc de Hotot fur is easier to groom and comes in white color with distinctive black circles around its eyes. Their life expectancy is between 7 to 10 years.
- Californian
Californian rabbits are another breed that thrives in an apartment setup. They’re quite friendly and well-mannered. Weighing on average 7 to 9 pounds, this particular bunny needs a cage that’s at least 12 square feet and a run or play area.
When it comes to grooming, brush their fur once per week. Californian rabbits have a distinctive white-colored coat with dark marking around their nose, ears, tail, and feet. Their life expectancy on average is 5 to 6 years.
- Dutch
The Dutch rabbit is another rabbit breed that’s ideal for indoor living, more specifically in a flat. This bunny breed has a friendly, easy-going temperament and is also a great family pet. They’re medium-sized, weighing between 4 to 5 pounds and they have short fur that’s easier to groom.
In terms of living space, dutch rabbits need a cage that measures at least four times their size. They have white markings that are mixed with different colors such as grey, blue, black, chocolate, chinchilla, or tortoise. Lastly, on average their lifespan is 5 to 8 years.
- Dwarf Hotot
Weighing between 2 to 4 pounds, the Dwarf Hotot is an energetic and friendly breed worth adopting if you live in an apartment. Their cage size should measure on average 4 ft. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. This miniature rabbit is easy to take care of since they have a cute short white colored coat with a dark ring around both eyes. Their life expectancy on average is between 7 to 10 years.
- English Lop
English lops are generally curious and affectionate, making them among the best apartment breeds. They basically weigh on average 9 to 10 pounds and are known for their distinct large ears with an average length of 22 to 33 cm.
When it comes to housing, this rabbit breed cage should measure on average 6 ft. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. English lops have fly-back fur that’s easy to maintain and comes in various colors such as black, white, orange, gold, and broken. This large breed has an average lifespan of 5 to 7 years.
- Florida White
The Florida White is a calm and docile rabbit. They’re not only ideal apartment pets but also suitable for first-time owners. Their docile temperament makes them easier to litter train. Weighing on averagely between 4 to 6 pounds, Florida whites need housing that measures an average of 30 inches x 24 inches x 18 inches. This breed is generally easier to take care of and comes in a plain white colored coat with albino red eyes. Lastly, Florida white’s life expectancy is 5 to 8 years.
- Harlequin Rabbit
Harlequins are another ideal apartment rabbit due to their gentle, docile and intelligent nature. They weigh between 6 to 10 pounds and need a cage that’s 6 ft. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. in addition to a playpen. In terms of care, harlequin rabbits have short dense fur that needs to be groomed once a week. The breed has a life expectancy of 5 to 8 years and comes in, orange, black or white, combined with other colors. For instance, their coat can have each one of the three-color combinations in addition to lilac or chocolate.
- Havana
Havana’s are calm and affectionate and basically get along with people as well as other pets when properly introduced. They’re also easy to litter train making them ideal apartment rabbits. Havana breeds weigh on average 4 to 6 pounds and normally need a cage that’s thrice or four times their size. Havana has short flyback fur that comes in black, chocolate, lilac, and broken colors. This breed’s life expectancy on average is 7 to 10 years.
- Holland Lop
Holland lops are another gentle and affectionate rabbit breed that makes great indoor pets. They love to be the center of attention and tend to enjoy their owner’s company. This particular miniature bunny weighs between 2 to 4 pounds and needs a cage measuring at least 24″x 24”. Their life expectancy on average is 7 to 10 years. Holland lops come in different color coats such as black, chocolate, lilac, broken, chinchilla, chestnut, squirrel, opal, and lynx.
- Himalayan
This particular breed is generally affectionate and good-natured. They’re also quite playful and social making them a great choice for families living in apartments. Himalayan rabbits weigh between 3 to 6 pounds and are content in a living space that measures 24 by 15 inches.
In terms of maintenance, this miniature breed is fairly easy to groom. Himalayans have an average lifespan of 7 to 10 years and come in a white body with distinctive colored points either in black, blue, chocolate, or lilac colors.
