Furry Diary

French Angora

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Also called Angora (French type)

Recognised breedShort profile

From Descends from the Angora rabbits of the Ankara (Angora) region of Turkey, which reached France in 1723; the French type was standardised in the United States by ARBA in 1944.12

At a glance the quick version

Weight3.4 to 4.8 kg341
Lifespan7 to 12 years12
Sizemedium

NARBC/ARBA senior weight 7.5-10.5 lb (about 3.4-4.8 kg), ideal 8.5 lb (about 3.9 kg) for both sexes. Wikipedia gives 3.5-4.5 kg.

Gentle and docile
Easier-care coat than other Angoras
Produces wool for spinning
341

Coat and looks how to spot one

long wool with a clean face and front feet

A commercial-type rabbit with an oval outline from the side and an oblong look from above. Unlike the English Angora, its head, ears and front feet are free of wool, so the face looks sleek and the ears are plain or tufted only at the tips. The dense underwool is crimped and topped with plenty of guard hair that stands out above it, giving the soft 'halo' that hand spinners like.31

ColoursAgoutiBrokenPointed WhiteSelfShadedTickedWide Band13

Personality what they are like

A calm, friendly and gentle rabbit that is often recommended for newcomers to Angoras and to fibre keeping. It grows more sociable and relaxed with regular handling and time out of its enclosure.342

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Needs daily time out of its enclosure to hop, explore and stretch, in a clean area that keeps debris out of the wool.25

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Comb or brush regularly (from daily to weekly depending on the coat) and use a blower to lift and separate the wool. The wool is harvested by shearing or plucking every 3-4 months, and a coat with the correct texture needs less work than other Angora breeds. Trim nails regularly.123

Home where they are happiest

Needs a roomy enclosure with solid flooring and soft bedding rather than wire, spot-cleaned daily and fully changed weekly, plus a larger exercise area. Welfare guidance asks for enough height for the rabbit to stand fully upright and room to hop several times in a row.26

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Plenty of good grass hay should form the bulk of the diet (breed guides suggest about 70%), with fresh water always available, a daily helping of leafy greens and a measured portion of quality pellets.25

Company who they like around

Rabbits are social animals and do best living with at least one compatible rabbit companion, plus regular calm daily contact with their people.52

The story where it all began

Angora rabbits from Turkey reached France in the early 18th century and became popular wool animals across Europe. In the United States the single 'Angora Wooler' was split into English and French types, and ARBA standardised the French Angora as its own breed in 1944.12

Fun facts for the dinner table

  1. 1

    Its wool is valued by hand spinners for the soft 'halo' created by the guard hairs sitting above the crimped underwool.3

  2. 2

    Of the four ARBA Angora breeds, it is the one more commonly kept as a pet, even though it yields less wool than the English or Giant.1

  3. 3

    Its show colour is judged from the even colouring on the head, feet and tail, since the wool itself can look lighter.1

  4. 4

    It is valued as a commercial breed for both fibre and meat, not only as a wool rabbit.3

Recognised by the official bits

ARBA
One of four Angora breeds recognised by ARBA (with English, Giant and Satin). Senior weights 7.5-10.5 lb, ideal 8.5 lb for both sexes; maximum 10.5 lb.3
ARBA
Colour groups include Agouti, Broken, Pointed White, Self, Shaded, Ticked and Wide Band.1
ARBA
Breed page: one of the four ARBA Angora breeds, maximum weight 10.5 lb.4

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a French Angora. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

  1. Angora rabbit - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, history, varieties, lifespan, wool harvesting, facts
  2. French Angora Rabbit - PetGuide petguide.comused for temperament, care, grooming, lifespan, history
  3. French Angora Rabbits - National Angora Rabbit Breeders Club nationalangorarabbitbreeders.comused for body type, wool, weights, temperament
  4. French Angora - American Rabbit Breeders Association arba.netused for recognition, temperament, max weight
  5. Rabbits - RSPCA rspca.org.ukused for general diet and social care
  6. Rabbit environment - RSPCA rspca.org.ukused for housing space

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.