The Californian Rabbit or also known as California White is one of the most beautiful domestic breeds. Its breed was developed in 1923 by George West of Southern California. He planned to create a breed with “perfect” meat and a dense and desirable coat. He developed a small, chinchilla-colored male by crossing a Himalayan white with Chinchillas after five years of breeding. Then the Californian rabbit was born after they bred several West’s New Zealand rabbits to increase their size. West gave some of his stock to two reputable Southern California breeders, who refined the breed.

In 1928, the Californian rabbit was shown as a breed, then at an American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) convention in 1932, and finally as a recognized breed in 1939. Californian rabbits are now only second in popularity to New Zealand whites.

This rabbit breed has a commercial body type, and they weigh between 8-11 lbs. They also have a muscular body with broad shoulders and hindquarters that are as wide as deep. Their coat is typically entirely white with Himalayan-like markings. Their ears are medium in length and width., with straight-up lobes.

Do Californian rabbits make good pets?

The Californian rabbit is raised for its fur value, and its breed is also suitable for meat production. Therefore, these rabbits are good to make as pets or show rabbits as individuals have raised them. Furthermore, since the Californian rabbit has a beautiful breed with an exquisite appearance, they have an easy-going and adorable character to make as pets. In other words, they are very good-natured, calm creatures and friendly to humans as they are lively and quite active and they enjoy playing with people. Thus, Californian Rabbits do well with human interaction and also make excellent pets.

What do Californian rabbits eat?

These Californian rabbits are herbivorous, which means that they will eat only plants and not eat meat or insects. However, they will eat all plant parts such as roots, bark, seeds, weeds, flowers, and leaves.  

For captives, rabbits will also eat fruits and vegetables. However, aside from fresh fruits and vegetables, Californian rabbits will also eat commercially prepared pellets or rabbit food containing nutrients that they will need to remain healthy. 

However, it depends on the rabbit’s size, age, and activity level regarding the portion they need to take. These rabbits should also consume a bit of hay at least the size of their body weight every day, in addition to pellets and fresh vegetables. Other than that, freshwater is also suitable for them.  

Hay is essential because it keeps this Californian’s digestive system moving and helps to wear down their teeth, making them less prone to dental issues. Hay should make up at least 70% of your rabbit’s diet.

How big is a Californian rabbit?

Californian rabbits are large. They have a large muscular body that is used for meat production. The Californian rabbit’s body shape is round and compact. The commercially raised rabbits are primarily used for fur production; but, later in life, they are slaughtered them to sell their meat for their benefit. Their size is not too large to handle, but it is manageable. 

Because these rabbits are large, the average weight varies between female and male Californian rabbits. A mature Californian buck weighs about 5.45 kg on average, and a mature Californian buck weighs about 4.9 kg on average. In comparison, does are slightly heavier than bucks. They gain weight daily as they grow. The rate of growth is relatively rapid. Californian rabbits are beautiful and worth keeping for the commercial benefits they provide. They fed the best food to ensure proper nutrition and development.

Are Californian rabbits aggressive?

Californian rabbits are pretty popular as they are gentle-natured and friendly. These bunnies also enjoy careful handling and human interaction. Therefore, this shows that they are not aggressive animals; however, children should supervise when playing with rabbits. It is because bunny skin is delicate and can easily get damaged by rough handling. Thus, when handling your Californian rabbits, hold them correctly so that they feel safe and comfortable. It is to ensure that they do not feel distressed or afraid. 

What’s the average lifespan of a California rabbit?

The Californian rabbit’s average lifespan can be up between 5 to 10 years when kept as a pet. This rabbit has a shorter lifespan than the average rabbit breed. These rabbits mature at the age of 7 months after a 30 day gestation period. These rabbits are mature enough to be slaughtered, and their meat is sold on the market after seven weeks of age. They kept fur production throughout their lives, but they butchered for its meat in the ending years of their life. 

How fast does a Californian rabbit grow?

The Californian rabbits can proliferate. Usually, they will reach the perfect weight of about 4–5 lbs in as little as two to three months. Therefore, the slaughter weight to wait is pretty consistent. 

How do you bond with a Californian rabbit?

Californian rabbits can see as shy and quiet pets with proper socialization, which means they are more interactive with human families. Their personalities will bloom, and we can see that they like to play around and be active even though they also want to sit back and cuddle at the right time. 

To build a strong bond with Californian rabbits, especially for younger children, always make them sit on the ground whenever they want to pet the rabbit to avoid getting hurt if they happen to fall or flip over. 

They should also be treated similarly to other rabbits, with toys provided to ensure they do not become bored. Toys can be as simple as a few balls, a paper towel roll, or anything bunny-safe you can find at your local pet store.

Final thought

The Californian rabbit is one of the beautiful breeds with an exquisite appearance. They are also excellent as pets and have an amiable and easy-going temperament. They are very good-natured animals, calm and friendly, and they are also very active and playful. With low care needs, the Californian Rabbit can make a tremendous first-time rabbit too, and as long as we socialize and give them enough of our time, they can be our best friends.

https://www.rabbitproducersassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Californian-Rabbit-1024x576.jpghttps://www.rabbitproducersassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Californian-Rabbit-150x150.jpgFatimahUncategorizedThe Californian Rabbit or also known as California White is one of the most beautiful domestic breeds. Its breed was developed in 1923 by George West of Southern California. He planned to create a breed with 'perfect' meat and a dense and desirable coat. He developed a small, chinchilla-colored...All you need to know about Netherland Dwarf Rabbit