At a glance the quick version
PetGuide and Animal Corner give 3-4.5 lb; ARBA maximum 4.75 lb; the UK Miniature Satin is listed at 4-5 lb (1.8-2.3 kg).
Coat and looks how to spot one
short satin fur with a high sheen on a compact body
A small, rounded, short-coupled rabbit with a full, round head and upright ears. Its short coat carries the satin gene, which gives the fur a glassy, almost metallic shine and a very smooth feel.431
Personality what they are like
A mild, easy-going little rabbit that enjoys play and settles happily with familiar people. It can be a bit shy with strangers, so gentle, regular handling from a young age helps it grow confident.43
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Needs daily time out of its enclosure to run and explore; Animal Corner suggests at least three hours of free-roaming exercise a day.3
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Brush about twice a week with a slicker brush, a little more often during the spring and autumn moults. Do not bathe; spot-clean with a damp cloth if needed.43
Home where they are happiest
Best kept indoors in a solid-floored enclosure with room to sleep, eat and play; Animal Corner gives 24 x 36 inches as a minimum cage size, plus daily exercise space. Spot-clean daily and change bedding weekly.43
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Mostly grass hay (around 70% of the diet), a small daily portion of high-fibre pellets (no more than about a quarter cup for this size), fresh leafy greens and vegetables, the occasional bit of fruit as a treat, and fresh water at all times.43
Company who they like around
Friendly and people-oriented when socialised early; benefits from daily interaction and play time.43
The story where it all began
The full-size Satin began in the 1930s when Walter Huey noticed a shiny-coated mutation in his Havanas. Several breeders tried to shrink the Satin from the 1970s onward, and J. Leo Collins finally succeeded after obtaining a Certificate of Development in 1999, starting with red and white lines. ARBA accepted the breed in 2005 (white first), and many more colours followed.432
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It was originally named the Satinette before becoming the Mini Satin.2
- 2
When ARBA accepted it in 2005 it became the 47th recognised breed, and it was showable in white only at first.2
- 3
Its shine comes from a recessive satin gene that first turned up in a litter of Havana rabbits in the 1930s.3
- 4
In the UK the breed is shown as the Miniature Satin and only in the Ivory colour.1
Recognised by the official bits
- ARBA
- Recognised in 2005 as the 47th ARBA breed after J. Leo Collins presented it; originally called the Satinette and first accepted in white only. Maximum weight 4.75 lb; 16 showable varieties at the time ARBA's breed page was written. National club: American Satin Rabbit Breeders Association.2
- ARBA
- PetGuide and Animal Corner date the acceptance of the red-eyed white variety to 2006.4
- British Rabbit Council
- Recognised as the Miniature Satin, 4-5 lb, in Ivory only.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Mini Satin. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily while moultingevery week
- Nail trimevery 6 weeks
- Teeth checkTeeth never stop growingevery week
- Fresh hayUnlimited hay every dayevery day
- Spot cleanevery day
- Full cleanevery week
- Bottom checkCheck the fur around the tail stays clean, especially in summerevery day
- Free roamAt least 4 hours of running space a dayevery day
- VaccinationsSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upevery year
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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.
- List of rabbit breeds - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, BRC recognition, UK weight and colour
- ARBA - Mini Satin arba.netused for ARBA recognition, max weight, history
- The Mini Satin Rabbit - Animal Corner animalcorner.orgused for history, lifespan, care, cage size
- Mini Satin Rabbit - PetGuide petguide.comused for weight, lifespan, colours, temperament, care
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.