Rex Rabbit: The Complete Guide to Care, Size, Lifespan & Breeding
The Rex rabbit is one of the most beloved breeds in the world, known for its extraordinarily soft, velvety coat and its calm, friendly nature. Whether you are thinking about bringing one home as a pet, raising them for meat, or breeding them seriously, this guide covers everything you need to know about Rex and Mini Rex rabbits in one place. Below you will find a clear overview of each topic, with links to detailed guides where you can go deeper.
Rex rabbits come in two distinct types that people often confuse: the standard Rex, a medium to large rabbit weighing around 7.5 to 10.5 pounds, and the Mini Rex, a smaller companion version weighing roughly 3 to 4.5 pounds. Both share the same signature plush fur, but they differ in size, purpose and temperament. Throughout this guide we cover both, and point out the differences where they matter.
What Is a Rex Rabbit?
The Rex is a rabbit breed that first appeared in France in the early 1900s, prized for a natural genetic mutation that gives its fur a uniquely dense, upright, velvet-like texture. Unlike normal rabbit fur, where longer guard hairs stick out above the undercoat, the Rex coat has guard hairs the same length as the undercoat. The result is a coat that feels like plush or velvet and is often described as the softest of any rabbit breed.
Standard Rex rabbits are recognised show and meat animals, while the Mini Rex has become one of the most popular pet rabbit breeds in the world thanks to its manageable size and gentle personality. Both types come in a wide range of coat colours, including solid black, white, blue, chocolate and lilac, as well as patterned varieties like broken, otter and castor, the rich reddish-brown that was the original Rex colour.
To learn more about the breed's history, appearance and what makes its fur so special, read our full guide on what a Rex rabbit is.
How Big Do Rex Rabbits Get?
Size is one of the biggest differences between the two Rex types. A standard Rex rabbit typically grows to between 7.5 and 10.5 pounds, making it a solid, medium to large rabbit. A Mini Rex is much smaller, usually reaching 3 to 4.5 pounds when fully grown, which is part of why it is so popular as an indoor pet.
Most Rex rabbits reach their full adult size by around 8 to 9 months of age, with the fastest growth happening in the first few months. A standard Rex will feel like a substantial, muscular rabbit in your arms, while a fully grown Mini Rex stays compact and easy to handle even for children. Understanding how big your rabbit will get matters for choosing the right cage or hutch, planning their diet, and knowing what is healthy.
For a full breakdown of Rex and Mini Rex size, weight by age, and what affects how big they get, read our guide on how big Rex rabbits get.
How Long Do Rex Rabbits Live?
With good care, Rex rabbits live a long time for a rabbit. A standard Rex typically lives 5 to 7 years, while a well cared for Mini Rex often lives even longer, commonly 7 to 10 years.
Lifespan depends heavily on diet, living conditions, exercise, and whether the rabbit is spayed or neutered, which reduces the risk of certain cancers. Indoor rabbits generally live longer than outdoor ones because they are protected from predators, extreme weather and disease. Feeding a proper hay based diet and giving them room to move are the two biggest things you can do to help your Rex or Mini Rex rabbit live a full, healthy life.
For everything that affects Rex lifespan and how to help yours live longer, read our guide on how long Rex rabbits live.
Rex Rabbit Care and Diet
Caring for a Rex rabbit is similar to caring for any rabbit, with one important exception related to their coat. Their diet should be roughly 80 percent good quality grass hay, such as timothy hay, with a smaller amount of leafy greens and a measured portion of pellets. Fresh water should always be available. Hay is essential not just for nutrition but for keeping their constantly growing teeth worn down and their digestive system moving.
One thing unique to Rex rabbits is that their short, plush coat gives them less padding on their feet than other breeds, which can make them more prone to sore hocks, a common Rex health issue. Providing solid resting areas rather than wire flooring helps prevent this. Like all rabbits, Rex are also prone to dental problems and digestive issues such as GI stasis if they do not get enough hay, so a fibre-rich diet is the foundation of keeping them healthy.
