Rabbits: How Do You Tell Their Sex?

The pouch under the chin shows this is a mature female rabbit.

As with all mammals, rabbits have numerous physical and behavioral differences between the genders. The sexes aren't, however, as easy to differentiate as dogs and cats, especially when the rabbits are young. Pet store staff and others often mistakenly identify boy and girl rabbits, which can lead to unwanted bunnies. Pet rabbits should always be neutered for health and behavioral reasons. However, because rabbits can have babies relatively young, it is also sensible to double-check that those bunnies really are the sex you think they are.

Instructions

1. Pick up the rabbit and hold it upside down in your lap. Being upside down sends most rabbits into a near-trance state, so your pet rabbit is unlikely to wriggle.

2. Press gently either side of the openings near the tail with two fingers. If you are unused to handling rabbits, ask somebody else to hold the animal while you apply light pressure.

3. Look at the shape of the opening farthest from the tail. In female rabbits it is a slit, and in males it is circular. Male rabbits over 10 weeks old also have testicles at either side of this opening that you may be able to feel. Remember that male rabbits retract their penises and testicles. Not seeing or feeling the typical male genitalia is not a sign the rabbit is a girl.

4. Take new pet rabbits to the vet as soon as possible for an initial check-up, confirmation of gender and to arrange appointments for neutering and vaccinations.

Tips & Warnings

• Mature rabbits show more obvious differences. You may be able to see the nipples on females, who also normally have a pouch underneath their jaws that looks a little like a double chin. Unaltered male rabbits may display gender-typical behavior such as mounting each other or random objects like cushions and soft toys. However, it is advisable to get your pet rabbits neutered or spayed when they are a few months old. Serious health problems can develop otherwise, especially in females, and unaltered rabbits of both genders may be aggressive.

References

• Pet Education: Sexing Rabbits
• House Rabbit Society: FAQ -- Spaying and Neutering