Looking for a beautiful bunny? Consider getting a Cinnamon rabbit, a friendly, low-maintenance breed with a distinctive russet red, cinnamon coat.
Cinnamon rabbits have been around for over 60 years, but they are still not common even in the United States, where the breed originated.
They were bred as meat rabbits, but nowadays, they are more commonly kept as pets. They are a good choice for a child’s first pet.
As a Cinnamon Rabbit owner, you’ll notice that these rabbits are very active and love to run and jump.
In fact, they can reach speeds of up to 30 to 40 miles per hour when hopping! So, it’s essential to provide them with a fenced backyard or a large, secure enclosure to prevent them from escaping.
In this article, we will cover the history, appearance, temperament, and care requirements of Cinnamon rabbits.
We will also answer some frequently asked questions about the breed. But first we will review the essential facts about the Cinnamon rabbit.
Essential Facts About the Cinnamon Rabbit
Scientific name: Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus
Care level, compared to other rabbits: As long as Cinnamon rabbits get a proper diet, they need no special care.,
Temperament: Affectionate, active, benefits from having a companion rabbit.
Color: Russet (cinnamon) fur, dark eyes.
Lifespan: 5 to 8 years.
Maximum size: 11 pounds (5 kg).
Dietary requirements: Mostly hay. Not more than 10% pellets. No molasses-based feeds.
Compatible breeds: Gets along with other medium-sized rabbits,
Cage size: Cinnamon rabbits need cages about four times the size of their bodies, although larger is always better. Each adult Cinnamon rabbit needs a cage or kennel with 24 inches by 36 inches (609 cm by 90 cm) floor space, and 14 inches (35 cm) clearance of its head. An outdoor hutch with an enclosed play space is ideal.
Thrives indoors, or outdoors in temperate climates
History of the Cinnamon Rabbit
Cinnamon rabbits resulted from an unplanned mating of two rabbits owned by the Houseman family in Missoula, Montana, in 1962.
Their New Zealand buck mated with their Chicilla does. They kept one of the males resulting from the mating.
They crossed it with first a Checkered Giant doe and then a California doe.
The offspring of the second intentional mating of the New Zealand x Chinchilla male with the Californian female, produced a litter of bunnies, most of which had cinnamon-colored fur.
The Housemans began showing the new breed, which was recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1972.
Now more than 50 years later, it still isn’t easy to find Cinnamon rabbits, but the Cinnamon Rabbit Breeders Association is promoting the breed as the “Spice Is Nice” rabbit.
They are promoting Cinnamon rabbits as a great choice for entering into rabbit shows, or even organizing a cinnamon rabbit show on your own.
To recap, here’s a brief timeline of the Cinnamon Rabbit’s origin:
- 1962: Accidental crossbreeding of a Chinchilla doe and a New Zealand buck by Belle and Fred Houseman
- 1960-1972: Development and breeding of Cinnamon Rabbits
- 1972: Official recognition by the American Rabbit Breeders Association
Appearance of the Cinnamon Rabbit
The most prominent characteristic of the Cinnamon rabbit is its unique reddish-brown, cinnamon-colored fur.
Cinnamon rabbits have the commercial rabbit body type. They get this from their New Zealand ancestry.
The head is proportional to the rest of the body, and the ears can grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) long.
Size and Weight
Cinnamon Rabbits are a medium-sized breed.
Most adult rabbits of this breed will weigh between 8.5 and 11 pounds, with an average weight of around 9 pounds.
Cinnamon rabbits are big enough that children can pick them up without the risk of injuring them.
Does (females) are larger than bucks (males).
They possess a commercial body type, which means that their bodies are medium in length and well-rounded.
The head of a Cinnamon Rabbit is proportionate to its body size. Their ears are erect and can grow as long as 4 inches. These physical features contribute to their balanced appearance.
Colors
Cinnamon rabbits have dark highlights on their ears, snout, and paws.
Their fur is almost always russet red, but very rarely, a Cinnamon rabbit will be born with gray or white fur.
All Cinnamon rabbits can have dark red spots inside their hind legs and on their feet and faces.
Their coat is relatively low-maintenance.
Cinnamon Rabbits have short fur that only requires weekly grooming using a slicker brush for most of the year.
However, during shedding season, you might need to increase grooming sessions to twice a week to keep their fur looking its best and to help minimize shedding.