For a complete Rex care routine, including feeding amounts, housing, grooming and common health issues, read our full Rex care and diet guide.
Are Rex Rabbits Good Pets?
Rex rabbits, and Mini Rex especially, are considered one of the best rabbit breeds for pets. They are known for being calm, friendly and tolerant of handling, which makes them a good choice for families and first time rabbit owners. Their intelligence means many can be litter trained and will learn to recognise their owners.
In terms of temperament, Rex rabbits are generally gentle and curious rather than skittish or aggressive, though as with any rabbit, personality varies by individual and is shaped by how the rabbit is raised and handled. Rabbits that are handled gently and often from a young age tend to be the friendliest. They do need space, company and daily interaction to stay happy.
To learn about Rex temperament, whether they are good with children, and how to build a bond with yours, read our guide on whether Rex rabbits are good pets.
Rex Rabbits for Meat
The standard Rex is a genuine dual purpose breed, valued for both its fur and its meat. It has a good meat to bone ratio and reaches a suitable processing weight reasonably quickly, which is why it is a common choice on homesteads and small farms. The Mini Rex, being much smaller, is generally kept as a pet or show animal rather than for meat.
Rex meat is lean and mild, and the breed's fur is a valuable byproduct prized for its softness. For breeders raising Rex for meat, tracking breeding dates, litter sizes and growth is essential to running an efficient operation.
For a full look at raising Rex rabbits for meat, including processing weight and timing, read our Rex rabbits for meat guide.
Rex Rabbit Breeding
Breeding Rex rabbits follows the same core cycle as other breeds. Does are pregnant for about 31 days and typically have litters of 4 to 8 kits, though larger litters are common in standard Rex. Careful breeders track which rabbits are paired, calculate due dates, prepare nest boxes on time, and keep pedigree records to breed for healthy, quality animals.
Keeping accurate records is the difference between a well run rabbitry and a chaotic one. Knowing exactly when each doe is due, which kits came from which pairing, and how your bloodlines connect helps you avoid inbreeding and produce better rabbits.
For a full guide to Rex breeding, gestation and litters, read our Rex rabbit breeding guide.
Manage Your Rex Rabbitry the Easy Way
Whether you keep a few Rex rabbits or run a full breeding program, keeping track of everything by hand quickly becomes overwhelming. The Rabbit Breeding Calculator app was built to manage your entire rabbitry from your phone. It automatically works out breeding and kindling dates, builds professional pedigrees, tracks litters and growth, stores health records, and even handles your income and expenses.
You can try it free for seven days and see how much easier managing your rabbits becomes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rex Rabbits
How big do Rex rabbits get?
A standard Rex rabbit grows to 7.5 to 10.5 pounds, while a Mini Rex reaches about 3 to 4.5 pounds fully grown.
How long do Rex rabbits live?
Standard Rex rabbits live around 5 to 7 years, and Mini Rex often live 7 to 10 years with good care.
Are Rex rabbits good pets?
Yes. Rex and especially Mini Rex are calm, friendly and easy to handle, making them one of the best rabbit breeds for families and beginners.
What is special about Rex rabbit fur?
The Rex coat has guard hairs the same length as the undercoat, giving it a dense, upright, velvet-like texture that is often called the softest of any rabbit breed.
Are Rex rabbits good for meat?
The standard Rex is a solid dual-purpose breed with a good meat-to-bone ratio, making it popular on homesteads. Mini Rex are too small and are kept as pets or show animals.
A Final Word
Rex rabbits are a wonderful breed whether you want a soft, friendly companion or a productive addition to your homestead. Take time to learn about their care, give them a proper diet and enough space, and they will reward you with years of companionship or a well run breeding operation. Use the detailed guides linked above to go deeper on any topic, and consider letting the Rabbit Breeding Calculator app handle the record keeping so you can focus on your rabbits.