Rex

The Rex is a medium-sized domestic rabbit, best known for a coat that feels like cut velvet rather than ordinary fur. The fur stands upright instead of lying flat, and because the guard hairs and undercoat grow to almost the same length, the whole body has an even, plush surface. This texture is what defines the breed and explains why it is often called a velvet rabbit.

Most adult Rex rabbits weigh somewhere between 3.5 and 4.5 kg, which puts them squarely in the medium size bracket. The body is rounded and well muscled, the head broad, and the ears stand erect. Breeders recognise the Rex in a wide range of colours, and a smaller Mini Rex has also been developed for owners who want the same coat on a more compact frame.

Temperament is the other reason the breed is so popular. Rex rabbits are typically friendly, affectionate, gentle, calm and docile. Many settle well into handling and are happy with a quiet routine, which makes the breed a good match for households after a placid indoor pet rather than a livelier one.

Who it suits

The Rex suits an owner who wants a calm, easily handled rabbit and who can offer daily attention plus room to move about. The plush coat needs gentle rather than heavy grooming, and the breed does best with handling that is supervised and respectful, so households with very young or boisterous children should manage introductions carefully. A first-time keeper can get on well with a Rex provided they commit to a proper diet, a clean hutch, and regular health checks.

France is where the Rex rabbit began. The breed can be traced to the early 1900s, when a coat mutation turned up in litters of otherwise ordinary farm rabbits. Rather than the usual arrangement of longer guard hairs over a shorter undercoat, the affected animals grew fur of nearly uniform length that stood proud of the body and felt like plush to the touch.

During the 1910s and 1920s, French breeders set about fixing the mutation into a stable type. The gene responsible for the coat is recessive, so pairings had to be managed with care if the velvet texture was to stay consistent from one generation to the next. Early stock was patchy in fur quality, and it took years of selective breeding to even out the density and texture.

The new breed attracted attention at shows in France and was soon exported abroad. It reached Britain and the United States during the 1920s, where breeders developed it further and settled on a standard range of colours. The striking coat made the Rex prized both in the show ring and, in earlier decades, for its pelt.

A dwarf version, the Mini Rex, came later, produced by crossing Rex stock with smaller rabbits to give the same coat in a scaled-down frame. Both the standard Rex and the Mini Rex are now kept the world over, chiefly as companion and exhibition rabbits.

The Rex carries a rounded, well-muscled body fairly upright on the legs, with a broad head and ears that stand erect. Adults usually weigh around 3.5 to 4.5 kg. What sets the breed apart is its coat: short, dense and upright, with guard hairs and undercoat growing to roughly the same length. The result is a smooth, springy surface that feels like velvet under the hand.

Coat and colours

The coat is what most owners and judges notice first. Because the guard hairs never project beyond the undercoat, the fur stands up evenly across the body and gives a level, plush appearance rather than a layered one. Recognised colours range from solid shades such as black, blue, white and lilac through to patterned varieties like castor, chinchilla, opal and broken, which is white with coloured markings. Density and evenness of texture count for a great deal in the show ring. The whiskers are frequently short or kinked, a harmless side effect of the same coat gene.

Amongst rabbit breeds, the Rex has a reputation as one of the more placid. Typical traits include friendly, affectionate, gentle, calm and docile. Many individuals are happy simply sitting near their owner and accepting a gentle stroke, and some come to actively seek out attention once they trust their household.

Within the family the breed tends to stay relaxed and puts up with routine handling well, particularly where introductions are made slowly. A Rex may be more wary of strangers at first, warming up gradually after repeated, quiet visits. Like any rabbit, it can startle at sudden movement or a loud noise, so a settled, predictable environment helps it stay calm.

The Rex can share a home with cats or dogs that are calm and trained not to chase, though owners should supervise these introductions. Two rabbits can form a stable bonded pair if both are neutered and brought together gradually on neutral territory. Personality still varies a good deal between individuals, so no two Rex rabbits behave in exactly the same way.

Grooming

• Brush around once a week with a soft brush or simply by hand; the short coat does not call for heavy grooming
• Avoid over-brushing, which can flatten or damage the dense velvet texture
• Check and trim the claws every 6 to 8 weeks
• Look over the ears and teeth during each grooming session
• Spot-clean soiled fur with a damp cloth rather than a full bath, which most rabbits find stressful

Exercise

• Allow at least 3 to 4 hours of supervised time outside the hutch every day
• Provide a safe, rabbit-proofed run or room for hopping about and stretching
• Add tunnels, boxes and chew toys to keep the rabbit occupied
• The feet are sensitive, so solid flooring suits the breed far better than wire mesh

Environment

Keep the Rex indoors, or in a sheltered space that stays roughly between 10 and 21 degrees Celsius. Rabbits cope with cool conditions far better than with heat, and can struggle once temperatures climb into the mid-twenties and beyond. Shade, good ventilation, and protection from draughts and damp are all essential.

Grass hay, such as timothy or meadow hay, forms the foundation of a Rex's diet and should be on offer at all times. Hay keeps the digestive system working properly and wears down teeth that never stop growing. Fresh leafy greens add variety and moisture, while a small daily portion of good-quality pellets supplies additional nutrients. Fresh water should always be within reach.

Treats and supplements

Fresh herbs and small pieces of fruit, such as a few slices of apple with the pips removed, make suitable occasional treats rather than everyday food. A rabbit already eating unlimited hay and a varied mix of greens usually needs no extra supplements. Check with a rabbit-savvy vet before adding anything to the diet, and keep treats to a small fraction of what the rabbit eats overall.

The Rex is on the whole a hardy rabbit, with a typical lifespan of 5 to 8 years, and some individuals live longer still under attentive care. Most health problems can be prevented through the right diet, clean housing and regular handling checks. Because the coat is so short, the breed is slightly more prone to pressure sores on the feet than rabbits with fuller fur.

Preventative care

• Offer unlimited grass hay to support the teeth and gut
• Use soft, solid flooring to protect the feet
• Check appetite and droppings every day
• Keep the rear end clean, especially in warm weather
• Book annual check-ups with the vet and ask about vaccination where relevant

A Rex needs a hutch roomy enough to stand fully upright, stretch out and take several hops without turning. Solid flooring matters because the breed's lightly padded feet are prone to sores if kept on wire. The hutch should stand in a sheltered indoor or covered spot, away from draughts, damp and direct heat, with daily access to a larger run.

Setup checklist

• Solid-floor hutch or pen with soft, absorbent bedding
• A litter tray fixed in one chosen corner
• A constant hay supply and a heavy water bowl or bottle
• A hide box, tunnels and safe chew toys
• A shaded, well-ventilated spot free from draughts

Rex rabbits reach sexual maturity at roughly 5 to 8 months old, with smaller individuals maturing slightly sooner. For mating, the doe is usually taken to the buck's territory rather than the other way round, since bucks can be territorial in their own space. Gestation lasts about 31 days, after which the doe gives birth in a nest box that she lines with her own fur.

Litters typically number 4 to 8 kits, born hairless with their eyes closed. The doe nurses only once or twice a day, so an undisturbed nest is entirely normal even when she is rarely seen near the young. Kits open their eyes at around 10 days old and begin nibbling solid food shortly afterwards. Weaning takes place at about 6 to 8 weeks. Responsible breeding calls for healthy parents, close attention to coat quality and colour, and a firm plan for rehoming the young.