The Britannia Petite, also known as a Polish rabbit in the UK, is a breed of small domestic rabbits that are not just valued as pets but also commonly displayed in competitive shows. It is characterized by an arched body with a short wedge-shaped head, bold eyes, full cheeks, and short ears. Although it is a dwarf-sized breed, it is not considered an actual dwarf rabbit because it does not have the dwarf gene.
House pet, show rabbit, indoor rabbit
Experienced owners, singles, families with children
England
Energetic, excitable, sweet, curious, friendly
No
6-10 years
Dwarf, 13-15 inches long
2-4 lbs
13-14 inches
About 14-16 inches
Smooth, short, soft, with fine hairs
Short, touch each other
Low
High
Spot-clean your bunny’s cage every day to remove its poop, make sure that the cage bottom is not slippery, check the ears for symptoms of infections or waxy build-ups
An indoor cage, approximately measuring 18 X 24 X 18 inches is needed; use a larger enclosure of dimensions 72 X 24 X 24 inches to keep a group of rabbits
Unlimited fresh hay, a quarter cup of quality pellets, and a cup of water per day; sparingly give fruits, carrots, spinach, and parsley as treats
Occasional
Regular
Brush its coat using a slicker brush once every alternate week; gently clean the inside of its ears with baby wipes if they are dirty
Low
High
As an energetic breed, it should be kept out about 3-4 hours of its cage so that it can socialize with its human family while roaming, playing, and exploring the indoors
Low
High
Price of Britannia Petites varies depending on the quality, and the annual cost of raising it as a pet is average
Low
High
Heavily molts twice or thrice a year, during which its coat needs brushing once or twice a week
Their origin can be traced back to the early 1800s when the Polish rabbits were bred in England for show purposes. They were brought to the US in the 20th century, where it was dubbed as the Britannia Petite. The rabbit breed gained recognition from the American Rabbit Breeders’ Association (ARBA) in 1957.