Curious about which rabbit breeds shed the least? Read on to find out!
If you’re a rabbit owner or even someone who is planning to buy a rabbit then you may have found out that rabbits usually shed a lot. Yet, their shedding depends on various factors which is why every breed has different levels of shedding. For instance, some rabbit breeds may shed excessively whereas there are some that shed the least.
So, if you’re wondering, then the five rabbit breeds that shed the least include – Angora rabbit, Rex rabbit, Mini Rex rabbit, Velveteen Lop, and Plush Lop (like Miniature Plush Lop and Standard Plush Lop).
To know more about these breeds and their characteristics, then read on!
Top 5 Rabbit Breeds That Shed the Least
Given below is a list of all those rabbit breeds that are known to shed the least and are practically some of the best breeds too.
1. Angora Rabbit
Are you surprised to find Angora rabbit on this list? Well, let us explain to you why they are the best in terms of shedding. Angora rabbits are known to have long and gorgeous fur. It is actually because they shed less which makes it possible for these rabbits to get lush and long fur.
However, the drawback here is that as these rabbits have extremely long fur, hair matts tend to develop. Hence, regular grooming and brushing become a must. In certain cases, you may also want to cut their fur extremely carefully to prevent any further hair matting.
Characteristics of Angora Rabbits:
- Weigh anywhere between4.4 pounds (or 2 kgs) to 12.12 pounds (or 5.5 kgs).
- Soft, voluminous, and silky fur
- Require frequent hair grooming and brushing to prevent matting
- Docile, loving, and peaceful in nature
- Love playing with humans
Hence, this is all about Angora rabbits.
2. Rex Rabbit
Another rabbit breed that’s known to shed the least is the Rex rabbit. Rex rabbits are known to have short and super soft fur that is bound to make any person fall in love with them.
Moreover, as these rabbits have short fur, you can say that this is also the reason why they don’t shed as much as other rabbits. Their fur is known to be one-of-a-kind due to its peculiar velvety texture.
Additionally, unlike Angora rabbits, the best part about Rex rabbits is that they don’t require a lot of grooming or brushing. In fact, excessive grooming can actually destroy their precious and unique coat.
Characteristics of Rex Rabbit:
- Weigh anywhere between 7.5 pounds (or 3.4 kgs) to 10.5 pounds (or 4.7 kgs).
- Dense, velvety, and short fur (around ½ inch or more)
- Doesn’t require frequent grooming and brushing
- Extremely fun, playful, and intelligent nature
- Best suited for families with children
3. Mini Rex Rabbit
Just like Rex rabbits, Mini Rex rabbits are also known to shed extremely little. Well, it is because they are just a smaller or ‘mini’ version of a Rex rabbit. Hence, most of their physical traits are pretty much similar to Rex rabbits.
Additionally, the Mini Rex rabbit also has a coat of small fur. It is not soft and voluminous as seen in Angora rabbits. Instead, it also has a velvety feel to it. Moreover, as the length of the fur is also quite short, the shedding is minimized by a lot. However, keep in mind that even if the fur is short, it is still quite dense and straight.
Lastly, the grooming and brushing requirements are also pretty much the same as the Rex rabbit. So, keep in mind that you only groom once a week and not excessively as that can damage the fur of your Mini Rex rabbit.
Characteristics of Mini Rex Rabbit:
- Weigh anywhere between 3.5 pounds (or 1.5 kgs) to 4.5 pounds (or 2.04 kgs).
- Velvety, straight, and upright dense fur (around ⅝ inch or more)
- Doesn’t require frequent grooming and brushing
- Usually calm, indoor rabbits, and friendly
- Best suited for families with children or first-time rabbit owners
4. Plush Lop
All the breeds that are mentioned above are old rabbit breeds. However, if we are talking about the latest rabbit breeds that shed the least, then you should look out for Plush Lop!
In Plush Lop, you get mainly two varieties – like Miniature Plush Lop and Standard Plush Lop. Thankfully, both of them are known to shed extremely little. The rabbits from this breed have quite a soft and plush fur that is about ½ inch in size. Moreover, it is also very dense.
