Rex Rabbits

Everything you need to know about the Rex Rabbit breed

The Rex is a very popular breed of rabbit that comes in two sizes, Mini and Standard. The Rex is easily recognisable by their short fur. This is recessive genetic trait that was first developed in France in the early 19th century.

Appearance

The Mini Rex typically weighs around 1.5-2kg, a small and slender rabbit. The Standard Rex typically weighs around 3-4kg, but should still be slender and athletic in build.

Their coat is their stand out trait. Their guard hairs stay the same length as their undercoat, giving their coat a very short and velvety feel. They come in a huge range of coat colours.

Behaviour

The behaviour of any rabbit will vary depending on their history which must always be considered. With good husbandry, Rex rabbits can be very active and curious rabbits.

Health

Health of any rabbit will depend on their history and breeding. Unfortunately for Rexes, that short coat is does not benefit them health wise. The same genetics that cause the velvety coat, also mean they often have few to no eyelashes and very short curly whiskers. The lack of eyelashes can cause serious eye problems including blocked tear ducts, they also often have ingrown eyelashes which requires vet intervention.

The short fur on their feet means they are much more prone to sore hocks and the surfaces they live on must be soft to avoid infection.