Polish Rabbit 101: Part 1
Channel: Pets Life
Date: 2021-03-07

If you’ve ever seen a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat, the odds are good that it was a Polish rabbit.


The Polish rabbit is a compact breed with a reputation for being high-strung, despite loving attention from its owners. They were developed in Belgium as food, but as time progressed, this breed became more popular as a pet.

Polish Rabbit Breed History.

Despite its name, the Polish Rabbit breed has its origin in England and it may have been offspring of an albino Dutch rabbit. In the early 1800s, a few white rabbits of small-sized, and probably mixed origins popped up in England and breeders began calling them “Polish”, we will never know why they decided to call them by this name.  It is thought that it was developed by breeding a Dutch and Himalayan rabbit dating back to the 1600s. By the 1900s, they were one of the most popular meat breeds in Europe, especially in Belgium. These rabbits eventually made their way to America around 1912 and were used to source other breeds, such as the Netherland Dwarf. Soon after, the Polish Rabbit was accepted by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.


Coat.

Polish rabbits love attention and will happily let you pick them up. The Polish rabbit has short, soft, flyback fur that is easy to maintain in comparison to other breeds, which have longer wool, Angoras, for instance. To keep it maintained, you should groom your rabbit once a week or biweekly. During the spring or when they start to shed, you may want/need to increase your grooming to twice a week in order to keep your house fur-free. There are six varieties of Polish rabbit coat color markings that are accepted by the ARBA. They are Ruby-Eyed White, Black, Blue, Chocolate, Blue-Eyed White, and Broken pattern, which is any color mixed with white.


Care Requirements.

These rabbits do not need a large enclosure, as they are small in size. Having said that, we do recommend this breed stay indoors because of their small size, it makes them easy targets for predators such as raccoons and coyotes. Your indoor rabbit enclosure should be made of wire, be large enough for your rabbit to comfortably stretch out, and have a plastic or metal bottom that’s covered in comfortable bedding, horse bedding works well. The bedding needs to be spot-cleaned every day and completely replaced every week.

A Polish rabbit’s diet is like any other rabbit in that it should consist mainly of hay, 70 percent, while the rest should be a healthy balance of pellets, leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables.  Research what kind of fruits, vegetables, and greens are rabbit-friendly – if you’re not sure if a particular food can be eaten, the rule of thumb is simply not to give it to them. Limit the number of fruits that are high in sugar, and make sure to stay clear of iceberg lettuce, as it contains too much water and too little fiber to count as a good meal. Do not feed your rabbit yard clippings as grass can be treated with fertilizer, insecticides, pesticides, and other chemicals that can harm your rabbit.


Housing and Care.

Caring for a Polish rabbit is relatively easy. Because of their small size, this breed only needs enough enclosure space to stretch out, making them an optimal pet for apartment dwellers. Like most small-breed rabbits, Polish tend to be higher strung than their larger counterparts. They are also not ideal pets for small children, since they can be easily dropped, injured, and stepped on. Their high-strung nature makes them better suited for a mature, rabbit-loving, adult home.

Get an indoor cage made of stainless steel. Polish rabbits do not need a lot of room to move around, as they are a very small breed. Look for a cage that is 18” x 24” or 45.72 cm x 60.96 cm and made of stainless steel wiring. The cage should have a door that can be closed shut from the outside. Make sure the cage has a plastic bottom, as a wire floor is too hard for a rabbit’s feet Check that the cage has a separate box or level for the rabbit to go to the bathroom. A litter box like that used for a cat works well. Just make sure to use the rabbit-safe litter. Set up the cage indoors in a spot that is room temperature. Do not put the cage in direct sunlight or in a spot that gets too cold.


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