If you ever wondered if your pet bunny is cold or how cold is too cold for rabbits, we have some answers for you about pet rabbits’ temperature tolerance and what temperature is too cold for rabbits.

What Is the Ideal Temperature for Pet Rabbits?

Rabbits feel most comfortable at temperatures of about 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit.

You should always remember to check the temperature inside your rabbit’s hutch, since it may be warmer inside due to your pet’s body heat.

When the temperature inside the hutch falls below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, you should take some measures to protect your bunny, since healthy adult rabbits do not tolerate well temperatures that are below this limit.

What Temperature Is Too Cold for Rabbits?

You probably think that rabbits do not do well with low temperatures, since they are small and fragile animals, but most healthy adult rabbits can tolerate lower temperatures pretty well. This is due to the fact that they have winter coats designed to help them survive the winters in some of the coldest areas of the world.

So, if a rabbit breed can survive winter in Antarctica or Russia, you can rest assured that it will not sweat the cold winter days in warmer climates. If the temperature drops down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you do not have to worry that it is too cold for your pet rabbit.

It may be dangerous, however, to leave your pet rabbit outdoors at temperatures that fall below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can Rabbits Freeze to Death?

Even if hot weather is widely known to be the enemy of most rabbit breeds, as they can die from heatstroke, cold months are not risk-free for your beloved pet rabbit.

Cold-related illnesses are frequent when temperatures drop significantly, and unfortunately yes, rabbits can freeze to death during colder days.

Especially important in cold weather is doing your best to keep your pet rabbit dry, since its thick coat will protect it from the cold, but only if the humidity does not reach the bunny’s skin. Having water reach its skin will lead to the inability to maintain its temperature at safe levels. You should make sure that your pet rabbit does not accidentally knock over the water dishes.

Do Rabbits Get Cold at Night?

The short answer would be no, but it really depends on the climate of the area you live in. Since they are cold-weather animals, they have a high tolerance to lower temperatures. If you suspect that your pet rabbit gets cold at night, you can verify by measuring its temperature.

If the rabbit is comfortable with the environmental temperature, it is body temperature should be somewhere around 101-103 degrees Fahrenheit. If left outside on days with near-freezing temperatures, in a well-insulated hutch, your pet rabbit should not show any signs of being cold.

It is important, however, that the temperature in the hutch does not fall below 20 degrees Fahrenheit and that your bunny’s body temperature remains above 100 degrees Fahrenheit at all times.

How Do I Know If My Rabbit Is Cold?

Besides checking its temperature and making sure it remains above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you can check your rabbit’s ears. If the ears or other extremities, like their paws, are too cold or too hot, it could mean your bunny has a fever.

You should also check to see if your pet rabbit fluffs up and lays on top of its legs instead of stretching out. This may be another sign that the environment is too cold for your bunny.

What Temperature Is Too Cold for Baby Rabbits?

If a healthy adult rabbit can withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit, baby rabbits and old rabbits need warmer temperatures to feel comfortable. You should not rely on a hutch, even if it is very well insulated, to protect a baby rabbit from the cold.

The ideal temperature for a baby bunny should be around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure that your baby rabbit does not freeze during colder winter days, you can use heating pads or light bulbs to raise the temperature in its hutch, especially if the baby bunny is very small, does not feed on its own and does not have a thick fur to protect it.

How Can I Protect My Rabbit from the Cold?

If you can not move your pet rabbit to a warmer place, the best thing you can do is to insert a blanket in its hutch, and then shield your bunny from moisture with a waterproof material.

Rabbits love soft fabrics, such as blankets or towels, so apart from being protected from the cold, your pet will enjoy the soft texture of the cosy shield you provided.

However, you may want to avoid wrapping the rabbit in a blanket or any other material, since this can cause the animal to feel trapped and uncomfortable.

It may even try to escape from the uncomfortable situation and injure itself. There are some drawbacks to using a blanket to keep your rabbit warm. If it chews the fabric, you can end up at the vet with an intestinal issue.

Also, rabbits can be allergic to certain types of fabric or to products you use to clean the blanket, such as fabric softener or laundry detergent. You may want to keep in mind that if you give a blanket to your pet rabbit, it will no longer belong to you, as they are territorial animals. Thus, make sure to use a blanket that you no longer need if you do not want to upset your beloved pet rabbit.

Can Rabbits Live Outside in Winter?

The short answer is yes, rabbits can live outside all year around, including winter. Outdoor rabbits are better equipped to face the cold, since they grow a thicker coat in winter. This does not mean, however, that you should leave them unattended when temperatures drop significantly. Make sure you provide them with a well-insulated shelter, placed in an area that is shielded from the icy cold winter winds.

Other Questions

Can rabbits die from cold?

Rabbits are well equipped to withstand temperatures even below the freezing point as long as they are kept away from the wind and the conditions are not wet. Being cold and wet can make the rabbit ill which could prove to be fatal if not treated on time.

Rabbits that are older can suffer from arthritis, so they should be kept warm and dry. Some rabbits are thin and young and do not have a thick winter coat, they also need to be kept keep warm and dry. The ideal temperature for domestic rabbits is between 10-20°C. 

Do rabbits get cold at night?

Rabbits do not get cold at night. They are made to survive winter and are highly temperature resistant, therefore they can handle temperatures down to almost 30°F (-2°C). They are located throughout the coldest areas of the planet, from Antarctica to Russia.

Their winter coats make them much tougher and stronger. Feeling their ears is an easy way to check if your rabbit is feeling cold. A tell-tale indication of a bunny's temperature is overly warm or cold ears. You can also check that by measuring their temperature. If it is under 100°F (37.8°C), then you should warm them up. Give a call to your vet if you are in doubt. 

Can rabbits live outside in winter?

Yes, they can. In the winter, outdoor rabbits grow a thicker coat and moult to make their coat tinner in the summer. You can put them in a fully enclosed shelter such as a shed, barn, or other free-standing structure. Wind, rain, and other cold weather elements do not directly impact the rabbits in their home with a fully enclosed shelter, eliminating the need for external structures built around cages.

However, you should closely watch the outdoor shelter, if the temperature falls below freezing point then you need to make sure that their home is well equipped to keep them dry and warm.