English Angora

Coat and looks how to spot one

long, dense, silky wool coat with full facial furnishings

Built to look like a round ball of fluff: a compact, rounded body hidden under a dense coat of fine wool that should feel silky and fall freely rather than lying flat. The broad, flat face carries thick bangs and side trimmings, and the short V-shaped ears end in tassels. Wool also covers the front feet, and this is the only Angora breed whose wool hangs over its eyes. The fibre measures about 14-16 micrometres, close to cashmere, and grows roughly 2.5 cm a month.415

Personality what they are like

A gentle, sweet-natured rabbit that tends to be calm with handling during grooming sessions. Like other Angoras it is bright and sociable, but many prefer to stay on the ground rather than be picked up and carried. It suits an owner who enjoys hands-on coat care.12

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Needs daily time and space to move, hop and explore like any pet rabbit, in a clean area that keeps the wool free of debris.76

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

High-maintenance coat. Groom at least once a week and ideally twice, starting with a wide-toothed comb from about 8 weeks of age and later a slicker brush; many breeders use a blower on adult coats. The wool is harvested by shearing or plucking every 2-4 months, when loose wool starts to show. Trim nails every 4-6 weeks. Correct silky wool is much easier to keep than a cottony texture.6152

Home where they are happiest

The National Angora Rabbit Breeders Club guide suggests a hutch of about 30 x 30 in (76 x 76 cm) as a minimum cage size, with outdoor housing covered against rain, snow, draughts and summer sun. The RSPCA recommends a total living space of at least 3 m x 2 m x 1 m high for pet rabbits. Clean, dry bedding helps keep the wool in good order.67

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Hay forms the bulk of the diet. The NARBC guide suggests 4-8 oz (about 110-230 g) of pellets daily depending on adult weight, plus hay and fresh water at all times; PetMD adds around 1 cup of dark leafy greens per 2 lb of rabbit daily.627

Company who they like around

Social animals that are happier with a compatible rabbit companion, and they get plenty of human contact through regular grooming.72

The story where it all began

Angora rabbits are among the oldest domestic rabbit types and are linked to Ankara in Turkey, the city once known as Angora. They were brought to France in 1723, became a favourite at the French court in the mid-1700s, and had spread across Europe by the end of that century. Angoras reached America in the 1800s, and wartime demand for fibre during World War II pushed US wool production above 54,000 kg a year. Until 1939 American breeders recognised a single 'Angora Wooler'. That year ARBA divided it into English and French types, and in 1944 the two became separate breeds, with the English Angora defined by its smaller size and heavily furnished face and ears.123

Recognised by the official bits

ARBA

Reclassified from the single 'Angora Wooler' as English Type in 1939 and recognised as a separate breed, English Angora, in 1944. One of four ARBA Angora breeds (with French, Satin and Giant) and the smallest of them. Colour groups include Agouti, Pointed White, Ruby-eyed White, Self and Shaded.1

National Angora Rabbit Breeders Club

Specialty club for the ARBA Angora breeds; the 1944-1947 Standard of Perfection first listed the official names English Angora and French Angora. Senior weight 5-7 lb (bucks) and 5-7.5 lb (does).4