Can you be old and cute? The Polish rabbit says that you can. One look at this ball of fluff, and you will be aw-ing at how cute it is.
Research it a little, and you will also find that it has been around since the 1600s.
Around that time, the Dutch and Himalayan breeds were crossed to create the species that delight people worldwide today.
Magicians often use them in their acts because they are so docile and friendly, and these qualities also make them great around children of all ages.
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Table of Contents
Polish Rabbit Color & Looks
Polish rabbits [1] are small and cute.
They have short little ears which meet at the base and often touch each other at the top, too, giving a compact and tiny headpiece for an already small bunny.
They have short heads and full cheeks, which contrast against their bold eyes to give them an intelligent and inquisitive look.
Polish rabbits have short, fine hair in their coats and do not come in many colors. Traditionally, Polish rabbits were white with red or blue eyes.
Over time, black, blue, and chocolate coats have developed. You will also notice a broken pattern in the coat, which looks like no other.
Take a look at this video for additional information about these adorable bunnies.
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How Do I Care for a Polish Rabbit?
Since Polish rabbits have short and fine coats, they do not need to be groomed as regularly as other breeds of rabbits.
You will often find that you can groom them once every two weeks, leaving most of the grooming to the rabbit itself.
It would be best if you trimmed the nails of a Polish rabbit but, again, not as frequently as other breeds. Check the nails of your bunny once a month, and that should be enough.
Polish bunnies are at risk of damaged hips. Slippery surfaces can cause legs to splay and hips to become damaged.
Polish rabbits do not need as much cage space as other breeds due to their size, and you will find that an 18” x 24” cage will be enough.
However, they do need a lot of time out of their cages, which can be a factor when deciding whether or not to invest in this breed.
One thing to think about is the floor of the cage.
Polish bunnies are at risk of damaged hips.
Slippery surfaces can cause legs to splay and hips to become damaged.
Adding hay to the bottom of your rabbit’s cage will protect both their legs and their feet.
It would be best to avoid metal wiring on the bottom of a cage as this can damage and bruise the feet of a Polish rabbit.
Polish rabbits are small creatures and very attractive to predators.
They need to be out of their cage a lot, but we would recommend constant supervision if they are taken outside or an enclosed run for them to play in.
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How Active Are Polish Rabbits?
Polish rabbis are very active creatures, so you need to make sure that you have the time and space for them.
They need to be out of their cages for at least five hours every day, and of that time, they want as much of it as possible to be social time.
If you do not have the means to let them run around for that amount of time and spend at least some of that time with them, then a Polish rabbit is just not for you.
A polish rabbit is small, which means that their cages are small, but this does not mean they do not need much space.
A run will work, but there is often enough room for these energetic little beasts. The best thing you can do for these bunnies is to open up an entire room to them or, better yet, your entire home.
If you are letting your bunny run around in a room of your home, make sure to rabbit-proof it first.
Bunnies love to chew on things, so whatever you do not want to be chewed, you should remove or put it where the bunny cannot reach.
You should also plan to spend time with your bunny when they are out of their cage. An excellent way to do this is to sit or lay on the floor where your bunny is running around.
What Should I Feed My Polish Rabbit?
Like other bunny diets [2], Polish rabbits like to eat lots of hay. A diet rich in hay helps promote a healthy immune system and grow teeth.
Hay will help aid digestion and stop any fur balls from growing too large. As your Polish bunny chews on the hay, it will help grind down its teeth.
Around 70% of your rabbit’s diet should consist of hay.
Try to give them a variety but know that leafy greens work best.
In addition to the hay, you will need to feed your rabbit pellets too. Pellets contain the nutrients and minerals your bunny needs to maintain a balanced lifestyle.
You should aim to feed your bunny 1/2 cup of pellets per 5 pounds of weight. This should be supplemented with lots of fresh, clean water.
You can never give your bunny too much water. Check the water dish regularly to ensure it does not become contaminated and change the water regularly.
A cup or two of vegetables should be added to your bunny’s diet to ensure that they get everything they need to survive.
Try to give them a variety but know that leafy greens work best.
Save fruits as a treat for your bunny or in any training.
Healthcare for Polish Rabbits
There are not too many health concerns about having a Polish rabbit as a pet. The most common problem, as it is with every bunny breed, is the teeth growing too long.
A diet rich in hay should take care of this, but you can add wooden toys or sticks to your rabbit’s cage or pen to help whittle down teeth.
Flystrike is something which you should also look out for. If droppings are left in the cage for too long and get onto the fur, then it can attract flies (and other things).
These flies can lay eggs in the fur, which can cause a lot of pain for your bunny. Keeping a clean cage and grooming your bunny every so often will stop this from happening.
Ear mites are also something which you should look out for. They are more common with larger ears but can still happen in smaller bunnies.
Check the ears whenever you groom your bunny and take your rabbit to the vet if you notice anything unusual.
Here’s a video of a cute Polish rabbit.
@thebunchofbunnies Roger always loves to flop on my sister’s bed (I guess he just feels most comfortable there😪) #bunnies #bunnyflops #polishrabbit #bunnytok #relaxed
♬ ROCKSTAR – DaBaby, Roddy Ricch
Polish Rabbits As Pets
While Polish rabbits are small and energetic, this does not necessarily mean that they are suited for young children.
This breed of rabbit will be a lot of fun for adults and older kids but may not be the best pet for all of your children.
Small rabbits are easy to pick up, which could lead to injury as smaller kids want to pick up pets. As long as there is adult supervision, everyone should be fine.
… if you are out of the house a lot, then you will not be able to give the bunny the time it needs.
The main concern with this bunny is the amount of time and space they need.
If you live in a small apartment with little room, then you may not be able to give the bunny the space to run around in.
Similarly, if you are out of the house a lot, you will not be able to give the bunny the time it needs.
For this reason, a Polish rabbit is well suited to large families and bigger houses.
This rabbit breed loves attention and will allow you to pick it up and pet it when it becomes accustomed to you.
They love to play and chew, so make sure to furnish them with many toys. This will also stop them from becoming bored and destroying their possessions.
Look for small toys that can be interacted with, like balls and other things that roll.
This is an excellent pet for anyone with the time to be with it.
What do you love most about Polish rabbits? Please share with us below!
Resources
- 1. (PDF) Natural immunity factors in Polish mixed breed rabbits [Internet]. ResearchGate. [cited 2022 Feb 3]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275525463_Natural_immunity_factors_in_Polish_mixed_breed_rabbits
- 2. House Rabbit Diet [Internet]. home.adelphi.edu. [cited 2022 Feb 3]. Available from: https://home.adelphi.edu/~tw17718/Diet.html
My name is Ben Roberts, and I absolutely love animals. So, naturally, I love writing about them too! As far as my animals, I have a Pit-bull, a Beagle-lab mix, a Chihuahua, and one old cat. Each one of them provides me with a new adventure every day. And the best part is they’re all best friends. Well, except the cat when he gets a little annoyed.
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