Rex

The Rex is a medium domestic rabbit best known for a coat that feels like cut velvet. Rather than lying flat, the fur stands upright, and the guard hairs match the undercoat in length, so the whole body has an even, plush surface. This texture sets the breed apart and is why owners often call it a velvet rabbit.

Temperament is the other trait people notice first. The Rex tends to be friendly, affectionate, gentle, calm and docile, and most individuals settle well into handling once they trust their household. That makes the breed a good fit for anyone after a quiet indoor pet rather than a high-energy one.

Most adult Rex rabbits weigh somewhere between 3.5 and 4.5 kg, which puts them solidly in the medium range. The body is rounded and well muscled, with a broad head and ears that stand erect. The breed comes in a wide range of recognized colours, and a smaller Mini Rex was later developed for keepers who want the same plush coat in a more compact package.

Who it suits

The Rex suits keepers who want a calm, handleable rabbit and who can offer it daily attention plus room to move. The plush coat needs gentle care, and the breed does best with supervised, respectful handling, so households with very young or boisterous children should manage introductions closely. First-time owners can do well with a Rex as long as they commit to a proper diet, clean housing and regular check-ups.

France is home to the Rex rabbit. The breed goes back to the early 1900s, when a coat mutation turned up in litters of ordinary farm rabbits. Instead of the usual longer guard hairs sitting over a shorter undercoat, the affected kits had fur of nearly one length that stood up from the body and felt like plush.

Through the 1910s and 1920s, French breeders worked to fix the mutation into a stable, predictable type. The gene behind the coat is recessive, so pairings had to be planned carefully to keep the velvet texture consistent from one generation to the next. Early litters were sometimes uneven in fur quality, and selective breeding gradually improved density and evenness.

The breed caught attention at French shows and was soon exported abroad, reaching the United Kingdom and the United States by the 1920s. Breeders in those countries developed it further and standardized a range of colours. Its distinctive coat made the Rex valuable both as a show rabbit and, historically, for its pelt.

A dwarf version, the Mini Rex, came along later by crossing Rex stock with smaller rabbits to produce the same coat in a scaled-down frame. Today, both the standard Rex and the Mini Rex are kept worldwide, mainly as companion and exhibition animals.

The Rex carries a rounded, well-muscled body fairly upright, with a broad head and ears that stand erect. Adults usually weigh around 3.5 to 4.5 kg. The coat is the breed's most recognizable trait: short, dense and upright, with guard hairs and undercoat of nearly equal length. The result is a smooth, springy surface that feels like velvet under the hand.

Coat and colours

The coat remains the most recognizable feature of the breed. Because the guard hairs never project beyond the undercoat, the fur stands up evenly across the body for a plush, level look. Recognized colours range from solid shades such as black, blue, white and lilac to patterned varieties like castor, chinchilla, opal and broken, which pairs white with coloured markings. Density and even texture are what judges look for most closely at shows. The whiskers are often short or curled, a normal side effect of the same coat gene.

Among rabbit breeds, the Rex has a reputation as one of the more even-tempered. Owners commonly describe it as friendly, affectionate, gentle, calm and docile. Plenty of individuals are happy just sitting near their people and accepting gentle petting, and some learn to seek out attention once they have settled into a household routine.

Within the family, the Rex tends to stay relaxed and tolerant of everyday handling, particularly when new people are introduced gradually. With strangers, a Rex can be standoffish at first and only warm up after several quiet visits. Like any rabbit, it may startle at sudden movement or loud noise, so a steady, predictable environment helps it stay settled.

Around other pets, a Rex can get along with calm cats or dogs trained not to chase, though supervision still matters. Two rabbits can bond into a stable pair if both are neutered and introduced gradually on neutral territory. Personality still varies quite a bit from one rabbit to the next.

Grooming

• Brush roughly once a week with a soft brush or just your hands; the short coat doesn't need heavy grooming
• Skip over-brushing, which can wear down the dense velvet texture
• Check and trim nails every 6 to 8 weeks
• Look over the ears and teeth during grooming sessions
• Spot-clean soiled fur with a damp cloth rather than a full bath, which tends to stress rabbits out

Exercise

• Give at least 3 to 4 hours of supervised time outside the enclosure every day
• Set up a safe, rabbit-proofed run or room for hopping and stretching
• Add tunnels, boxes and chew toys to keep the rabbit occupied
• Sensitive footpads mean soft, solid flooring works better than wire

Environment

Keep the Rex indoors or in a sheltered spot that stays roughly between 10 and 21 degrees Celsius. Rabbits handle cool weather far better than heat and can struggle once temperatures climb into the mid-20s and beyond. Make sure there is shade, ventilation, and protection from drafts and damp.

Grass hay, such as timothy or meadow hay, forms the foundation of a Rex's diet and should be available around the clock. Hay keeps digestion moving and wears down teeth that never stop growing. Fresh leafy greens add variety and moisture, while a small daily portion of quality pellets rounds out the nutrients. Clean water needs to be on hand at all times.

Treats and supplements

Fresh herbs and small pieces of fruit, such as apple with the seeds removed, make good occasional treats rather than daily food. A rabbit eating unlimited hay alongside varied greens usually doesn't need supplements. Check with a rabbit-savvy vet before adding any, and keep treats to a small share of the overall diet.

The Rex is generally a hardy rabbit with a lifespan of roughly 5 to 8 years, and some individuals live even longer with attentive care. Most health issues are preventable through the right diet, clean housing and routine handling checks. Because its coat is so short, the breed is a little more prone to pressure sores on the feet than fuller-coated rabbits.

Preventive care

• Keep grass hay available at all times to support teeth and gut
• Use soft, solid flooring to protect the feet
• Check appetite and droppings every single day
• Keep the rear end clean, especially in warm weather
• Book annual vet checks and ask about vaccination where it applies

A Rex needs an enclosure roomy enough to stand up fully, stretch out and take several hops without bumping into the sides. A solid floor matters here, since the breed's lightly padded feet are prone to sores on wire mesh. House the rabbit in a sheltered indoor or covered space, away from drafts, damp and direct heat, and give it daily access to a larger run.

Setup checklist

• Solid-floor cage or pen with soft, absorbent bedding
• Litter tray tucked into one corner
• Constant hay supply plus a heavy water bowl or bottle
• Hide box, tunnels and safe chew toys
• Shaded, ventilated spot free of drafts

Rex rabbits reach sexual maturity at roughly 5 to 8 months, with smaller individuals maturing a touch earlier. For mating, it's usual to bring the doe to the buck's enclosure rather than the other way around. Gestation runs about 31 days, after which the doe gives birth in a nest box she lines with her own fur.

Litters average 4 to 8 kits, born hairless and with their eyes closed. The doe typically nurses only once or twice a day, so a quiet, undisturbed nest is normal even when she is rarely seen with the young. Kits open their eyes at around 10 days old and start nibbling solid food not long after. Weaning happens around 6 to 8 weeks. Responsible breeding calls for healthy parents, attention to coat quality and colour, and a solid plan for placing the young.