Rex

The Rex is a medium-sized domestic rabbit best known for a coat that feels like cut velvet against the skin. Instead of 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 defines the breed and gives it the "velvet rabbit" nickname among keepers.

Most adult Rex rabbits weigh between about 3.5 and 4.5 kg, which falls squarely in the medium size 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 recognised colours, and a smaller Mini Rex variety exists for owners in Singapore's typically compact flats who want the same coat on a smaller frame.

Temperament is the other reason the Rex does well here. It is friendly, affectionate, gentle, calm, and docile. Many individuals settle into a quiet routine and tolerate handling without much fuss, which suits households that want a calm indoor pet rather than one that needs constant activity.

Who it suits in Singapore

The Rex suits keepers who can offer daily attention and enough room to hop and stretch, even within a smaller flat. The plush coat needs only gentle care, but the breed does best with supervised, respectful handling, so homes with very young children should manage playtime closely. First-time owners can keep a Rex successfully if they commit to a proper diet, clean housing suited to the local climate, and regular health checks. Check HDB or condominium management guidelines before bringing one home, as pet rules can vary by block and by town council.

The Rex rabbit traces its origins to France. The breed dates back to the early 1900s, when a coat mutation turned up in litters of ordinary farm rabbits. Rather than the usual mix of long guard hairs over a shorter undercoat, these rabbits grew fur of nearly uniform length that stood upright and felt like plush.

French breeders spent the 1910s and 1920s fixing the mutation into a stable type. The recessive gene behind the coat had to be paired with care to keep the velvet texture consistent from one generation to the next. Early stock was uneven in fur quality, and selective breeding gradually improved density and evenness.

The breed caught attention at French shows before being exported abroad. It reached the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1920s, where breeders refined it further and standardised a wide range of colours. The unusual coat made the Rex valued both for exhibition and, in earlier decades, for its pelt.

A dwarf version, the Mini Rex, came later, bred by crossing Rex stock with smaller rabbits to shrink the frame while keeping the coat. Both the standard Rex and the Mini Rex are now kept worldwide, including among hobbyist breeders and pet owners in Singapore, mainly as companion and show rabbits.

The Rex has a rounded, well-muscled body held fairly upright, a broad head, and ears that stand erect. Adults typically weigh around 3.5 to 4.5 kg. The breed's signature feature is its coat: short, dense, and upright, with guard hairs and undercoat of roughly equal length. The result is a smooth, springy surface that feels like velvet to the touch.

Coat and colours

The coat is the Rex's most recognisable trait. Because the guard hairs do not project past the undercoat, the fur stands up evenly and gives a plush, level appearance. Recognised colours range from solid shades such as black, blue, white, and lilac to patterned varieties like castor, chinchilla, opal, and broken (white with coloured markings). Coat density and evenness matter most in show judging. The whiskers are often short or curled, a normal side effect of the same coat gene.

The Rex has a name as one of the calmer rabbit breeds. Common traits include friendly, affectionate, gentle, calm, and docile. Many individuals are happy to sit near their owners and accept gentle stroking, and some learn to seek out attention once they trust a household.

With family members the breed tends to stay relaxed and tolerant of routine handling, especially when introduced to people slowly. With strangers a Rex may hang back at first and warm up over repeated, quiet visits. Like all rabbits, it can startle at sudden movements or loud noises, so a steady, predictable environment helps it stay settled, particularly in a flat with thin walls and passing corridor noise.

Around other pets the Rex can live alongside calm cats or dogs trained not to chase, though supervision matters. Two rabbits can form a stable bonded pair if neutered and introduced gradually on neutral ground. Each animal has its own personality, so temperament varies between individuals.

Grooming

• Brush about once a week with a soft brush or by hand; the short coat does not need heavy grooming
• Avoid over-brushing, which can flatten or damage the dense velvet texture
• Check and trim nails every 6 to 8 weeks
• Inspect ears and teeth during grooming sessions
• Spot-clean soiled fur with a damp cloth rather than giving full baths, which stress rabbits

Exercise

• Provide at least 3 to 4 hours of supervised time outside the enclosure each day
• Offer a safe, rabbit-proofed run or room for hopping and stretching, even a cleared corner of a living room in a flat
• Add tunnels, boxes, and chew toys to keep the rabbit active
• Sensitive footpads mean soft, solid flooring is better than wire or bare tiles

Environment

Keep the Rex indoors or in a sheltered space that stays roughly between 10 and 21 degrees Celsius. Singapore's year-round heat and humidity make this harder than in temperate climates, so air-conditioning, a fan, or a cool tiled area away from direct sun is often necessary. Rabbits handle cool conditions far better than heat and can suffer once temperatures climb above the mid-20s. Provide shade, ventilation, and protection from draughts and damp.

The foundation of a Rex's diet is grass hay, such as timothy or meadow hay, which should be available at all times. Hay supports digestion and wears down the continuously growing teeth. Fresh leafy greens add variety and moisture, and a small daily portion of quality pellets supplies extra nutrients. Fresh water must always be available, topped up more often in hot weather.

Treats and supplements

Use fresh herbs and small pieces of fruit, such as apple without seeds, as occasional treats rather than daily food. A rabbit on unlimited hay and varied greens usually needs no supplements. Check with a rabbit-savvy vet, such as those at exotic pet clinics around the island, before adding any supplement, and keep treats to a small fraction of the total diet.

The Rex is generally a hardy rabbit with a lifespan of about 5 to 8 years, and some individuals live longer with attentive care. Most health problems are preventable through correct diet, clean housing, and routine handling checks. The breed's short coat leaves it slightly more vulnerable to pressure sores on the feet than fuller-coated rabbits.

Preventive care

• Provide unlimited grass hay to support teeth and gut health
• Use soft, solid flooring to protect the feet
• Check appetite and droppings every day
• Keep the rear end clean and dry, especially in Singapore's humid weather
• Schedule annual vet checks at a rabbit-friendly clinic and discuss vaccination where relevant

A Rex needs an enclosure large enough to stand fully upright, stretch out, and take several hops. A solid floor matters because the breed's lightly padded feet are prone to sores on wire. The housing should sit in a sheltered indoor or covered space, away from draughts, damp, and direct heat, with daily access to a larger run, even if that run is only a cleared section of a living room or a covered balcony.

Setup checklist

• Solid-floor cage or pen with soft, absorbent bedding
• Litter tray in a chosen corner
• Constant hay supply and a heavy water bowl or bottle
• Hide box, tunnels, and safe chew toys
• Shaded, ventilated location free of draughts, kept away from windows that catch direct afternoon sun

Rex rabbits reach sexual maturity at roughly 5 to 8 months, with smaller individuals maturing a little earlier. For mating, the doe is usually brought to the buck's enclosure rather than the reverse. Gestation lasts about 31 days, after which the doe gives birth to a litter in a nest box she lines with her own fur.

Average litters contain 4 to 8 kits, born hairless and with closed eyes. The doe nurses once or twice a day, so an undisturbed nest is normal even when the mother is rarely seen with the young. Kits open their eyes at around 10 days and begin nibbling solid food soon after. Weaning happens at about 6 to 8 weeks. Responsible breeding calls for healthy parents, attention to coat quality and colour, and a plan for placing the young, since space for keeping extra rabbits is limited in most Singapore homes.