Rex

The Rex is a medium-sized domestic rabbit best known for a coat that feels like cut velvet against the skin. Unlike most rabbits, its fur stands upright instead of lying flat, and the guard hairs match the undercoat in length, so the whole body feels smooth and even. This coat is the breed's main selling point and the reason many keepers simply call it the velvet rabbit.

Most adult Rex rabbits weigh 3.5 to 4.5 kg, which puts them in the medium size bracket, not too big for a condo unit and not too small to handle with confidence. The body is round and muscular, the ears stand up straight, and the head is broad. Breeders keep the Rex in many recognized colors, and a smaller Mini Rex version exists for owners who want the same velvety coat in a more compact size, useful where living space is tight.

Temperament is another strong point. The breed is friendly, affectionate, gentle, calm, and easygoing. Most individuals settle down quickly once handled properly and adjust well to a quiet household routine, which fits owners looking for a low-key indoor pet rather than a hyperactive one.

Who it suits

The Rex works well for keepers who want a rabbit that stays calm and can be handled without much fuss, provided there is daily time and space for it to move around. The plush coat needs gentle handling, and households with small children should always supervise playtime so the fur is not damaged and the rabbit does not get startled. First-time rabbit owners can raise a Rex successfully as long as they commit to a proper diet, a clean cage, and regular checkups, especially through the hot months.

The Rex rabbit traces its roots to France, in the early 1900s, when a coat mutation appeared unexpectedly in litters of ordinary farm rabbits. Instead of the usual coat, with longer guard hairs covering a shorter undercoat, these rabbits grew fur of almost equal length all over, fur that stood upright and felt like plush the moment you touched it.

French breeders spent the 1910s and 1920s fixing this mutation into a stable, breedable type. Since the gene behind the coat is recessive, breeding pairs had to be chosen carefully to keep the velvet texture consistent from one generation to the next. Early litters sometimes came out uneven in fur quality, but years of selective breeding tightened the density and texture.

The breed caught attention at French rabbit shows and was soon exported abroad. It reached the United Kingdom and the United States by the 1920s, where local breeders refined the type further and standardized a wide range of colors. The unusual coat made the Rex valuable both for exhibition and, in earlier decades, for its pelt.

A smaller version, the Mini Rex, came later, developed by crossing Rex stock with smaller rabbit breeds to shrink the frame while keeping the same velvet coat. Today, both the standard Rex and the Mini Rex are raised around the world, including by hobbyists in the Philippines, mostly as companion animals and show rabbits rather than for fur or meat.

The Rex carries a rounded, well-muscled body held fairly upright, topped with a broad head and ears that stand straight up. Adults typically weigh 3.5 to 4.5 kg. What sets the breed apart is the coat: short, dense, and upright, with guard hairs and undercoat growing to roughly the same length. Run a hand over it and the texture feels smooth and springy, exactly like velvet fabric.

Coat and colors

The coat remains the breed's most recognizable trait. Because the guard hairs never grow past the undercoat, the fur stands evenly upright and gives the whole body a level, plush look. Recognized colors range from solid shades, black, blue, white, and lilac, to patterned types like castor, chinchilla, opal, and broken (white marked with color). Judges at shows look closely at coat density and evenness of texture. The whiskers often come out short or curled, a normal side effect of the same gene that produces the velvet coat.

The Rex has a name for being one of the calmest rabbit breeds around. Owners commonly describe it as friendly, affectionate, gentle, calm, and easygoing. Many individuals are content just sitting close to their owners and accepting gentle petting, and some eventually learn to seek out attention once they trust the household.

With family members, the breed tends to relax into routine handling, especially when people are introduced slowly rather than all at once. With strangers, a Rex may act reserved at first and only warm up after repeated, quiet visits. Like any rabbit, it can get startled by sudden movement or loud noise, common during fireworks season or a passing thunderstorm, so a steady, predictable environment helps it stay settled.

Around other household pets, the Rex can get along with calm cats or dogs trained not to chase, though supervision matters. Two rabbits can bond into a stable pair if both are neutered and introduced gradually on neutral territory. Every rabbit still has its own personality, so temperament will vary from one individual to the next.

Grooming

• Brush around once a week using a soft brush or just your hand; the short coat does not need heavy grooming
• Do not over-brush, since this can flatten or damage the dense velvet texture
• Check and trim nails every 6 to 8 weeks
• Look over the ears and teeth while grooming
• Spot-clean dirty fur with a damp cloth instead of giving full baths, which stress rabbits out

Exercise

• Give at least 3 to 4 hours of supervised time outside the cage every day
• Set up a safe, rabbit-proofed run or room where it can hop and stretch freely
• Add tunnels, boxes, and chew toys to keep it active and occupied
• Sensitive footpads mean solid, soft flooring works better than wire mesh

Environment

Keep the Rex indoors or in a sheltered spot that stays roughly between 10 and 21 degrees Celsius, which usually means relying on an electric fan or aircon during the hottest months. Rabbits tolerate cool weather far better than heat, and this breed can struggle once temperatures climb past the mid-20s, a real concern during the hot summer stretch from March to May. Provide shade, good airflow, and shelter from drafts and rainy-season dampness.

The base of a Rex's diet is grass hay, timothy or meadow hay work well, and it 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 serving of good-quality pellets fills in extra nutrients. Clean water must be available at all times, refreshed often in hot weather since rabbits drink more once the temperature climbs.

Treats and supplements

Offer fresh herbs and small pieces of fruit, such as seedless apple, now and then as occasional treats rather than everyday food. A rabbit already on unlimited hay and varied greens usually needs no extra supplements. Check with a vet experienced in rabbits before adding anything, and keep treats to a small share of the overall diet.

The Rex is generally a hardy rabbit, living about 5 to 8 years, and some individuals reach even longer with attentive care. Most health issues can be prevented through the right diet, clean housing, and regular handling checks. The breed's short coat leaves it a bit more prone to pressure sores on the feet compared to rabbits with fuller coats.

Preventive care

• Keep grass hay available without limit to support teeth and gut health
• Use solid, soft flooring to protect the feet
• Check appetite and droppings every single day
• Keep the rear end clean and dry, especially during humid weather
• Book a yearly vet visit and ask about vaccination where it applies locally

A Rex needs an enclosure big enough for it to stand fully upright, stretch out, and take a few 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. Set the housing up in a sheltered, covered space indoors, away from drafts, dampness, and direct heat, and give it daily access to a bigger run for exercise.

Setup checklist

• Solid-floor cage or pen lined with soft, absorbent bedding
• Litter tray placed in one corner the rabbit already favors
• Steady hay supply plus a heavy water bowl or bottle that will not tip
• Hide box, tunnels, and safe chew toys
• Shaded, well-ventilated spot free of drafts, ideally away from a wall that traps afternoon heat

Rex rabbits reach sexual maturity at roughly 5 to 8 months old, with smaller individuals maturing slightly earlier than larger ones. For mating, breeders usually bring the doe to the buck's enclosure rather than the other way around, since this cuts down on territorial aggression. Gestation runs about 31 days, after which the doe gives birth in a nest box she lines with her own fur.

Average litters run 4 to 8 kits, born hairless with their eyes still closed. The doe nurses only once or twice a day, so it is normal for the nest to look undisturbed even when the mother is rarely seen near the young. Kits open their eyes at around 10 days old and start nibbling solid food soon after. Weaning happens around 6 to 8 weeks. Responsible breeding calls for healthy parents, attention to coat quality and color, and a clear plan for where the kits will go once they are ready to leave.