Blanc De Hotot Rabbit: Pictures, Care Guide, Lifespan & Traits
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If you’re a big fan of pet rabbits, you may have heard of the Blanc de Hotot. This lovely rabbit comes from an area near Normandy, France, called Hotot-en-Ague, which, not surprisingly, is where its name comes from. As a larger breed, the Blanc de Hotot is about as cute and fluffy as rabbits get and makes a wonderful pet. If you’d like to learn everything there is to know about them, read on.
| Size: | Medium |
| Weight: | 8–11 lbs |
| Lifespan: | 7–10 years |
| Similar Breeds: | Dwarf Hotot, Florida White |
| Suitable for: | Families with children, singles, apartment dwellers |
| Temperament: | Lively, sweet-natured, calm, intelligent |
The Blanc de Hotot was first recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) in 1979 and is a mixed-breed rabbit. Its lineage includes the White Flemish Giant rabbit from the Flanders regions of Belgium and the White Vienna rabbit. The combination, created by a rabbit breeder named Eugenie Bernhard, is coveted by rabbit fans due to its friendly, affectionate, and docile ways and long life. Interestingly, these rabbits have keener eyesight, hearing, and smell than other breeds. Ironically, while these aspects were great survival tools, the Blanc de Hotot breed today is endangered.
Blanc de Hotot Breed Characteristics
How Much Do These Rabbits Cost?
Because of their endangered status, you should expect to pay more for a Blanc de Hotot than you will for many other breeds. Typically, the cost will be somewhere between $50 to $200, but it depends on where you live, how many rabbit breeders are nearby, and several other factors. As this affectionate breed’s population decreases, the prices are bound to shoot upward.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Blanc de Hotot
These rabbits are quite friendly and often follow their owner around the house if out of their pen. They don’t need a lot of activity to be happy but enjoy playing with the appropriate rabbit toys and games.
Regarding intelligence, the Blanc de Hotot is smarter than most rabbit breeds. They can learn basic tricks and be obedience trained; potty training is usually a breeze. Many owners are surprised that any rabbit can learn as many things as quickly as the Blanc de Hotot. In terms of intelligence and temperament, the Hotot is rated very highly.
Do These Rabbits Make Good Pets? 👪
As mentioned, Blanc de Hotot rabbits make fantastic pets because they’re so affectionate and enjoy being around people. Like any rabbit, you must socialize your Blanc de Hotot well by introducing it to other people and pets. It would be best if you did this almost immediately after adopting your new pet, as the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be.
As far as children are concerned, the Hotot will gladly let a child hold and pet them as long as that child knows how to do it right. If you have kids, teaching them proper rabbit-handling techniques is a must. That way, your Hotot won’t scratch, bite, or get scared when handled.
Does This Rabbit Get Along With Other Pets?
The Blanc de Hotot is well-known to get along well with other well-trained pets like dogs and cats. However, one caveat is that all rabbits must be socialized well so that territorial or prey issues are lowered or erased. Experts recommend adopting different pets at the same time so they can grow up together, but that isn’t always possible. It’s critical that any pets around your home that are adults are introduced to your Blanc de Hotot gradually so that, if there are any issues, you can prevent accidents and aggression.
Things to Know When Owning a Blanc de Hotot:
Food & Diet Requirements 🥕
Blanc de Hotot rabbits, like most breeds, need a diet that’s about 80% hay and 20% rabbit pellets. Grass hay is essential as it wears down your rabbit’s teeth as they eat it and keeps their digestive system healthy and strong. There are many excellent rabbit pellet brands on the market to choose from.
Habitat & Hutch Requirements 🏠
The hutch you make or purchase for your Blanc de Hotot depends on whether you keep them indoors or outside. For Indoor hutches, one that’s 24 inches by 24 inches should suffice and give a single rabbit plenty of room. It should, however, be doubled if you’re keeping two Blanc de Hotots.
If you keep yours outside, a large hutch is a better choice for your Hotot to run around a bit more. A hutch with a solid, flat base is recommended over one made with a wire floor, as the wire can hurt your pet’s hocks. Straw and hay should also be used in an outdoor hutch so your pet can stay warm at night or on colder days. It should also be noted that this breed prefers colder weather but not under 55 °F.
Exercise & Sleeping Needs 🐇
Blanc de Hotots don’t need a lot of physical activity to stay healthy. Also, rabbits are crepuscular, which means that they’re most active in the morning and late afternoon. Most Hotots will sleep most of the night, so their hutch should be placed where it will be dark and quiet.
Grooming ✂️
Your Hotot will need to be gently brushed once every 2 weeks if it’s not shedding and twice a week when it is. They will, like most rabbits, clean themselves thoroughly, so bathing your Hotot isn’t necessary. Indeed, bathing can cause a lot of stress for a rabbit and is not recommended. If your Blanc de Hotot gets dirty, cleaning it gently with a damp cloth is best.
Lifespan and Health Conditions 🏥
The Blanc de Hotot has a lifespan that, surprisingly, is longer than many dog breeds. Also, Hotots have few, if any, congenital issues that affect their health. However, they have many of the same health issues as most rabbits.
- Urinary tract infections (UTI)
- Dental disease
- Overgrown teeth causing malocclusion
- Uterine cancer
- Myasas (flystrike), a very painful condition caused by flies
- Gastrointestinal stasis (Usually caused by improper diet)
Male vs Female
Besides the obvious sexual differences between male and female Hotots, the only other difference is that females are about 10% to 15% larger than males. This is quite unusual in the animal kingdom, where males of most species are usually larger than females. Males should also be neutered to lower their aggression and spraying tendencies.
3 Little-Known Facts About Blanc de Hotot Rabbits
1. Blanc de Hotot Rabbits Have Exceptional Survival Instincts
Unfortunately, these instincts haven’t prevented the breed from becoming endangered, with less than 500 in the U.S.
2. This Rabbit Is Very Adaptable
They can live practically anywhere as long as they’re cared for well, have good food and water, and get the necessary TLC from their pet parents.
3. Blanc de Hotots Have Luxurious, Silky Fur
Their lovely fur is one of the reasons the Hotot breed has become so popular, along with their wonderful personality and disposition.
Final Thoughts
From everything we learned about the Blanc de Hotot during our research, we’ve learned that these lovely rabbits make phenomenal pets and are genuinely adorable. Lively, friendly, and even affectionate, Hotots are intelligent too and can be trained to do several easy tricks. Sadly, Blanc de Hotot rabbits are endangered, and if you want to adopt one, doing so sooner than later is probably a good idea.
See Also:
- Brazilian Rabbit: Facts, Care, Diet, Pictures & More
- Blanc De Blouscat Rabbit: Pictures, Care Guide, Lifespan & Traits
Featured Image Credit to: Jacquie Klose, Shutterstock
