The Angora rabbit looks like a round ball of fluff and can often be mistaken for a Pekinese dog instead of a bunny! These wonderful rabbits have very impressive coats and are often actually bred for their wool. However, they also make fantastic companion pets and can bond very quickly to their owners — especially the ones who like to groom them!
A rabbit with a coat of this size and texture has relatively high care needs, so may not be the rabbit for you if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands. You’ll need to do your research to ensure you know what you’re getting yourself in for! Luckily, we’ve compiled a guide of everything you need to know about the Angora rabbit so you can see whether they might be the bun for you.
History Of The English Angora Rabbit
The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognizes four different breeds of Angora rabbit: French, English, Satin, and Giant. The Giant Angora is the biggest of the breeds and the Satin Angora has finer and softer hair than the other breeds. The English Angora, which we will focus on in this guide, is distinguished by fur on its face and ears and is also the smallest of the breeds.
A fifth variety of Angora rabbit breed, the German Angora, is recognized by the International Association of German Angora Rabbit Breeders.
The Angora wool industry has been criticized by animal right activists for many years. They claim that rabbits are scared and injured in the process of harvesting the wool. Due to their wonderful coats, the Angora is a very popular show breed and is often hard to beat.
Breed Origin
The Angora rabbit originates from Ankara, Turkey, previously known as Angora) and is one of the oldest type of woolly rabbits. When these rabbits first came to the United States, at first there was just one type of Angora rabbit, known as the “Angora Wooler”.
In 1939, the Angora Wooler was reclassified as two types of rabbits — the English Angora and the French Angora. The Satin Angora was then created by crossing the Satin and French Angora rabbit and the Giant Angora was created by breeding the Angora with Flemish Giants.
Characteristics Of The English Angora Rabbit
The English Angora rabbit is certainly known for the way it looks! These bunnies are normally born in kits of between two to nine. An English Angora can set you back between $50 to $250, depending on whether you are looking for a companion pet or a show rabbit.
Appearance
The Angora rabbit is the smallest of all the Angora breeds. These rabbits usually weigh between 5 and 6 lbs. They have a compact body and a broad, flat head and short ears. They have fur on their ears, their faces (unlike any other Angora), as well as woolly feet.
Coat
The English Angora’s coat is thick, woolly and silky. They have facial furnishings and their entire body, even their feet, are covered in fur. As a companion rabbit, the Angora should be taken to the groomers a few times a year to have their coat clipped. This and regular brushing can help to prevent matting. We will go into more detail about grooming the Angora later on.
Color
The Angora’s coat can come in a range of colors. The color your Angora will be will depend on what color group they are in. These groups include the agouti group, white group, broken group, shaded group and self group. The most common colors are white, black, blue, chocolate, blue tort, black tort, chocolate, tort, and chestnut.
Temperament
The English Angora is a good-tempered rabbit that makes a wonderful companion. They are very sociable and will love to spend time with their family members. They will especially bond with the person who is in charge of grooming them, because it has to be done so often!
Fortunately, this domestic rabbit doesn’t need a lot of attention and so can be great for individuals. However, they do flourish when interacted with and played with, and so can make a great bunny for a busy household too.
The Angora doesn’t particularly liked to be picked up. They can also become aggressive when frightened, so it is a good idea to respect your rabbit’s personal space, especially when they are new to your home. Once they trust you are realize you are not a threat, they will love you!
Lifespan
The Angora rabbit has a life expectancy of between 7 and 12 years.
Known Health Issues
These bunnies can live a long and happy life when looked after correctly. However, like all rabbits, they are prone to some health conditions. These health problems are mostly related to their large coat.
– Woolblock — this can be a serious and sometimes fatal issue within the Angora. As they clean and groom themselves, they can ingest fur which can become trapped inside the digestive system and create a furball. Unlike cats, rabbits cannot regurgitate furballs and it will become bigger and bigger. This can lead to loss of appetite as your rabbit will believe they are full, or it can block the digestive tract.
– Overheating — this is due to their fluffy coat. Ensure you groom them correctly and keep them out of the sun.
– Diarrhea — this is something all rabbits deal with, especially when they eat too much fresh food, especially sugary fruits and not enough hay. However, you’ll need to clean your Angora properly if they experience diarrhea because it can get trapped within their coat. Make sure they are throughly dry after any kind of washing otherwise moisture can become trapped against their skin which will lead to other health issues.
Like all rabbits, they can also suffer from back issues if they are mishandled or accidentally dropped.
Regular vet checkups will ensure that you catch any health problems before them become too serious. You should also make sure that you are buying from a reputable breeder.
Daily Life
Now we know all about the traits and characteristics of the Angora rabbit, it is time to take a look at what living with one of these bunnies on a day to day basis is really like. We will cover their food and diet, their exercise needs and their large grooming requirements!
