What do you know about the Rex Rabbit? There are many breeds of rabbits, however, many people agree that the Rex Rabbit is probably one of the most affectionate and intelligent lagomorphs. Just like the Cornish rex cat or the Devon rex, all these animals whose name includes the term "rex" are characterized by a wavy or curly coat, which is not very common in the whole animal kingdom, because it is is a mild genetic mutation that only affects the coat characteristics of the animal.However, not all rex (rabbit) have curly coats, but we will talk about this later in detail, so that you can get to know the beautiful Rex Rabbit better.
In this PlanèteAnimal page, we will tell you everything you need to know about the rex (rabbit), its origins, characteristics, he alth, care and much more! If you want to know more about this breed, read on!
Origin
- Europe
- France
Origin of the Rex Rabbit
The Rex Rabbit appeared quite recently, as it is estimated that it was in the 1920s that the first specimens of the breed were born. These bunnies originated in France but it didn't take long for them to triumph in places as far afield as the United States, as their character made them loved by many as pets right away.Already in 1924, Rex Rabbits were presented at the Paris International Exhibition, where they triumphed for their characteristic coat with a velvety touch.
Unfortunately, this same wonderful coat meant that for years millions of rabbits were bred solely and exclusively for the commercial fur trade, which thankfully is no longer the case today.
Physical Characteristics of the Rex Rabbit
The Rex Rabbit typically weighs between 3 and 4.5 kilograms, with the European variant being smaller and usually not exceeding 3.5 kilograms, while the American variant is usually in the 3.5 range at 4.5 kilograms. In any case, the rex (rabbit) is considered one of the large rabbit breeds.
Rexes are rabbits with flat backs and very long rounded bodies, with muscular and strong legs. The head is broad and exhibits sexual dimorphism as the head of males is longer and more robust than that of females.The rex's coat is not only curly, as their whiskers are also wavy or curly, which is far from common. The hair of the rex is soft and velvety, without showing an undercoat and having a surprising uniformity throughout the body, approximately 1.25 centimeters in length.
As for coat color, a total of 17 colors and patterns are accepted, including cinnamon, white, red, blue, mottled, spotted There are a wide variety of combinations between colors and patterns patterns.
Rex Rabbit character
Besides the particular coat of these rabbits, what distinguishes them the most from other breeds is their friendly and affectionate character. These bunnies are very affectionate and enjoy being with their guardians, being cuddled and playing with them. The rex (rabbit) is also calm and peaceful, patient and tolerant, so he gets along very well with children and also loves games and activities.
We can add to this the marked maternal instinct of the breed. There are indeed many cases where rex rabbits have come to take under their wing rabbits of other breeds or even other species of animals. They are also intelligent and attentive rabbits, so if we are very persistent we can manage to teach them tricks, although we will surely need a lot of time and patience for them to perform them when we ask them. For this we can use the clicker, the same way we would use it to train dogs, cats or other animals.
Rex Rabbit Care
As with all rabbits, we need to keep our rex's nails at an adequate length, so we need to trim them at least once a month. If we do not know how to do it, the best thing is that the first time we go to a veterinarian so that he teaches us how to do it correctly.
Given the characteristics of the coat of these rabbits, which is quite delicate, they should not be brushed very frequently, the maximum being once a week. The baths must also be limited to the minimum possible, and if it is necessary to bathe them it must be done with specific products for rabbits, taking care that the coat of our lagomorph does not retain any trace of soap and finishing the bath by complete drying. That's why a good option to keep our rabbits clean is to use a damp cloth and pass it over their coat as if we were petting them.
Another important factor is that we must provide our rabbit with a large cage so that he can move around freely and so that it does not become a burden for him. In addition, we must leave our rabbit free for several hours a day so that he can exercise and stay he althy. At the beginning, we recommend watching it because due to its nature, it is quite normal that it tends to nibble everything, including electrical cables, which leads to the risk of electrocution.That's why we have to take extreme precautions and try to keep these cables out of his reach.
If you want to know more about the subject, we recommend our article "How to take care of a rabbit?" ”.
Rex Rabbit Feeding
Rex Rabbits need, like all rabbits, to have clean, fresh water available at all times and plenty of fresh, dry hay. We must take care that the hay does not get wet with water or urine, as this will cause it to rot and could turn it into a nest of bacteria.
As for the food or pellets that we will give this rabbit, they should contain about 18% protein and be high in fiber. We can also supplement the rex's diet with vegetables and some fruit, the latter in small quantities and very sporadically. It is recommended to give them leafy vegetables (such as lettuce) in large quantities due to the high water and fiber content of this type of vegetable.
Also discover our complete guide to feeding rabbits.
Rex Rabbit He alth
Rex Rabbits may show a certain tendency to develop certain pathologies, one of them being the development of sores or injuries when their paws are in contact for a long time with hard surfaces, such as metal bars cages, because their ends do not have, as with other breeds of rabbits, enough hair to serve as a barrier.
Like the rest of the rabbits, the rex is sensitive to cold and especially to drafts and humidity, so although we should keep them in a well ventilated place, (especially in summer), when low temperatures arrive, we must control that the space in which our rex (rabbit) lives is at a pleasant temperature and does not get cold. Otherwise, he could develop diseases such as pneumonia. We must also ensure that our rabbit eats and drinks enough, fiber consumption being essential to avoid the dreaded intestinal obstructions which are very serious and can lead to the death of our rabbit even if he receives veterinary care.
It is also advisable to clean our rabbit's ears, to visit the vet every 6 or 12 months, to have them vaccinated and dewormed and to ensure that they exercise daily .
In the following article, we tell you everything about adopting a rabbit!
Pictures of Rex Rabbit
