Satin Rabbits – All Important Info About The Breed

The name satin rabbit refers to a group of rabbit breeds that have a particularly silky, strikingly shiny coat.
They can be found in different sizes.
Here we introduce you to the dwarf satin rabbits and show you what you need to pay attention to when keeping them.

Profile

Size: about 30 centimeters
Weight: 1.0 to 1.5 kilograms
Age: up to twelve years
Colors: represented in all typical rabbit colors from light to black
Character: quiet, trusting, curious
Attitude: in small groups
The character of the satin rabbits
The small animals are calm, balanced and quickly become trusting if you take some time to tame and get them used to you.
At the same time they are curious and playful. Like other and larger rabbits, they therefore need enough space, variety and occupation.
Due to their character, the well-balanced dwarf-satin rabbits are wonderfully suitable for beginners in keeping and also for children, as long as they are supported in their care and are not loud and wild around the animals.

Because they become trusting so quickly and are very people oriented, they are also suitable if you want to spend a lot of time playing with them or doing some training.
The joint activities will create an even stronger bond between you.

It all depends on the right attitude. How this should look like, you will learn in a moment.

The coat colors and structure of the satin rabbits

With the satin rabbits all typical fur colors are represented from bright tones up to black. The coat is about 3.5 inches long and smooth.
It has a striking, silky sheen.

So with the color you have a very large choice. The sheen is especially noticeable in the darker colors.

The attitude of the dwarf-satin rabbits

A species-appropriate attitude of satin rabbits means to have at least two better, but three animals as company for each other.

Only with conspecifics they can communicate properly, play, cuddle and groom each other in a rabbit-typical way. So you can not replace other rabbits.

But make sure that the animals are properly socialized with each other and get along well. Because even the otherwise calm and peaceful rabbits can become aggressive and fight.
This is true, on the one hand, when they reach puberty and become sexually mature or, on the other hand, when they are not used to each other.

Secondly, aggression can occur when the dwarf satine rabbits are under stress or there are not enough resources.

Resources are food, water, shelter and space. If there is a shortage of these, competition among the animals occurs. This can result in fights and significant injuries.

Therefore, make sure that there is enough space. One and a half square meters should be available per rabbit. This is for housing alone. So for three animals, that would be 4.5 square meters.

The commercial small animal cages cannot offer such dimensions.

Better are very large versions, which have several levels.

Good and practical alternatives are wooden rabbit hutches, which are divided into several levels. Plexiglas inserts allow the animals to keep an eye on their surroundings and even dig in the litter without it being spread around.

In addition, you have versatile design options. Several sleeping houses, food toys and twigs can be easily accommodated in it.
In addition to spacious housing, your dwarf satine rabbits need daily free range. If you keep them indoors and there is no garden, you can rabbit-proof a room.

However, a secured balcony is also suitable in the summer. Another option is an enclosure.

Make sure there is enough space for the animals to run and hook. The more space available, the better.

Even if the animals are very quiet, you should still keep them busy in a species-appropriate way.

This may require some motivation for the dwarf rabbits.

Therefore, entice them with vegetables, fruit or homemade treats in small amounts.

Possibilities for species-appropriate occupation are:
Food games
For example, hide the food in hay, a food ball, a wire ball or an intelligence toy for rabbits.

A feeding tree also helps to ensure that your animals have to work for the food. It is a natural occupation that occupies much of the rabbits’ active periods in nature.

Branches and twigs

Leafy twigs or thinner branches with bark are a wonderful activity for rabbits.
Gnawing the bark and chewing for a longer period of time is also a good workout and at the same time wears down the teeth that grow throughout life.

So this activity is also extremely healthy and can prevent dental problems.

Course
Jumping and climbing over obstacles provides physical training and can be combined with curling.

Find out about kaninhop that you can do with your rabbits. It’s fun for everyone and strengthens the bond.
Learn tricks
Using treats, you can lure your animals to you, teaching them the command “Come” or “Here” until they respond even without lures.

But you can also make them roll over, respond to their names, or jump through a hoop.

You don’t have to choose one activity over the others. Alternate them with each other so that the animals do not get bored.

Care of the satin rabbits

Because of the slightly longer coat of the dwarf-satin rabbits, the animals can have sticky or wet fur sections more quickly if the litter is dirty or damp.

Therefore, pay attention to tightly closing drinking bottles and a hygienic attitude.

Apart from this, regular brushing of the coat is sufficient to remove loose hair and dirt.
In addition, you massage the skin and stimulate the blood circulation, you can check your rabbits for parasites, injuries or other changes and with sufficient habituation the rabbits find it a pleasant cuddle.

Continue to check:

• Claws
• Anal area
• Genital area
• Belly
• Eyes
• Ears
• Teeth and mouth

This way you will notice diseases and inflammations faster and can be treated early.
This is crucial due to the small size of dwarf rabbits and their low weight.

Even a broken tooth or an inflammation in the mouth area and the resulting reduced food intake can therefore become very dangerous very quickly.

Frequently asked questions

How old do satin rabbits get?

They can reach an age of up to twelve years.

This depends on how their genetic basis is and how they are kept.

With species-appropriate nutrition and occupation as well as little stress, the animals often become older.

Equally, however, a rabbit can die very young, for example, because it suffers from a hereditary disease or is exposed to constant fear.

How many kittens are in a litter of satin rabbits?

Generally, litters of rabbits consist of three to twelve kittens.

However, in dwarf rabbits, they usually turn out smaller. You should expect three to six baby rabbits. This means that even a few sexually mature animals can multiply very quickly.
Not only for this reason you should neuter your rabbits. They will get along better in the long run and some diseases will be prevented.

Where should you buy dwarf satine rabbits?

Satin rabbits are rarely found in pet stores.

The better choice is therefore to buy from a breeder.
Usually the animals are already vaccinated and depending on their age, they may also be neutered.

In addition, you can visit the parents and experience so no surprise in the final size of the rabbits.

Also animal shelters can accommodate satin rabbits. It does not concern in each case older animals. Also whole litters are taken up.

How much does a dwarf satin rabbit cost?

Depending on the origin and the veterinary treatments already carried out, you can expect an average of 30 to 50 dollars for the acquisition.

Realize that this is the least of the costs.
The equipment, the food and the treatment in case of illnesses represent the greater financial burden.

Especially the food is relatively cheap for the animals, because they need only small amounts. However, they also need a lot of secured space, a sufficiently large shelter and a regular change of bedding.

Can dwarf satine rabbits be kept outside?

In mild and warm seasons, this is certainly possible as long as the hutch and outdoor run are adequately secured and provide protection from blazing sun as well as precipitation.

In winter, however, you should refrain from keeping them outside, as the rabbits are very small and light and thus suffer hypothermia more quickly.