What Is a Rex Rabbit? Breed Facts, Fur & Colors Explained
What is a Rex rabbit? Learn about the breed's history, its famous velvet fur, colors, size and personality in this complete Rex rabbit profile.
The Rex rabbit is a breed famous for one thing above all: its coat. Run your hand over a Rex and it feels like plush velvet, completely different from any ordinary rabbit. That single trait has made the Rex one of the most recognised and loved rabbit breeds in the world, both as a show animal and as a family pet. In this guide we explain exactly what a Rex rabbit is, where the breed came from, what makes its fur so special, and what to expect in size, colour and personality.
Where the Rex rabbit came from
The Rex breed originated in France in 1919, when a litter of wild grey rabbits was born with an unusual coat. Instead of the normal rough fur, these rabbits had a short, dense, upright coat caused by a natural genetic mutation. Breeders quickly recognised how special this was and began developing the trait. The breed was shown in Paris in the 1920s and spread rapidly around the world. Today the Rex is recognised by rabbit associations everywhere and exists in both a standard size and a smaller Mini Rex version.
What makes Rex rabbit fur so special
To understand the Rex, you have to understand its fur, because that is the whole reason the breed exists. Normal rabbit fur has two layers: a soft undercoat and longer, coarser guard hairs that stick out above it. In a Rex rabbit, a genetic mutation makes the guard hairs the same length as the undercoat. Instead of longer hairs poking out, every hair stands upright at the same height, creating a smooth, dense, even surface.
The result is a coat that feels like velvet or plush and is often described as the softest fur of any rabbit breed. The hairs also stand straight up rather than lying flat, which is why a Rex coat springs back when you stroke it. This unique fur is prized in the fur trade and is the single feature that defines the breed. If someone asks what Rex rabbit fur is, the simple answer is that it is a naturally short, upright, velvet textured coat produced by a recessive gene.
What Rex rabbits look like
Beyond the coat, Rex rabbits have a well rounded, muscular body, upright ears, and a proud, alert posture. The standard Rex is a medium to large rabbit, typically weighing between 7.5 and 10.5 pounds, with a sturdy commercial body type. The Mini Rex is a compact version of the same breed, usually weighing 3 to 4.5 pounds, with the same plush coat in a smaller, rounder package.
Rex rabbit colors
One of the joys of the Rex breed is the huge variety of colours it comes in. Recognised colours include solid shades like black, white, blue, chocolate and lilac, as well as patterned and shaded varieties such as castor (a rich reddish brown that was the original Rex colour), otter, opal, broken (white with patches of colour), and many more. The Mini Rex in particular is bred in an especially wide range of colours, which is part of what makes the breed so popular with hobbyists and show breeders.
Rex rabbit personality
Rex rabbits are known for having calm, friendly and intelligent personalities. Standard Rex are often described as good natured and make capable mothers, which is one reason they are valued by breeders. The Mini Rex is especially popular as a pet because it tends to be gentle, curious and tolerant of handling, making it a good match for families and first time owners. As with any rabbit, individual personality varies and is shaped by how the rabbit is raised and handled from a young age.
Standard Rex versus Mini Rex
It is worth being clear about the difference, because the two are often confused. The standard Rex is a larger, dual purpose rabbit raised for fur, meat and show. The Mini Rex is a smaller companion and show breed developed later by crossing Rex with smaller rabbits. Both share the same signature velvet coat, but they differ in size and in how they are usually kept: standard Rex on homesteads and in breeding programs, Mini Rex most often as house pets.
Is a Rex rabbit right for you?
If you want a rabbit with an exceptionally soft coat, a friendly temperament, and a wide choice of colours, the Rex is an excellent breed whether you are looking for a pet, a show animal, or a productive homestead rabbit. Like all rabbits, they need a proper hay based diet, room to exercise, and daily interaction to thrive.
Keeping Rex rabbits organised
Once you own more than one Rex, the details start to add up fast. Which doe came from which line, when each rabbit was born, what colour genes they carry, their weights, their health history, and if you breed them, who was paired with whom and when each litter is due. Trying to hold all of that in your head or scattered across notebooks is where mistakes creep in, from accidental inbreeding to missed nest box dates.
This is exactly the problem the Rabbit Breeding Calculator app was built to solve. It keeps a complete profile for every rabbit, builds professional pedigrees in seconds, tracks litters and growth, stores health records, and automatically works out every important breeding date, all from your phone.
Final thoughts
The Rex is a truly special breed, combining a one of a kind velvet coat with a friendly, easy going nature and a rainbow of colours to choose from. Whether you are welcoming your first Mini Rex as a pet or building a serious Rex breeding program, understanding the breed is the first step to caring for them well. When you are ready to keep your rabbitry organised and stop relying on scattered notes, the Rabbit Breeding Calculator app gives you everything in one place. Try it free for seven days and see the difference.