About Looking After Angora Rabbits

Angora rabbits are known for their long fur. The luxurious wool from this fur is used to make hats, scarves and sweaters. Aside from that, angora rabbits make good pets. They are a docile and playful animal that is good with children. Taking care of angora rabbits requires more work than other rabbits because daily grooming is a necessity. Set aside time every day to care for the angora rabbit's specific needs.

  1. Daily Grooming

    • An integral part of owning an angora rabbit is keeping to a daily grooming schedule. Angora fur is very long and mats easily. Brush the fur at least once a day to prevent tangles and matted hair. Cut away any tangles that do develop. Angoras molt every 90 days, and at that time the old fur should be brushed off. Molting is obvious because you will see the hair coming off the rabbit as it sheds. The new hair growing in can become entangled and matted with the old hair, so brush the rabbit for an hour or two during molting to completely remove all the old hair.

    Wool Block

    • Wool block is a potentially lethal condition that angora rabbits are at high risk for. An angora rabbit grooms itself by licking its fur and some of that fur can be ingested. If the fur builds up along the intestinal tract and becomes impacted, an intestinal blockage can develop. The rabbit can starve to death from this, so fiber in an angora's diet is a requirement. An angora's diet can consist primarily of rabbit pellets, but add fiber to the diet by putting small tubes full of hay into the cage. Feed the rabbit vegetables like carrots and lettuce as a supplement. Consult your veterinarian for specific dietary needs for the breed you have.

    Cutting, Shearing and Harvesting

    • Angora rabbits are more comfortable with shorter fur, particularly around the eyes, underside, and genitals. Cut the hair with small scissors to a moderate length, making sure the eyes are visible. On the underside, cut the hair to a short length to make the rabbit's self-grooming easier. During molting, the fur can be harvested. This means you can cut off all or most of the hair to be used as wool. If you use clippers, be very careful not to catch the rabbit's skin and cause injury. Use a guard and let the clippers cool every few minutes before continuing. A vet will shear an angora rabbit for you.

    Two Kinds of Droppings

    • On the rabbit's underside, cut the fur short around the genitals and anus. Rabbits produce both regular fecal droppings and "cecotropes." These special pellets are made in the cecum, an area between the small and large intestines. Cecotropes are full of bacterium that provide the rabbit with essential nutrients, and rabbits need to eat them. Keeping the fur short on the underside will ensure they'll be able to reach the area with no problem.

    Angoras at Home

    • Angora rabbits are known for being calm, playful, family-friendly animals that make very good pets. Care for an angora as you would any other rabbit, but keep in mind its special grooming needs. Rabbits can be litter-box trained, but it's practical to keep them in a large metal cage with a wire floor to allow droppings to fall into a pan. Clean the cage every few days and always provide fresh water. A wood block is essential for gnawing so their teeth do not become overgrown. A salt lick provides essential minerals. Secure the cage to protect against dogs, foxes and other predators if you're keeping the rabbit outside.