Description of a Rex Rabbit

The first Rex Rabbit was born in France during the early 20th century. The breed is known for possessing an exceptionally soft coat of fur that resembles velvet when touched. This is due to a recessive gene that keeps coarse hairs from growing beyond the rabbit's plush undercoat. Since the breed's earliest appearance, the Rex Rabbit has come to be a popular pet and capable show-animal.

  1. Appearance

    • The standard breed of Rex Rabbit generally weighs between 7 and 10 lbs. Females are slightly larger than the males. A Rex Rabbit's fur is very thick and stands virtually straight-out from its skin. An abrasive coat of hair, known as "guard hairs," normally grows long to protect the short, soft underfur of other breeds. However, while most rabbits posses a single "Rex Gene," responsible for the short, fine undercoat, Rex Rabbits possess two. This genetic abnormality manifests as the dense, lustrous coat that sets the Rex apart form other rabbits.

    Disposition

    • The Rex is widely considered to be a highly intelligent breed of rabbit. They can be taught to use a litter box and perform number of stunts. For the most part, the Rex Rabbit is a gentle breed and female rabbits will often adopt displaced offspring. Like with many animals, male Rex Rabbits may become somewhat hostile upon reaching maturity. This issue can be resolved easily, however, if the rabbit is neutered.

    Reproduction

    • A Rex Rabbit can give birth to several babies at one time, often as many as eight. Females have been known to yield as many as 50 babies, also called kits or kittens, per year. The gestation period of a Rex Rabbit can be as short as 31 days, allowing a female to become pregnant and deliver several times annually..

    Diet

    • The Rex Rabbit thrives best when fed a combination diet of rabbit pellets and European grass. The best pellets to use are those that are low in both carbohydrates and fat, high in fiber, contain protein and are absent of any corn or seeds. Timothy grass is the standard form of hay used to supplement the Rex Rabbit's diet. A good amount of this should be placed in the animal's living area at all times. You can figure the number of pellets food your Rex Rabbit will need per day by using a simple formula. Distribute a quarter-cup of pellets to your rabbit each day for every 5 lbs. that the animal weighs.