Rabbits are already such small mammals, but there are dwarf and miniature versions that are even smaller! These cute little pocket-sized critters are especially adorable and are often highly prized domestic pets.
Here are some of the smallest rabbit breeds!
List Of The Smallest Rabbit Breeds
- Netherland Dwarf Rabbit
- Jersey Wooly
- Polish Rabbit
- Holland Lop
- Dwarf Hotot
- Lionhead Rabbit
- American Fuzzy Lop
- English Angora
8 Smallest Rabbit Breeds
1. Netherland Dwarf Rabbit
The Netherland Dwarf rabbit is a domestic rabbit and is the smallest domestic breed in the world. Its neotenic appearance has made it relatively popular as a pet, and it’s also commonly used for rabbit and pet shows.
Originally bred in the Netherlands, Netherland Dwarf rabbits are a result of selective breeding between small wild rabbits and Small Polish rabbits.
This is seen in the often skittish and disagreeable personality traits of untrained rabbits of the breed, harkening back to the wild rabbits that gave them their little size.
These rabbits also tend to be easily stressed out, aloof, and nervous, though they have a lot of energy and are very active. In other words, their temperament is focused on survival, a necessary part of being so little!
This very small size also makes the breed unsuitable for children, though they’re excellent pets for adults as they tend to be quiet, easily trained, and clean with minimal grooming needs. They enjoy respectful human interaction and are extremely affectionate with their loved ones!
Weighing a mere 1.1 to 2.5 pounds, Netherland Dwarf rabbits have a “cobby” body, with disproportionately large eyes that make them extra adorable.
Their ears are very short and tend to be quite high on the face, which is rounded and makes them look even more infantile. This tiny body size is a result of dwarfism.
2. Jersey Wooly
The domestic rabbit known as the Jersey Wooly was first introduced at an American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) Convention in 1984, making it a relatively recently defined breed.
These rabbits are named after the wool-like fur throughout their body, which is easy to care for and makes their bold heads very cute.
Jersey Woolies are one of the United States’ most commonly exhibited rabbits. The breed was created through breedings of the French Angora and Netherland Dwarf rabbit, which led to the small little mammals being both wooly and petite.
The Jersey Wooly rabbit is renowned for being a very gentle rabbit, with a docile and agreeable disposition.
They’re extremely playful and very affectionate, with a friendly personality that makes them fantastic pets. Depending on specific temperament, these rabbits can be relaxed lap bunnies or they can be the bold, outgoing, and adventurous type!
Jersey Woolies weigh a mere 3 pounds on average, usually between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds. Their ears are extremely small, at just about 2.5 inches in length, and ARBA Standards of Perfection dictate that they cannot be longer than 3 inches!
The tiny little rabbits have compact bodies and bold, squarish heads that have earned them the nickname “Mug Head”.
3. Polish Rabbit
The Polish rabbit, also known as the Britannia Petite Rabbit, is a popular rabbit show bunny that actually, despite its official name, likely originated in the United Kingdom.
Its small size means that it is frequently confused with the Netherland Dwarf rabbit, despite some distinctive differences.
Polish rabbits are considered fancy exhibition breeds, though they also make for popular pets. Male Polish rabbits are often very friendly and quite calm, though doe rabbits may be slightly more territorial.
Polish rabbits are notably small, weighing an ideal 2.5 pounds at the age of 6 months and above, though they can end up weighing a maximum of 3.5 pounds.
Full cheeks and big eyes give the Polish rabbit a very adorable appearance, and its short ears that touch each other at all times add to the cute appeal.
Although they’re very small, Polish rabbits need a lot of exercise and can experience many health difficulties if not properly cared for.
They must be handled very gingerly because of their tiny size, but they’re quite brave when it comes to exploring their environments. These rabbits also need a special, extra-small diet to match their size!
4. Holland Lop
The Holland Lop is one of the United Kingdom’s and United States’ most popular breeds of domestic rabbit. They’re a miniature breed that is bred as a hybrid of the Netherland Dwarf and French Lop, both of which it looks quite similar to.
The Holland Lop is also one of the world’s smallest lop-eared rabbit breeds, with those ears being particularly iconic features on them.
Holland Lops weigh a mere 4 pounds at maximum weight. Despite their small size, they are quite muscular, which is hard to see given the cute appearance of most of their body parts.
Their tails are small and fluffy and their somewhat broad shoulders are dwarfed by their 4.7-inch lopped ears.
