Siamese Sable

Coat and looks how to spot one

short normal fur

A neat, small-to-medium rabbit with upright ears and a short coat in shades of sepia. The darkest colour sits along the back, head, ears, feet and tail, softening to a paler sepia on the sides and chest.13

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Needs daily time to run, hop and explore, with puzzle feeders, tunnels and toys to keep it busy.4

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The short coat is easy to keep tidy with an occasional brush. Routine care is mostly regular hands-on checks of coat, nails and teeth plus grooming to keep the coat in good order.34

Home where they are happiest

Needs a secure living area of at least 3m x 2m x 1m with room to hop, stretch, play and hide, plus toys, tunnels and foraging chances for enrichment.4

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Plenty of hay forms the base of the diet and keeps the constantly growing teeth worn down, with fresh leafy greens and a measured portion of good-quality pellets. Carrots are best kept as an occasional treat.4

Company who they like around

A sociable animal that is happiest living with at least one other rabbit; the RSPCA usually rehomes rabbits in pairs.4

The story where it all began

Sable-coloured rabbits turned up unexpectedly in Chinchilla litters around 1919, and Liverpool fancier David Irving did much to promote them at home and abroad. In Germany a similar marten-coloured line arose separately in the 1920s, and the British Sable went on to become a well-established show breed.12

Recognised by the official bits

British Rabbit Council

Recognised as the Sable, in Siamese and Marten patterns, each in light, medium and dark shades; breed club is The Sable Rabbit Club.1

ARBA

Not recognised.3