Bunny Breed Guide: Rex Rabbits

Rex rabbits come in two main types, Mini Rex, and the standard Rex. I will deal with each type seperately so as to avoid confusion.

Rex Rabbits

The standard Rex has a beautiful velvety fur that is popular in the fur trade (not something I recommend or support, this is merely a note for accuracy). Fortunately for the Rex rabbit, it is easier for those involved in the fur trade to take fur from larger animals, so since the mid 1980's Rex's have rarely been used for fur whatsoever. Rex rabbits were also quite often used for meat, but this is less common nowadays, with Flemish Giants being a more popular source of rabbit meat due to their larger size.

A standard rex generally weighs between seven and eleven pounds, and comes in a wide range of colors. Breeders have gained great enjoyment in breeding many different color types of Rex, and today Rexs come in: Blue, Black, Amber, Chocolate, Lilac, Sable, Opal, Red, and White solid colors, and in the following marking styles, Broken, Californian, Castor, Chinchilla, Black Otter. Their ears stand upright, and the coat requires very little grooming.

The Rex temperament is very solid and good natured, and they are known to be very maternal creatures, often accepting the young of other rabbits and raising them as their own. They are relatively calm rabbits, though they are still Rabbits, and will not do particularly well in chaotic situations.

Mini Rex Rabbits

Mini Rex Rabbits are essentially just smaller versons of the Rex rabbit, weighing in at around three to five pounds. They possess the same gorgeous fur coats, and are also friendly, although they do tend to be slightly more active than their larger cousins. I would recommend a full sized Rex if you are considering a pet for children, as they are likely to be more laid back in personality, and less fragile than the Mini Rex. Minin Rex are however, very popular with adults and children alike.

General Notes

Both the standard Rex and the Mini Rex make excellent house rabbits, that is rabbits that live inside. They are relatively easily toilet trained, and will enjoy the company of humans and other animals if introduced in a non threatening way. Their easy care coats put them ahead of some other fluffy rabbit breeds as suitable pets for children and busy adults, and they feel beautiful to stroke. Rex rabbits tend to enjoy human company, and are often described as being more catlike than anything in their personality, happily laying around in their favorite spots before suddenly dashing up and binkying around with joy.