The Cinnamon rabbit is one of the newest breeds of rabbit and was only created in 1962. Because they haven’t been around too long, the Cinnamon bunny isn’t very well known and has yet to spread across the whole of the United States and the rest of the world.
That being said, they certainly have made their mark in areas. Known as an “all purpose rabbit”, this bunny can be used for meat, fur, as a show rabbit and as a pet. They have a fantastic personality and will keep their owners on their toes, and their features and rarity mean they excel at rabbit shows.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Cinnamon rabbit and seeing whether they could be the pet for you, keep reading below to find out more.
History Of The Cinnamon Rabbit
The Cinnamon rabbit gets it’s name from it’s russet color fur. These bunnies were originally bred as meat rabbits, which helps to explain their size. Their parent breeds also have foundations in the meat industry.
The Cinnamon rabbit breed was recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1972. Let’s take a look at their interesting origins below.
Breed Origin
In 1962, The Houseman family in Missoula, Montana accidentally bred a Chinchilla doe and a New Zealand buck. Keeping one of the crossbred bucks, they then crossed it with a Checkered Giant doe and a crossed Californian doe.
The offspring of the buck’s mating with the Californian doe produced a russet-colored bunny in its litter. The offspring of the mating with the Checkered Giant produced two rabbits with russet-colored fur, one of them being male and the other being female.
The Housemans then decided to cross the two offspring from the Checkered Giant’s mating, which produced a litter of bunnies where 70% of them had the russet color. The color became known as the “cinnamon” coloring.
The Cinnamon breed of rabbit was introduced to the ARBA not long after. It took some time to be accepted by the association, but was finally granted recognition in 1972.
Characteristics Of The Cinnamon Rabbit
These rabbits are best known for the unique coloring of their fur. Despite being primarily bred for meat when they were created, their unique appearance makes them a popular choice as a show rabbit, along with the fact they are quite rare and therefore stand out even more. Like most rabbits, they’re also very docile and friendly and so make a great house rabbit too.
Appearance
The Cinnamon rabbit is a medium sized breed that weighs between 8.5 and 11 lbs, but usually weigh around the 9 lbs mark. They have a commercial body type, with a medium length body which is rounded. Their head is proportionate to their body and their ears are erected can grow as long as 4 inches.
Coat
They have a short coat that has an excellent sheen. It is easy to care for and they do not require too much grooming. We will go into more detail about grooming your Cinnamon later on.
Color
The coat color is what makes Cinnamons stand out from the crowd! As their name suggests, they come in a light brown color like the hue of ground cinnamon, with smoky gray ticking and shading around the ears, snout and paws. They can have unique colored rust spots inside their hind legs and they can also appear on their feet and face. These rabbits do not come in any other colors.
Temperament
These rabbits have a wonderful temperament — they are friendly and calm. They love the attention that they get from their family members and are very sociable. They won’t be afraid to let you know if they want some love and affection!
While the Cinnamon rabbit is fairly laid-back, they are also an active breed. They like to be outside of their hutch, hopping around and exploring. They are playful and will enjoy any toys that you give them, too.
It is important to note that, like any with rabbit, you should always respect your Cinnamon’s personal space, especially when they are new to your home. If they are afraid or frightened, then they might try to bite.
Lifespan
The Cinnamon rabbit has an average life expectancy of between 5 to 8 years.
Known Health Issues
Fortunately, the Cinnamon rabbit doesn’t have any breed-specific health problems. However, they can be prone to some of the same health concerns all rabbits are prone to. We had laid out the main issues below:
– GI Stasis — this is a potentially deadly condition in which the digestive system slows down or stops completely. Symptoms include loss of appetite, small or no fecal pellets and lethargy. It can be treated if caught quickly.
– Flystrike — this is when flies lay their eggs on soiled patches of fur and, when their eggs hatch, they begin to eat the rabbit from the inside out. Symptoms include seizures, loss of motion (listlessness) and skin irritations. Always ensure your rabbit’s rear end is clean, especially as they get older.
– Ear Mites — this is a common parasite of pet rabbits. You may see your rabbit shaking their head a lot if they are affected. Your vet will be able to treat them.
– Malocclusion — this is when the upper and lower teeth are misaligned so that the normal process of chewing doesn’t wear down your rabbit’s teeth. Regular dental checkups are very important. You should also make sure your rabbit eats plenty of hay.
Like all rabbits, they can also suffer from back issues if they are mishandled or accidentally dropped.
Regular vet checkups will ensure that you catch any health problems before they become too serious. You should also make sure that you are buying from a reputable breeder.
Daily Life
Now we know all about the traits and characteristics of the Cinnamon rabbit, it is time to take a look at what living with one of these rabbits on a day to day basis is really like. We will cover their food and diet, their grooming needs, their exercise requirements and their living space requirements.
Food And Diet
The exact amount you feed your Cinnamon rabbit should be based on their size, age and activity level. They should be eating a portion of hay that is at least as big as their body size every day, alongside pellets and fresh vegetables. Fresh water should also always be available to them.
Hay is very important as it helps to keep your Cinnamon’s digestive system moving, as well as helping to wear down their teeth so they are less prone to dental issues. At least 70% of your rabbit’s diet should be hay.
High-quality supplementary pellets help to provide extra vitamins and minerals that keep your rabbit healthy and to give them a balanced diet. Take a look at a supplementary pellet food we recommend below.