The Holland Lop breed is known to be very calm, making them an ideal playmate and lap bunny for owners. Both sexes of the rabbit are friendly, though doe rabbits may be a little nippy and shy at first.
They do need a lot of exercise, though, and require sufficient chewable toys to be happy. They can be quite destructive if their energy isn’t burned off!
5. Dwarf Hotot
The Dwarf Hotot is a fancy domesticated rabbit breed and is widely considered too small to have viable commercial value.
As its name suggests, this is a dwarf breed, and though never one of the most popular domestic bunnies, it’s also always had a decent fanbase and has been nicknamed the “eye of the fancy”.
The Dwarf Hotot’s most iconic feature is its coat, which gives it a unique appearance. Its fur is completely white except for a pair of colored circles, one around each eye. This makes the black-eyed white rabbit easily recognizable.
Two separate breeders created this appearance, both using a Netherland Dwarf as one of the parents, which is how the Dwarf Hotot came out so small!
Dwarf Hotots are compact rabbits with features that are somewhere between a Netherland Dwarf rabbit and a Polish rabbit, even though it has no ancestry of the latter.
Ears must be no longer than 2.75 inches according to ARBA Standards of Perfection, so the ears are extremely petite on the small but bold head of the rabbit. These rabbits weigh no heavier than 3 pounds, too.
There are many potential temperaments of Dwarf Hotots, but most are quite friendly and make for good pets. They can be outgoing and energetic, or they can be moodier and on the calm side. Either way, the fancy breed’s small size has earned it many fans!
6. Lionhead Rabbit
The Lionhead rabbit is a domestic rabbit breed named for its impressive and iconic wool mane that encircles its face, giving it what looks like the mane of a lion.
It is not particularly known where the long-coated rabbit’s genetics lie, but most reports involve other small parent breeds, such as the Netherland Dwarf rabbit, Jersey Wooly, and miniature Swiss Fox rabbit.
The Lionhead rabbit breed is quite popular and even has an annual Lionhead Exhibition Specialty in the United States!
As pets, these bunnies are known to be well-mannered and friendly, though they become skittish, aggressive, and bitey when they feel nervous or threatened.
These rabbits are also extremely smart and have been known to learn orders and commands well. As such, they’re great house pets.
The Lionhead rabbit has a compact, upright body, with a high-mounted head that gives it the prideful appearance of a lion.
Its furry ears are short, measuring between 2 and 3.5 inches, and the rabbit only weighs between 2.5 and 3.75 pounds, so it’s notably small, and it looks almost buried in its shock of wooly mane.
7. American Fuzzy Lop
The American Fuzzy Lop appears similar to the Holland Lop, but with wool-like fur that is more similar to a shorter version of Angora breed hair.
Still, its history is intertwined with that of the Holland Lop, which is its ancestor breed, bred to push a recessive gene that gives the Fuzzy Lop its wooly fur.
The American Fuzzy Lop has to stay small to meet breed standards and cannot be heavier than 4 pounds, though it has to be at least 3 pounds to qualify.
This breed has a very compact body that is supplemented with an impressive amount of muscle for its size. The muzzle of the breed is flat and short and its ears lop, as its name suggests, framing its face.
In terms of personality, American Fuzzy Lops love attention from their loved humans, and they enjoy being around other rabbits. Toys are important to their enrichment and happiness, as this is a playful and active breed.
These small, social mammals make for great pets due to their lovely temperaments, and they’re quite popular due to their adorable size and personality.
8. English Angora
The English Angora is one of 11 Angora breeds and is the smallest among them. Like all Angoras, the English Angora is prized for its thick coats of wool fur, which are sheared, plucked, or combed. The Angora is also one of the world’s oldest types of domestic rabbits!
English Angoras are considered a compact breed, though they’re slightly larger than the others on this list, weighing in at between 5 and 6 pounds with a maximum of 7.5. Unlike other Angoras, their little faces are filled with woolen fur, and they have fur on their feet and ears as well.
This small breed of Angora has a good temperament and is a very popular pet. It doesn’t require much attention, though it does love regular interaction and play. These rabbits bond closely with the people who groom them and are extremely sociable.
However, likely due to their little size, the English Angora doesn’t enjoy being held or picked up and may become aggressive when frightened, a protective mechanism for its little self!
Conclusion
Small rabbit breeds make for cute and cuddly pets. Despite rumors of a short lifespan, most of these breeds actually live for a fairly long time and will bring lots of light and liveliness to their homes!