- Jersey Wooly
This dwarf rabbit weighing an average of 2 to 3 pounds has a docile and gentle temperament. They’re also quite friendly and thrive in apartments with large families. The jersey wooly’s living space should measure around 4 ft. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. In terms of care, you need to brush this rabbit’s long fur twice per week and occasionally trim or shear it to avoid tangles or mats. Jersey wooly breeds have an average lifespan of 7 to 10 years. They normally come in a variety of colors such as black, chocolate, silver, lilac, and broken colors.
- Lionhead
This particular breed is another indoor rabbit that is docile and quite friendly. Lionheads are dwarf-sized rabbits that weigh between 2 to 3 pounds. They have distinct fur around their face which resembles a lion’s mane hence their name.
Lionheads generally do well indoors when they have a section they can play in, besides having a comfortable cage that measures at least 18 by 24 inches. Although Lionheads are great apartment rabbits, they’re not ideal for first-time owners.
They require regular grooming to prevent mats or getting wool blocks from fur ingestion. Lionheads have an average lifespan of 7 to 9 years and come in different color varieties such as white, tortoise, black, chocolate, lilac, tan, opal, and chestnut to name a few.
- Mini Lop
Mini lop is an energetic and friendly bunny that gets along with people and other pets. They’re medium-sized rabbits weighing an average of 5 to 6 pounds. Since this bunny is quite active, getting them a playpen or secluding a room to play in for at least 4 hours is recommended.
On the other hand, if they’re free-range also provide them with a cage that measures at least 30 inches by 30 inches. In terms of grooming, brush their flyback coat once per week. The mini lop has an average lifespan of 7 to 14 years and has different colors such as black, white, chocolate, lilac, agouti, broke, and pointed white.
- Rex Rabbit
Rex rabbits have a calm and friendly temperament which makes them better-suited apartment rabbit breeds. They typically weigh between 7 to 11 pounds and are considered gentle giants. Their living areas should measure 6 ft. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. to enable them to move freely. Rex rabbits normally don’t need much grooming, just a quick brush once after every one or two weeks is sufficient. This particular breed has an average lifespan of 6 to 8 years and comes in black, chocolate, and lilac colors with different patterns around its chin, belly, and tail.
- Mini Rex
The mini rex is a great breed for apartments due to its docile, friendly, and easy-to-train nature. They also make great pets since they usually don’t need much space compared to medium or larger breeds. To be precise, their cage size should measure at least 30 by 30 inches.
On average, mini rex weighs between 4 to 5 pounds and they come in close to 20 colors. The common ones include white, chocolate, black, lilac, and various broken colors.
In terms of care, this miniature bunny requires less grooming due to its short velvet fur. They have an average lifespan of 7 to 8 years and are essentially a great breed choice for first-time owners.
- Netherland Dwarf
This miniature bunny is for those owners who love a playful and lively rabbit breed. They’re also generally skittish nonetheless, they’re cute and definitely going to be the center of attention.
Although they weigh between 2 to 3 pounds, they need a cage size measuring at least 4ft. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. Netherland dwarfs have an average lifespan of 7 to 10 years. Lastly, they come in more than 20 colors such as white. black, chocolate, silver, orange, and lilac to name a few.
- Satin
Satins are medium-sized rabbits weighing around 8 to 11 pounds. They make great apartment pets due to their gentle and friendly nature. This particular breed is also great for first-time owners, singles, and even households with families.
Just like any other large breed they need a spacious cage that’s thrice or four times their size. Satins need weekly grooming where you brush their fur once a week using a slicker brush. Satins have a life expectancy of 5 to 8 years and have different color coats. They include black, white, chocolate, Siamese, chinchilla, and Otter.
- Polish Rabbit
This particular breed has a docile and friendly temperament which makes them easier to raise indoors. Polish rabbits have a compact rounded body with short fine fur and they normally weigh 2 to 3 pounds. They need a living space that measures at least 18 inches x 24 inches. Polish rabbits’ average lifespan is 5 to 6 years and they come in a variety of colors such as white, black, chocolate, or broken pattern.
Conclusion
All the rabbits mentioned above will essentially do well in an apartment setup since they’re friendly and easy to litter train. However, you should also consider bunny-proofing your house and ensure that your pets have at least 4 hours of exercise each day. Lastly, your apartment flooring should give your rabbit’s feet traction to avoid any accidents or hinder their movement.