Temperament
Cinnamon rabbits are both laid-back and playful. They are large enough not to be skittish around other non-aggressive pets, such as your cat or a smaller, calmer dog.
They enjoy socializing with humans. They will treat you as if you were a large, strange-looking rabbit.
There are certain rules for getting along with your Cinnamon rabbit that also apply to other breeds. Remember, your Cinnamon rabbit prefers to be petted on its head.
Petting it anywhere else is aggressive behavior among rabbits. Looking at you straight on is a gesture of affection.
Looking at you with a sideways glance is a sign your rabbit is thinking about running away.
Turning around showing you their hindquarters is a sign your rabbit is upset with you.
Also read: Why Do Rabbits Wiggle Their Tails?
Common Behaviors
Cinnamon Rabbits possess a curious and active nature, and they appreciate opportunities to explore their surroundings.
Providing a safe and stimulating environment will keep your rabbit engaged and content. Here are some common behaviors to look for:
- Exploration: Your rabbit will enjoy discovering new objects and spaces in their environment.
- Grooming: Cinnamon Rabbits maintain a short coat, so weekly grooming with a slicker brush is typically sufficient. During shedding season, increase grooming to twice a week.
- Playtime: Offer toys and activities that cater to your rabbit’s curious nature, giving them opportunities to stay active and entertained.
By understanding your Cinnamon Rabbit’s unique behavior and temperament, you can create a stronger bond and ensure a happy and fulfilling life together.
Intelligence
Cinnamon rabbits can be trained to use a litter box. You can teach them to come when you call their name.
Teaching these rabbits tricks requires a lot of patience, but you may be able to train your Cinnamon rabbit to run an obstacle course in 25 to 50 training sessions.
You will have a lot more fun (and your rabbit will, too) if you restrict your activities with your rabbit to house training and playing with simple toys.
Care Requirements for Your Cinnamon Rabbit
Cinnamon rabbits are not hard to care for, but they have some non-negotiable needs.
Housing and Bedding
Your Cinnamon rabbit can make itself at home in a larger pet carrier, if you don’t have a place for an outdoor hutch.
You can also keep your rabbit in a cage with the dimensions listed in the Essential Facts above.
Keep in mind that rabbits need to walk on soft, preferably grassy, or carpeted surfaces. They can break their toes when they run across hard tile or concrete.
Rabbits like to live in hutches with protected outdoor play spaces.
Any rabbit hutch needs to be off the ground, to protect your pets from predatory snakes and carnivores.
You should be able to reach into the hutch to change the hay at least once a week, and you need to be able to clean the hutch with water and vinegar (never soap, ammonia, detergent, or antiseptic) about once a week.
Indoor Housing
Indoor housing provides a safe and controlled environment for your Cinnamon Rabbit.
A spacious, well-ventilated cage or playpen is necessary to ensure your rabbit has enough room to move around and play. It should include:
- A solid floor, lined with bedding or litter to absorb waste and provide comfort
- A hideout, where your rabbit can feel safe and secure
- Safe toys and enrichment to keep them entertained
Remember, regular cleaning and maintenance are essential when providing indoor housing.
Besides you should also let your rabbit out of the enclosure for supervised playtime and exercise, which will keep them physically and mentally active.
Outdoor Housing
If you prefer to house your Cinnamon Rabbit outdoors, a secure and weatherproof hutch is necessary to protect them from predators and harsh weather conditions.
An ideal outdoor hutch should have:
- Insulated walls to maintain a comfortable temperature
- A solid roof to prevent water leakage during rain
- Safe flooring that prevents digging or escapes
Outdoor housing also needs to provide your rabbit with enough space for exercise and play. A secure, enclosed run area connected to the hutch would be an excellent addition.
Always monitor your rabbit’s health and well-being to ensure they’re adapting well to the outdoor environment.
Whether you choose indoor or outdoor housing for your Cinnamon Rabbit, always make sure to provide a comfortable, safe, and clean environment that meets their needs and promotes their overall well-being.
Diet
Cinnamon rabbits like to sleep in the food, in dry hay, that is.
You need to give your cinnamon rabbit an amount of hay approximately equal to its body size daily.
Timothy Hay works best. Lawn clippings are never acceptable, especially if they contain pesticides or herbicides.
Rabbits digest hay twice. The first pass through their digestive tract releases carbohydrates.
