Rex

The Rex is a medium-sized domestic rabbit best known for a coat that feels like cut velvet rather than ordinary fur. Instead of longer guard hairs lying over a shorter undercoat, the two layers grow to almost the same length, so the fur stands upright and gives the body a smooth, even pile. This texture is what breeders and pet owners point to first, and it is the reason the Rex is sometimes called the velvet rabbit.

Most adult Rex rabbits tip the scale between 3.5 and 4.5 kg, which puts the breed solidly in the medium category. The body is rounded and well muscled, the head broad, and the ears stand erect. Colour options are wide, from solid black or blue through to chinchilla and broken patterns, and keepers who want the same coat in a smaller package can look at the Mini Rex.

Temperament is where the breed earns its keep as a household pet. Rex rabbits tend to be friendly, gentle, and even-tempered, settling well into handling once they know their owner. That calm streak makes the breed a sound choice for a quiet indoor setup rather than an outdoor hutch left largely unattended.

Who it suits

The Rex suits keepers who want a calm, easy-to-handle rabbit and who can offer daily attention plus room to move about. The plush coat needs gentle care, and the breed does best with supervised, respectful handling, so households with very young children or boisterous dogs should manage introductions carefully. First-time rabbit keepers can raise a Rex successfully provided they commit to a proper diet, clean housing, and regular check-ups.

The Rex rabbit has its roots in France. The breed can be traced to the early 1900s, when a coat mutation turned up in litters of ordinary farm rabbits. Rather than the usual longer guard hairs sitting over a shorter undercoat, these rabbits grew fur of almost uniform length that stood up from the skin and felt like plush.

French breeders spent the 1910s and 1920s fixing the mutation into a stable, predictable type. Because the gene behind the coat is recessive, pairings had to be planned with care to keep the velvet texture consistent from one litter to the next. Early stock varied in fur quality, and selective breeding gradually improved density and evenness.

The new breed drew attention at French shows and was soon exported further afield. It reached Britain and the United States during the 1920s, where breeders refined the type and standardised a wide range of colours. Beyond the show bench, the distinctive pelt gave the Rex commercial value in its early decades.

A dwarf version, the Mini Rex, followed later, produced 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 in South Africa, 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 between 3.5 and 4.5 kg. The breed's calling card is its coat: short, dense, and upright, with guard hairs and undercoat of much the same length. Run a hand over it and the surface feels smooth and springy, like velvet.

Coat and colour

The coat is what people remember about this breed. Because the guard hairs do not reach beyond the undercoat, the fur stands up evenly across the body and gives that level, plush look. Recognised colours range from solid shades such as black, blue, white, and lilac through to patterned types like castor, chinchilla, opal, and broken (white with coloured markings). Density and evenness of texture matter most in the show ring. The whiskers often come out short or slightly curled, a normal side effect of the same coat gene.

The Rex has a name as one of the more laid-back rabbit breeds. Owners commonly describe them as friendly, affectionate, gentle, calm, and easy-going. Many are happy to sit beside their owner and accept a gentle stroke, and some will actively seek out attention once they have learned to trust a household.

Around family members the breed is generally relaxed about routine handling, especially where introductions happen slowly. With strangers a Rex can be reserved to begin with, warming up over repeated, quiet visits. Like any rabbit, sudden movement or a loud noise can startle it, so a steady, predictable environment helps it settle.

The Rex can share a home with calm cats or dogs that have been trained not to chase, though supervision remains important. Two rabbits can form a stable bonded pair if both are neutered and introduced gradually on neutral territory. Personality still varies from one rabbit to the next, so no two will behave identically.

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
• Look over the ears and teeth during each grooming session
• Spot-clean dirty patches with a damp cloth rather than a full bath, which rabbits find stressful

Exercise

• Allow at least 3 to 4 hours of supervised time outside the enclosure daily
• Set up a safe, rabbit-proofed camp or room for hopping and stretching
• Add tunnels, boxes, and chew toys to keep the rabbit 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. South Africa's climate swings widely by region and altitude, from chilly Highveld winters to humid Lowveld summers, and rabbits cope far better with cold than with heat; above the mid-20s they can start to struggle. Provide shade, good airflow, and shelter from draughts and damp.

The base of a Rex's diet is grass hay, such as teff or eragrostis hay, and it should be on offer at all times. Hay keeps digestion moving and wears down teeth that never stop growing. Fresh leafy greens bring variety and moisture, and a small daily portion of good-quality pellets fills in extra nutrients. Clean water must be available around the clock.

Treats and supplements

Fresh herbs and small pieces of fruit, such as apple with the pips removed, work well as an occasional treat rather than a daily food. A rabbit getting unlimited hay and a varied mix of greens usually needs no extra supplements. Check with a rabbit-savvy vet before adding anything, and keep treats to a small share of the overall diet.

The Rex is generally a robust rabbit with a lifespan of about 5 to 8 years, and some individuals go on for longer under attentive care. Most health issues can be avoided through the right diet, clean housing, and routine handling checks. Because the 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 on offer at all times to support teeth and gut
• Use soft, solid flooring to protect the feet
• Check appetite and droppings every day
• Keep the rear end clean, especially in the warmer months
• Book an annual vet check and ask about vaccination where relevant

A Rex needs an enclosure large enough to stand fully upright, stretch out, and take a few hops without bumping the sides. A solid floor matters because the breed's lightly padded feet are prone to sores on wire mesh. House the enclosure in a sheltered indoor or covered spot, away from draughts, damp, and direct heat, and give the rabbit daily access to a larger run or camp.

Setup checklist

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

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

Average litters run to 4 to 8 kits, born hairless and with their eyes closed. The doe nurses once or twice a day, so an undisturbed nest is normal even if the mother is rarely seen with the young. Kits open their eyes at around 10 days and start 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 where the young will go.