Mini Rex

Coat and looks how to spot one

rex coat: short, very dense, upright plush fur on a compact, rounded body

A small, neatly rounded rabbit with well-filled shoulders, midsection and hindquarters, fairly short legs, fine-to-medium bone and short upright ears no longer than about 3.5 in (9 cm). Its signature is the rex coat: the guard hairs are about as short as the undercoat, so the fur stands straight up instead of lying flat. The result feels like thick velvet that springs back under your hand, ideally about 5/8 in (1.6 cm) long.156

Personality what they are like

Mini Rex are generally calm, curious and friendly, and many genuinely enjoy being handled and fussed over. Their gentle, patient nature makes them a good choice for beginners and families, though like all rabbits they prefer quiet, predictable handling.135

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Moderately active; needs daily time out of the enclosure for hopping and exploring, plus regular interaction with people. Outdoor play should be supervised.53

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low-maintenance coat: a gentle brush with a soft brush about once a week is plenty, and too much brushing is unnecessary for rex fur. Spot-clean with a damp cloth if needed and trim nails around once a month. Expect a moult roughly every three months.35

Home where they are happiest

Provide a solid-floored enclosure with soft bedding and a separate quiet hideaway; one guide gives about 30 x 30 in (76 x 76 cm) as a bare minimum, while the RSPCA recommends a combined living area of at least 3 m x 2 m x 1 m high for a pair of rabbits. Keep them somewhere cool (below about 80 F / 27 C) with natural light but out of direct sun.573

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Grass hay should make up most of the diet (around three quarters or more), topped up with a measured amount of high-fibre pellets, fresh vegetables and constant clean water. Skip grains and seeds.35

Company who they like around

Sociable with people and other rabbits; they do well with a compatible rabbit companion and can get along with calm household pets after a gradual introduction.57

The story where it all began

The rex fur mutation turned up in a litter of wild-grey rabbits in France in 1919 and was shown in Paris in 1924. The Mini Rex story began in 1984, when Texas breeder Monna Berryhill won a pair of Dwarf Rex at the ARBA convention in Orlando, Florida. The surviving buck, Zoro, was mated to an undersized Lynx Rex doe called Cotton, giving a litter of seven; three of the does, nicknamed Happy, Bashful and Dopey, became the foundation of the breed. Two of them went to Florida breeders Linda Thompson and Gloria Middleton, whose line later produced top-winning Castors. Berryhill presented Castor Mini Rex at the 1986 convention in Columbus, where a working standard was approved, and ARBA fully recognised the breed in 1988. New varieties were added over the following decades, and the Mini Rex grew into one of the most popular breeds in American show halls.2816

Recognised by the official bits

ARBA

Working standard approved at the 1986 Columbus convention; full breed recognition in 1988. Maximum weight 4.5 lb. Blue Eyed White added 2005, Smoke Pearl accepted 2012, Sable 2017.2

ARBA

Recognised 1988; weight standard and variety updates as summarised on Wikipedia.1

ARBA

Listed as recognised in 1988, maximum weight 4.5 lb.4

British Rabbit Council

Recognised by the BRC.1