They defecate soft pellets, and then eat the pellets. These soft pellets accumulate in the rabbit’s cecum, where they release fatty acids and proteins.
Litter Box
Rabbits can become malnourished if they don’t eat their own poop. Of course, you don’t want them relieving themselves all over the floor.
Try picking up soft poops and placing them in a litter box lined with dry hay.
In about a week, your rabbit will learn where it needs to relieve itself. Be sure to clean the litter box at least once a week.
Grooming
Cinnamon rabbits are very clean animals. They don’t shed most of the year, just one week in the spring and one week in the fall.
Grooming your Cinnamon rabbit with a bristle brush outdoors once a week will prevent most of the shedding that occurs in your house.
Playspace
Wild rabbits run about 3 miles (5 km) a day. Your Cinnamon rabbit would prefer to get just as much exercise on your lawn.
Make sure your lawn is escape-proof because rabbits have very short survival time on their own outside of their homes and protected yards.
Health Issues
The biggest health problems for California rabbits come from contact with urine or feces from wild animals.
Raccoon scat can contain guinea worm eggs, potentially fatal for your rabbit (and sometimes even infecting people).
Rabbits can pick up leptospirosis by stepping in or drinking dog urine. Cats can transmit toxoplasmosis, a brain infection.
Toxoplasmosis makes other animals more docile and more easily attacked by cats!
You don’t have to keep your pet rabbit completely isolated from your family’s other animals. But you do need to make sure your rabbit does not come in contact with wild animals in any way.
Other health concerns for Cinnamon rabbits include:
- Flystrike. Rabbits are usually clean animals, but sometimes a rabbit cannot reach a piece of feces or organic debris that gets stuck in its fur. It’s important to help your rabbit stay clean, because flies can lay eggs in feces on your rabbit’s fur, or in untreated wounds in your rabbit’s skin. The eggs hatch and become larvae, burrowing into your rabbit’s flesh.
- Overgrown teeth. Rabbit teeth never stop growing. They seek things to gnaw on to keep their teeth from growing into their faces. Provide your rabbit with plenty of hay, and wooden chew toys (in preference to your furniture).
- Gastrointestinal stasis. Rabbits that get too much sugar or too little fiber can have accumulations of undigested food in their colons. Flud runs around the obstruction, causing diarrhea and constipation at the same time, leading to dehydration. This condition can be fatal to the rabbit without veterinary treatment. Prevent by providing your rabbit with fresh hay every day.
Rabbits are not compatible with guinea pigs and hamsters. Rabbits can carry bacteria that don’t affect them, but cause pneumonia in rodents.
Popular Bunny Names for Cinnamon Rabbit
Here’s a table with popular Cinnamon Rabbit names, reflecting their breed characteristics.
The Cinnamon Rabbit is known for its warm, russet-colored coat with smoky gray ticking and an orange undercoat.
Many of these names are inspired by their unique coloration and friendly nature.
| Boy Bunny Names for Cinnamon Rabbit | Girl Bunny Names for Cinnamon Rabbit |
|---|---|
| Cinnamon | Amber |
| Rusty | Autumn |
| Spice | Sienna |
| Copper | Ginger |
| Redwood | Honey |
| Nutmeg | Cider |
| Chestnut | Maple |
| Ember | Hazel |
| Smoky | Marigold |
| Blaze | Saffron |
These names emphasize the beautiful cinnamon coloration and gentle temperament of the Cinnamon Rabbit breed, making them fitting choices for your rabbit.
Also read: Popular Pet Rabbit (Bunny) Names (Girl/Boy)
Frequently Asked Questions About Cinnamon Rabbits
Where can I buy a Cinnamon rabbit?
Check with the Cinnamon Rabbit Breeders Directory.
How much will my Cinnamon rabbit cost?
Many breeders sell Cinnamon rabbits for as little as US $30.
Where can I find people online who have Cinnamon rabbits?
Visit the Cinnamon Rabbit Breeders Facebook Group.
Q. Where can I buy a Cinnamon rabbit?
A. Check with the Cinnamon Rabbit Breeders Directory.
Q. How much will my Cinnamon rabbit cost?
A. Many breeders sell Cinnamon rabbits for as little as US $30.
Q, Where can I find people online who have Cinnamon rabbits?
A. Visit the Cinnamon Rabbit Breeders Facebook Group.
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