Best Food For The Cinnamon Rabbit
Supreme Pet Foods Russel Rabbit Food
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We recommend the Russel Rabbit food from Supreme Pet Foods for the Cinnamon rabbit. This is a nutritionally balanced and tasty mix promote natural foraging. This food has a timothy hay base to provide an excellent source of fiber for optimal digestive health and there is no added sugar or unnatural ingredients. Alfafa is also included for fiber and there is calcium for your Cinnamon’s bones and teeth. Vegetables included provide the necessary protein, vitamins and minerals your bun needs to stay healthy, too.
Exercise
In the wild, rabbits run around three miles a day. Therefore, it is very important that you give your pet rabbit enough exercise every day to keep them active and entertained. They should have at least three hours of free-range time, whether this is out of their hutch in the garden or just around the house.
The Cinnamon rabbit is a very active bunny that loves to run and jump. These rabbits can reach up to 30 to 40 miles per hour when hopping, so having a fenced back yard where they can’t escape is a good idea!
If you want to leave them alone outside unsupervised, they will need a large secure enclosure. This can be stand-alone or attached their hutch. This will keep them safe from predators and means you won’t need to be on the lookout all the time.
You should also purchase some toys for your Cinnamon rabbit to keep them entertained. If they are kept mentally stimulated and engaged, they won’t feel bored and will be less likely to become destructive, particularly if they live inside.
Family Compatibility and Trainability
The Cinnamon bunny makes an excellent pet for many different households. These rabbits love attention and so will fit in well with individuals, couples, the elderly and families with children. Remember that they are an energetic bunny and do need space and time to exercise every day.
Unlike some other rabbits, the Cinnamon rabbit will benefit from having a bunny companion! This rare breed lives a much happier life when they have a friend as they are sociable rabbits. However, if you have both a buck and a doe, make sure they are both spayed and neutered otherwise you may find yourself with lots of baby bunnies!
While training a rabbit isn’t as easy as training a cat or a dog, it can be done! You can teach your Cinnamon to use a litter box. You can also try teaching them to come when their name is called!
You can house your Cinnamon indoors or outdoors. Some owners prefer to keep their Cinnamon rabbit outdoors because this allows room for a larger hutch and larger space for your rabbit to hop around in, particularly as they are an active breed and are of a large size. However, they are a sociable rabbit and will happily live inside with their family members, too!
Whether they are inside or outside, their hutch should be large enough that they can easily hop around inside. Try to stay away from hutches with wire floors as these can cause sore hocks within rabbits. Take a look at the hutch we recommend below.
Best Hutch For The Cinnamon Rabbit
TRIXIE Pet Products 2-in-1 Rabbit Hutch with Insulation
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We recommend this hutch from TRIXIE for your Cinnamon. This two story home is perfect if you are thinking about getting your Cinnamon a friend. With two different levels, there is a ramp between the two that allows your rabbits to move easily around the hutch. However, each level also has a retreat area that is enclosed and can be used separately if you need to keep your rabbits apart. All you need to do is remove the ramp and close the hatch door, and you have two separate hutches!
The hutch is made from wood with metal wiring and there are also removable plastic panes for the windows. This means that you can keep your bunnies safe overnight and you won’t have to worry about predators getting throw the mesh. The hutch is sturdy and weatherproof and there is styrofoam insulation in the outer walls for added protection from the elements. A hinged roof allows for easy cleaning and there are two removable trays, too.
Grooming
These rabbits do not require a lot of grooming and their coat is easy to maintain. To keep them in tip-top condition, brush them once a week or once every two weeks. During shedding seasons, you may have to increase brushing them to two times a week to remove dead hair to keep your house fur-free!
You should very rarely bathe your rabbit. It is not really necessary, unless they are really dirty. Bathing can be a traumatic experience for them, too. You should also trim their nails as and when is needed.
Cinnamon Rabbit FAQ’s
How big should my rabbit’s cage be?
The rule with rabbits is: the bigger the better! If you have the space for a big hutch then your rabbit will always appreciate the extra room to roam and exercise. No one wants to be stuck in a cramped space!
If you do not have a lot of space, then the cage should be at least 4 times the size of the rabbit. A guide is 24″ by 36″ for smaller rabbits (less than 8 lbs) or 30″ by 36″ for larger rabbits. Hutches with multiple stories are also popular as they give your bun more space.
Should the Cinnamon rabbit be kept outside?
This is completely up to you! Some owners prefer to keep their Cinnamon outside. This is because they are an active breed who don’t enjoy being confined to a small cage. They will be happy in a large hutch outside where they can spend some time exercising without supervision. If they spend too much time enclosed in a small hutch, they can become very bored and destructive.
That being said, the Cinnamon rabbit can live happily inside, too. You just need to make sure you are letting them have free-rein of the house for at least 3 hours a day (if not more!).
Summary
Friendly and affectionate, the Cinnamon rabbit isn’t too well known but makes a fantastic family pet. While they are popular as a show breed and were originally bred as a meat rabbit, they can thrive as a pet. They don’t have very high care needs and just want love and affection. The Cinnamon is sociable and will benefit from having a bunny friend, but if you don’t have the space then ensure they get lots of exercise and time to spend with their human friends. Do you think the Cinnamon rabbit could be for you?