However, one thing you need to remember here is that this breed goes through molting twice a year. Lastly, these Plush Lop rabbits also require proper grooming sessions.
Characteristics of Plush Lop Rabbit:
- Weigh anywhere between 2 pounds (or 0.9 kgs) to 5 pounds (or 2.26 kgs).
- Soft, plush, and firm dense fur (around ½ inch)
- Requires frequent grooming and brushing
- Usually docile, extremely playful, loving, curious
- Best suited for any type of rabbit owners
5. Velveteen Lop
The last to our list of 5 rabbit breeds that shed the least is – Velveteen Lop. To give you some brief information about this breed, then this breed is basically a cross of both Mini Rex and English Lop. Hence, you’ll notice the similarities of both the breeds in Velveteen Lop. One unique feature of this breed is the peculiar ears.
The rabbits from the Velveteen Lop breed mainly have short and dense fur. Moreover, it is also upright in shape. The best part is that the fur is quite healthy and also doesn’t shed too often, owing to the characteristics of both English Lop and Mini Rex.
However, keep in mind that you may have to brush their fur at least once a day to keep it healthy and shining!
Characteristics of Velveteen Lop:
- Weigh anywhere between 5 pounds (or 2.2 kgs) to 6.5 pounds (or 2.26 kgs).
- Short, dense, and upright fur (around ⅝ inch)
- Requires brushing once a day
- Social, loving, docile, playful, and determined
- Best suited for those having ample indoor space
Factors That Affect Shedding in Rabbits
It is necessary to know what factors are responsible for shedding in rabbits. Well, take a look at the below-mentioned points to get a better idea!
1. Hereditary Factors
One of the major factors that determine the amount of shedding in rabbits, is hereditary factors. For instance, many rabbit owners may allow two rabbits of different breeds to breed/mate together. Thus, ensuring that the offspring gets the desired characteristics from both breeds.
Hence, if both the parents have reduced shedding, then most of the time, the offspring would also have reduced shedding. So, hereditary and genes play a huge role in the amount of shedding.
2. Changing Weather Conditions
Another major factor that determines shedding in rabbits is changing weather conditions. To give you an example, if you belong to a region that has frequent changes in weather, then your pet rabbit may shed more.
It is because when the climate transitions from summer to winter, rabbits generally shed their summer coats to develop warm, winter coats. Similarly, when the climate transitions from winter to summer, you can expect your rabbit to shed the winter coat.
4. Nutritional Habits
The food and nutrition you give to your pet rabbit can have a major effect on their fur coat. So, most of the time, if you provide your rabbit with a healthy diet that consists of plenty of water and leafy vegetables, then its coat will remain healthy. The shedding may also reduce.
On the other hand, during the molting period, giving more proteins to your rabbit may intensify the molting process and cause more molting. Hence, it is essential that rabbits get the proper amount of food and water for reduced shedding.
5. Skin Problems
Lastly, if a rabbit sheds excessively, then it is not a normal phenomenon. Instead, it may be an underlying skin problem that could be caused due to parasites or even bacterial infections.
For instance, if you notice that a rabbit is shedding a lot, then it could be because of infections like – Mange, Ear canker mites, Fur mites, Ringworm Fungus, or flea/lice infection.
Apart from parasite or bacterial infections, in rare cases, hormonal imbalance may also be the reason for excessive shedding. So, to rule this out, it is essential for rabbit owners to take their rabbits to the veterinary doctor. They may take the rabbit’s blood sample and test it for any complications.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the shedding pattern of your rabbit depends largely on your rabbit’s breed and some other factors. Hence, if you’re looking for a rabbit that’s particularly low-maintenance, consider going for breeds that shed the least, as mentioned above.
Moreover, also ensure that you know the grooming requirements of whichever breed you go for. This is quite essential to know whether you’ll be able to give enough time to fulfill the grooming needs of your little furry rabbit!
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