Britannia petite
The Britannia Petite is known in Britain as the Polish rabbit, and confusingly the American Polish is a different, heavier breed.
It is one of the smallest rabbits kept, developed in Britain and standardised as a fine-boned show animal.
It weighs around a kilogram, with a full arch that lifts the body clear of the ground, a wedge-shaped head, and short upright ears carried close together. The temperament is emphatically not that of a placid lap rabbit: Britannia Petites are energetic, quick and often feisty, and most keepers describe them as a breed for experienced hands rather than a child's first pet.
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Size
- 0.9–1.1 kg
- Lifespan
- 8–12 years
- Coat
- Short, fine and flyback
- Temperament
- Energetic, quick, often feisty; not a beginner's rabbit
- Recognition
- Recognised; kept mainly by show breeders
Related: American
3 britannia petite photos, newest first
Living with a britannia petite
Grooming is minimal — a weekly stroke over with a damp hand.
The temperament is the thing to plan for. These are active, easily startled rabbits that dislike restraint and can be nippy, and they are frequently recommended against for households with young children.
Small rabbits still need proper space and a companion; size does not reduce either requirement. Keep in neutered pairs, feed mostly hay, and vaccinate annually against myxomatosis and both RHD strains.
Small breeds are especially prone to dental malocclusion, so check the front teeth regularly and have a vet check the back ones.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual rabbits vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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