Food And Diet
The exact amount you feed your Angora should be based on their size, age and activity level. They should be eating a portion of hay that is at least as their body size every day, alongside pellets and fresh vegetables. Fresh water should also always be available to them.
Hay is very important as it helps to keep their digestive system moving, as well as helping to wear down their teeth so they are less prone to dental issues. At least 70% of your rabbit’s diet should be hay.
High-quality supplementary pellets help to provide extra vitamins and minerals that keep your rabbit healthy. Take a look at a supplementary pellet food we recommend below.
Best Food For The Angora Rabbit
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We recommend the Oxbow Bunny Basics rabbit food for the Angora rabbit. Formulated for adult rabbits, this is a pellet only diet rather than a muesli diet to help prevent selective eating. This food is timothy hay based, providing essential fiber and nutrients to keep them healthy.
There are also antioxidants that help to keep your bun performing at their best, and prebiotics provide food for the good bacteria in your pet’s GI tract. There are no seeds or fruits in this food as well as no refined sugars or artificial ingredients that your rabbit wouldn’t encounter in the wild.
Exercise
In the wild, rabbits run around three miles a day. Therefore, it is very important that you give your pet rabbit enough exercise every day to keep them active and entertained. They should have at least three hours of free-range time, whether this is out of their hutch or in their hutch.
If you have a yard or garden for them to run around, then you can supervise them as they exercise. You can also buy outside pens that will keep them safe and secure so they can exercise without supervision. If your Angora lives inside and you do not have a yard, make sure that their hutch gives them adequate room to hop around, or, even better, let them out of their hutch to run around the house!
Exercise is very important for the well-being of your rabbit. It helps to keep their joints moving, keeps them entertained and ensures they stay at a healthy weight.
Family Compatibility and Trainability
The Angora bunny can make a wonderful family pet. Sociable and friendly, these rabbits can bond very quickly with their owners and are great for individuals, couples or even a large family. Thanks to their good-nature, they can easily be introduced to children and love to play games, too!
The Angora is a very trainable rabbit because of their intelligence. You can teach them to come when their name is called as well as the basics such as litter training. You should start training them from a young age as it will be easier than trying to teach them when they are older. They can also be trained and socialized around other people and rabbits, so they know how to react in social situations!
They can be kept as in indoor or an outdoor rabbit, but they should always be given a lot of room to roam so they can stay energetic and playful. It is often recommended that the Angora is kept as an indoor rabbit or house rabbit. This helps to regulate their body temperature and will ensure they don’t become too hot outside. Take a look at the hutch we recommend for the Angora below.
Best Hutch For The Angora Rabbit
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We recommend the Aivituvin rabbit hutch for the Angora rabbit. Perfect for use both indoors and outdoors, this two story hutch is made with wood and wire netting to keep your bunny secure. There is adequate space for them to move and hop around and an access door and ramp help your bun to go in and out of the hutch. This means they can freely come and go from their hutch as and when they please.
There is a removable bottom pan for easy cleaning and to ensure your rabbit doesn’t stand in their own poop. This hutch has strong stainless steel casters, exclusive latches and a high quality metal open roof hinge for longer usage and durability.
Grooming
This is not the breed for those who don’t like grooming! The Angora needs to be brushed at least one to two times a week with a wire-bristled comb. Grooming should be increased during shedding season, which happens twice a year. Brushing their coat will keep their fur matt and tangle free.
You will also need to take your Angora to the groomers around four times a year to get their coat trimmed with clippers. This will keep their coat short as it will constantly grow. Giving them a cut known as a “puppy cut” will help to make grooming easier. This involves shearing most of their bodies and faces to keep their coat short, but leaving their feet and ear coat relatively long.
Angora Rabbit FAQ’s
Can the Angora rabbit be house trained?
Yes! These rabbits are an intelligent breed and so can easily be house trained and live as house rabbits. You can teach them to use a litter box from a young age so there is less mess for you to clean up. They can also be taught to respond to their name!
How big should my rabbit’s cage be?
The rule with rabbits is: the bigger the better! If you have the space for a big hutch then your rabbit will always appreciate the extra room to roam and exercise. No one wants to be stuck in a cramped space!
If you do not have a lot of space, then the cage should be at least 4 times the size of the rabbit. A guide is 24″ by 36″ for smaller rabbits (less than 8 lbs) or 30″ by 36″ for larger rabbits. Hutches with multiple stories are also popular as they give your bun more space.
Summary
English Angora rabbits are a unique breed with a wonderful coat and personality. Extremely fluffy, these bunnies need a lot of brushing and an owner to keep up with their regular grooming needs. However, they make a fantastic family companion and will bond quickly with those they love, children included. Thanks to their small size, they also don’t take up too much space and can be housed both indoors and outdoors. What do you think, is an Angora rabbit the pet for you?