Havana bunnies are medium-sized rabbits with a gorgeous shiny coat that comes in five different colors.
Calm, playful, and affectionate the Havana rabbit is best suited for singles, families with older children, and first-time owners.
Are Havana rabbits good pets? Yes, Havana rabbits make good pets and can be kept as indoor or outdoor bunnies. Sweet tempered, affectionate, and calm, this breed of rabbit bonds easily with their human families and makes a great pet. Havana rabbits aren’t overly energetic but they like to interact with their owners and play.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about Havana rabbits and what to expect from owning one.
What Is Havana Rabbit?
The Havana is a common breed of rabbit that is recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. While Havana rabbits are frequently judged at rabbit shows and are very popular show animals, they are also kept as pets.
Havana Rabbit History and Origin
Despite their name, Havana rabbits didn’t originate in Havana, Cuba. In fact, the Havana breed of rabbit originated in the Netherlands when a brown rabbit was born in a litter of a Dutch doe in 1898.
The rabbit’s deep chocolate color inspired the breeders to develop a new breed. The name “Havana” was picked because the rabbit’s fur coat resembled the color of Cuban cigars from the city of Havana.
The first Havana rabbits were brought to the United States in 1916. Soon after this breed was recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association as the Standard Havana.
Nowadays, the ARBA recognizes Havana rabbits in five different colors, including chocolate, blue, black, broken, and lilac (source).
The American Rabbit Breeder Association accepted blue Havana rabbit in 1965 and the black Havana rabbit was recognized in 1980. In 2008, the ARBA accepted the broken colored Havana rabbit.
Characteristics of Havana Rabbit
Havana is a gorgeous looking medium-size breed of rabbit. They have short and round bodies and can be found in five different color types.
Size, Weight, Shape
The Havana rabbit is a compact breed that weighs between 4.5 and 6.5 pounds. The top line of their round bodies should form a half-circle that rises over the hips before coming down to their fluffy tails.
These bunnies have straight, short legs and dark-colored toenails. When it comes to their features, expect your Havana bunny to have a short head, full cheeks, medium-sized eyes, and short ears that are close together.
Colors
As mentioned previously, the American Rabbit Breeder Association recognizes the Havana rabbit in five different color types. Chocolate, blue, black, lilac, and broken colored Havana rabbits can all compete in rabbit shows.
Coat
Regardless of their coat color, all Havana rabbits have short and soft fur that is easy to maintain and doesn’t require too much grooming to stay in good shape.
To control the shedding and keep it to a minimum, indoor Havana bunnies should be groomed once a week with a slick brush. However, you should brush your rabbit twice a week during spring when they start shedding in preparation for warmer weather.
Lifespan
The Havana rabbit has an average lifespan of five to eight years. However, when taken to regular vet check-ups and properly cared for, some bunnies can live up to 10 years.
Temperament/ Behavior
Havana rabbits are known to be relaxed, affectionate, and even-tempered, and are one of the calmest breeds of rabbits you can own. Due to their docile and friendly nature, they make great show and pet rabbits and are a good choice for novice owners.
The Havana rabbit isn’t the most energetic rabbit breed, but they may surprise you by running both indoors and outdoors and even performing several higher hops.
When given enough time to get used to their new surroundings and when properly cared for, Havana rabbits form strong bonds with their families and can be affectionate companions.
Depending on your rabbit’s individual personality they may enjoy being petted more than playing or vice versa.
Due to their medium-size and laid-back temperament, Havana rabbits make great family pets and get along with older children. Keep in mind, all rabbits can scratch and bite if roughly handled, so always supervise young kids while they are playing with your rabbit.
Havana Rabbit Care
Generally speaking, the Havana rabbit is a low-maintenance breed and is easy to care for, even if you are a novice owner.
When it comes to care, know that Havana bunnies, like all other breeds of rabbits, need a diet that consists of around 70 percent hay. The rest of your bunny’s diet should include pellets, fruits, veggies, and leafy greens (source).
Be mindful of what types of vegetables and greens you are feeding to your Havana rabbit, since not all produce is safe for rabbits to eat. For example, some fruits and vegetables such as potatoes and beans contain a lot of sugar which can be harmful to your bunny if eaten in large amounts.
Havana rabbits adapt well to indoor and outdoor living when provided with a spacious and clean enclosure. Furthermore, they also need plenty of time out of their cages to stretch their legs and move freely.
If you are going to keep your Havana rabbit indoors, get a wire enclosure with bedding which has to be spot cleaned every day and completely changed once a week. For outdoor, find a wood and wire enclosure and keep it raised from the ground, so it will remain dry and warm.
Havana Rabbit Health
The Havana rabbit is considered a healthy breed and they aren’t prone to any particular hereditary health problems. However, like with all other rabbits, this breed isn’t immune to common rabbit diseases.
Ingrown teeth are a common issue among rabbits, so you must inspect your Havana bunny’s mouth once every week or so to check their teeth which can grow into their jaws and faces. Overgrown teeth can be extremely painful for your rabbit, but are easily preventable with a proper diet.
Feeding your Havana rabbit, a diet of 70 percent hay will help file down their teeth naturally and prevent them from becoming ingrown.
If you decide to keep your Havana rabbit outside, know that they will be more prone to developing flystrike. Flystrike is a serious condition caused by flies that are attracted by the rabbit’s odor and lie their eggs in the fur near dirty areas (source).
Once the eggs hatch into maggots they begin feeding on the rabbit, basically eating it alive. Flystrike is a potentially fatal condition, so take your rabbit to the vet as soon as you notice any change in behavior or eating patterns.
Rabbit owners should inspect their bunnies for feces and dirt stuck on their coat and clean it right away to prevent flystrike. Also, make sure that your rabbit’s enclosure is always clean and that they are eating and behaving as usual.
Also, don’t forget to check your bunny for skin parasites, including fleas, mites, and ticks, especially if they live in an outdoor enclosure. And if at any point your Havana rabbit shows signs of poor appetite, loose stool, constipation, eye discharge, or vomiting take them to your vet for a checkup.
Havana Rabbit Uses
The Havana rabbit is a very competitive breed and a popular show animal. They also make great pets and are suited for people of all ages and first-time owners.
However, while Havana rabbits make wonderful family pets, they aren’t the best choice if you have very small children.
Where to Get Havana Rabbit Breed?
If you are looking to get a Havana rabbit, the Havana Rabbit Breeders Association is an excellent place to start (source)! There you can find useful information about reputable breeders, clubs, and more information about this breed.
Rabbit Breeders
The Havana rabbit is a common breed so you shouldn’t have trouble locating a reputable breeder in your area. Make sure to research different breeders to find one that breeds healthy Havana rabbits that don’t have any hereditary problems.
Havana Rabbit Price
On average, Havana rabbits cost between $20 to $100 depending on whether they are pet or show quality. Bear in mind, the exact price will also depend on the breeder, coat color, gender, and the rabbit’s lineage.
Conclusion
The Havana rabbit is a medium-sized breed that makes a great pet for people of all ages and families with older children, but it is also a popular show bunny. Easy-going, affectionate, and smart, the Havana bunny is a great choice if you are a first-time owner.
Generally healthy and low-maintenance, this breed can live indoors and outdoors and doesn’t need much to be happy and thrive. But if you decide to get a Havana bunny, make sure to keep its enclosure clean to prevent flystrike and other potential health problems.
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