If you live in an apartment and you want to get a pet, a dog or a cat is the first choice for many. But there’s another furry friend that can also make a wonderful companion for apartment living: a rabbit.Â
That’s right — provided you give them a safe, clean, and loving home, bunnies make wonderful roommates! They’re quiet, they don’t take up too much space, and they can even be trained to use a litter tray.Â
But with so many breeds to choose from — the American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes over 50 breeds — how do you find the best bunny for an apartment? For help finding the right rabbit roommate, check out our guide to the top 10 rabbits that are great for an apartment.
If you’re looking for a loveable and downright adorable fur-baby to share your apartment, it’s hard to go past the Mini Rex. This compact cutie has a maximum weight of 4.5 pounds, so your new fur-baby certainly isn’t going to take up too much space on the couch.
For some people, the Mini Rex’s standout feature is their gorgeous plush coat, which also happens to come in a range of beautiful colors. The coat is so soft and velvety that you simply won’t be able to stop yourself from patting your bunny again and again.
But others love the Mini Rex for their calm and friendly nature. These bunnies are usually quite active and like lots of regular attention, all of which makes it quite easy to see why they’re so popular all around the world.
The delightful Dutch rabbit has long been a popular choice among bunny enthusiasts, and it’s pretty easy to see why. These easily recognizable rabbits, which were actually developed in England in the 1830s, offer the perfect combination of good looks and an easy-going temperament.
With a rounded body and a distinctive white nose and saddle, the Dutch rabbit is one of those breeds you can instantly pick out of a crowd. But this bunny has lots of substance to go with its unique style, boasting a calm and friendly demeanor that helps them get on well with people of all ages.
These bunnies also love lots of interaction, so make sure you can meet their care requirements before welcoming one of these furballs into your home.
Originally bred for their meat and fur, the amazing American is now recognized as a wonderful pet. These sweet-natured cuties are typically quite calm and happy to take life as it comes. They’re available in only two colors, blue and white, and tip the scales at up to 12 pounds.
You’ll love the American’s silky coat, plus the fact that they can get on well with older children. The one downside is that these beautiful bunnies are quite rare these days, so you might have to wait a little while before you can find one to add to your family.
Next on our list of the best rabbit breeds for apartments is the delightful Mini Lop. Whichever way you look at it, this distinctive rabbit has so much to offer to apartment dwellers.Â
From the softball-shaped head and gorgeous floppy ears to that small and stocky body, this is a breed you’ll love at first sight. Let’s face it, a bunny that’s commonly described as being a “basketball with a head” is always going to attract plenty of admiring glances.
Your new rabbit roomie also has a winning personality. Mini Lops are sweet, affectionate, and very cuddly, while their intelligence means they’re reasonably easy to train. And because they seem to enjoy human company, they’re wonderful rabbits if you’re searching for a loving fur-baby.
Searching for a bunny with distinctive good looks but that will also look great in an apartment? Look no further than the loveable Lionhead.Â
With that adorable mane around the head, this gorgeous fluffball looks a bit like a male lion. And while this breed was only first recognized in the United States as recently as 2014, it’s quickly gained a loyal following of devoted fans.
Lionheads are clever and playful little creatures with a maximum weight of 3.75 pounds. While their small size and slightly timid nature mean they’re not ideal for young kids, they can be very friendly and affectionate when raised properly.Â
Besides, who wouldn’t want to come home to such a cute and cuddly pet every day?
There’s a common misconception that only small bunnies can be kept in apartments. But that’s simply not the case, and there’s no better proof of this fact than the English Lop.
This ridiculously cute breed has the longest ears in “rabbitdom”, and a medium-sized build that can see them weigh in at around the 11-pound mark. But the English Lop is also well known for their placid and laid-back approach to life, so they’re great if you’re searching for an easy-going companion.
In fact, English Lops are so loveable that they’re commonly referred to as the “dogs of the rabbit world”. Just make sure you’re willing to put in the effort required to keep their ears in tip-top shape.
Small in size but big on charm — that’s the best way to sum up the handsome Himalayan. This distinctive cylindrical breed weighs in at up to 4.5 pounds and boasts beautiful black markings, but it’s the Himalayan’s winning temperament that makes them such a popular choice. These friendly and playful rabbits often love human company, so they can make excellent apartment pets if raised properly.Â
Interestingly, the Himalayan is known by many different names around the world. So if you hear someone referring to your bunny as a Russian Rabbit or an Egyptian Smut, chances are they’re not wrong.
The laid-back Californian is the next beautiful bunny to feature on our list of the best rabbits for apartments. With roots dating back to the 1920s, this SoCal stunner was originally developed for their meat and fur, but today has also built a name for themselves as a “pawsome” pet.
The Californian is generally a sweet-natured and calm breed that enjoys being handled. This breed is also known to get on well with people, which we’re sure you’ll agree is a pretty good thing to have in an animal that’s going to be sharing your apartment. They’re pretty easy on the eye too, with coloring that’s quite similar to that of the Himalayan.
If ever there was a bunny breed that proved good things really do come in small packages, this would have to be it. The Netherland Dwarf has a maximum weight of just 2.5 pounds, which should give you some idea of just how tiny this little cute actually is. Combine this with a large head and a coat that comes in a wide range of colors, and it’s no surprise that the Nethie is such a popular choice among pet parents.
But look past the undeniable cuteness and you’ll find a bunny with a very big personality. Nethies are energetic, inquisitive, and always on the go, and the fact that they don’t always like being handled means they’re not the right choice for everyone.
But if you’re willing to socialize your bunny as much as possible, plus give them plenty of opportunities to exercise, Nethies can make glorious pets.
Last but definitely not least on our list of the best rabbit breeds for apartments is the American Fuzzy Lop. This woolly wonder has a sweet nature that matches their gorgeous looks, which makes it a great choice as a pet for an apartment.
This fuzzy fellow has a beautiful set of lop ears and a weight of up to 4 pounds. But the best part about the American Fuzzy Lop is that this breed loves human interaction, is quite playful and energetic, and has a friendly nature. And if you can make sure your bunny always has a good supply of toys, you’ll go a long way towards providing them with a happy home.