Mini Rex Rabbits: History & Characteristics of this Amazing Touchable Rabbits
Mini Rex rabbits as pets things to consider for potential owners
Mini Rex rabbits are my favorite animals. I used to raise them and show them, so I have a lot of experience with many of these adorable pet rabbits.
Are you considering bringing a Mini Rex rabbit into your life? You may be interested in learning more about this popular rabbit breed.
History and Origins of the Mini Rex Breed
The Mini Rex rabbit’s fur is unlike other breeds, except the Standard Rex Rabbit. Their small size has made them popular among pet rabbit fans.
These American-bred rabbits were known for their friendliness and sweet disposition overall, although once in a while, you can find one that is not-so-nice.
The Mini Rex breed originated in the US in the early 1980s. While breeding standard-sized Rex rabbits, Monna Berryhill detected a spontaneous mutation in their fur.
With their luxurious fur, Berryhill wanted to create a smaller breed with its dense, velvet-feeling fur. Berryhill developed the Mini Rex breed after years of selective breeding. The ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) approved these rabbits in 1988.
Characteristics of Mini Rex Rabbits
Mini Rex rabbits typically weigh 3.5–4.5 pounds, making them smaller than regular Standard Rex rabbits. They have a well-rounded and muscular body shape.
The Mini Rex rabbit is best known for its dense, super-soft fur. To touch a Mini Rex is unlike any other animal. They are affectionately known unofficially as the velveteen rabbit.
ARBA recognizes approximately 20 beautiful color patterns of Mini Rex rabbits, including castor, chinchilla, black, Himilayan, and many others.
At one point, I won Best in Breed at the State’s annual show with a blue rabbit senior doe. She took the prize over about 350 other Mini Rexes.
At the time, she was a strong contender for Best in Show, over hundreds of rabbits. By the time this portion of the judging was happening, she had had enough of the whole situation and bit the judge. She was immediately disqualified as a contender for Best in Show. She had a mind of her own and was on the bratty side anyway.
Of all the Mini Rexes I had over the years, she was in the top 3 of lousy personalities. Guess she had the ‘I’m beautiful and I know it’ attitude, so really didn’t see the need to work on her personality.
The majority of the Mini Rexes I’ve come into contact with personally, were very sweet pets.
Caring for Mini Rex Rabbits — Housing, Diet, and Grooming
Mini Rex rabbits need proper care to be healthy. They need a large, safe, wire-bottomed cage with a wide, sturdy board inside to protect their feet from sores they can be prone to get.
Mini Rex rabbits stay mentally and physically active with exercise and lots of attention.
They are social animals and most love being petted and held. I would not recommend them for very young children.
Rabbits have sharp nails. It’s common for them to be accidentally scratched, and young children often drop them and can be injured. Their nails need to be regularly trimmed.
If a young child MUST hold one, have the child sit on the floor or ground, put a towel on the child’s lap, and with supervision, put the bunny on the towel in the child’s lap.
When a bunny rabbit licks you, it is a sign that it loves you. It is so sweet when they do this!
Mini Rex rabbits need a healthy diet with high-quality hay and rabbit pellet food. Always provide fresh water and offer snacks such as apples or carrots sparingly. Interestingly, I found many of my rabbits hated carrots and refused them.
Mini Rex rabbits’ short hair makes grooming easier. Brushing regularly removes loose hair and avoids matting. This is critical when they ‘molt,’ which is when they lose their entire fur and begin growing new fur. Hairballs can be a risk to their gut and a severe health issue.
Maintaining their health requires frequent nail trimming and tooth inspections. If they seem to be having trouble with their teeth or eating, take them to a vet.
Keep their cages clean and in a well-ventilated, safe from predators.
Rabbits also do not do well in high heat or when they get wet, so keep them in shaded, protected areas away from harsh climate conditions. They are very vulnerable to hot temperatures, so care must be given to keep them cool.
There is much to know about caring for pet rabbits, so I recommend the book below. They can be pretty fragile, and when health issues arise, they can get serious quickly. Prevention is key.
Book Recommendation: How to Care for Your Pet Rabbits: Including Choosing the Best Breeds for Pets
Training and Socializing Mini Rex Rabbits
Mini Rex rabbits can be trained using positive reinforcement involving rewards and praise.
Some people have even been successful at litter box training.
Conclusion:
For a friendly, sweet, disposition pet, Mini Rex rabbits are ideal for many people.
Their small size, velvety fur, and fun personality make them popular among rabbit fans worldwide.
Thanks for reading.
If you have rabbits or considering them, you might want to read my article that dovetails well with this topic.
All Rights Reserved by Val Garner
Book Recommendations:
Mini Rex Rabbit Breeders Log Book: A Record Book for Raising Mini Rex Rabbits
Mini Rex Rabbit Show Journal: Record Book for Your Show Rabbits
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