Breed profile

Rex

Unique velvety coat. Soft and plush. Intelligent, curious character.

Origin: Francia Size: Mediano Lifespan: 8-12 años Energy

Foto: Wikipedia Commons · CC BY-SA

Ideal for

✓Families with time for daily care
✓Homes with space for a free-roaming area
✓Anyone looking for a quiet pet

Reconsider if

×Homes with loose hunting dogs
×Rough young children (rabbits are easily frightened)
×Life 100% in a cage (cruel · they need 4 h/day loose)

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Is the Rex a good match for you?

Indicative rating from 1 (low) to 5 (high).

Suitable for flats

Suitable for first-timers

Good with children

Tolerates being alone

Energy level

Shedding level

Grooming needs

Tolerates heat

Tolerates cold

💶 Estimated cost of ownership

40-70 €/month

Quality hay and pellets (15-25 €), fresh vegetables (10-15 €), tray bedding/substrate (8-12 €). Separately, the exotics vet costs spread out: annual myxomatosis + RHD vaccination (60-90 €/year) and the initial neutering (120-200 € one-off). It is wise to set money aside for emergencies (a digestive shutdown can exceed 150-300 €).

History and origin

Recognised by ARBA. Originally from France. Unique velvety coat.

Temperament and character

Shy by nature (prey animal). Gains confidence with patience. Sociable with other neutered rabbits. NOT a solitary animal — a companion is always better.

Living together

Children: with respectful ones from age 8 (no rough handling). **Other rabbits:** yes (neutered, gradual introduction). **Dogs:** avoid hunting dogs. **Cats:** possible, supervise.

Life stages of the Rex

Each stage has its own care priorities. Life expectancy: 8-12 años.

Kit

0-4 months

Mother's milk and gradual transition to hay and kit pellets; avoid diarrhoea

Junior

4-8 months

Grass hay ad libitum, introduce fresh vegetables gradually; monitor dentition

Adult

8 months-5 years

Unlimited hay as the base, a measured ration of pellets and vegetables; dental and weight control

Senior

5-6 years onwards

Adjust the diet if there is dental wear or weight loss; regular veterinary check-ups and comfortable flooring

Care

Space: at least 4 h/day out of the cage in a safe area. Cage = rest/night-time only.

Feeding: 80% quality hay (Timothy/Italian ryegrass), 15% fresh vegetables, 5% quality pellets (limit these).

Grooming: 2-3 times a week (daily during moults + long-haired breeds).

Veterinary care: exotics vet (NOT a regular vet — different anatomy/pharmacology). Annual myxomatosis + RHD vaccine. Neutering at 4-6 months (prevents uterine cancer in 80%+ of unspayed females).

Care in detail

🍽️ Nutrition

An 80% base of quality hay available at all times (Timothy, Italian ryegrass) to wear down the teeth and keep the gut moving. 15% varied leafy green vegetables and only 5% rabbit-specific pellets, with no cereals or fruit mixes. Fresh water always available.

✂️ Grooming

Gentle brushing 2-3 times a week, daily during moults. The Rex coat is short and velvety: never brush against the grain with hard slicker brushes, as it is easily damaged. Do not bathe; rabbits groom themselves and water stresses them.

🎓 Training

A prey animal that is shy by nature: earn its trust with patience, without chasing it or lifting it up high. Always hold it with both hands, supporting the hindquarters, to avoid spinal fractures from kicking. It can learn to use a litter tray and responds to positive reinforcement.

🏃 Exercise

At least 4 hours a day loose in a safe, rabbit-proofed area (protected cables); the cage is only for resting. Enrichment with tunnels, cardboard boxes, roots to gnaw on and foraging in the hay. Best kept as a pair of neutered rabbits, as it is not a solitary animal.

Breed-specific health

Common conditions in rabbits: GI stasis (digestive shutdown · EMERGENCY), dental malocclusion (check every 6 months), encephalitozoonosis. Life expectancy 8-12 years with proper care.

🩺 Health predispositions of this breed

Conditions this breed is more predisposed to. Knowing about them helps with prevention and early detection. A predisposition does not mean the animal will develop them.

🐾Pododermatitis 🐰Estasis gastrointestinal (conejos)

Common diseases in rabbits

Learn the symptoms, prevention and when to see the vet. Reviewed indicative information that does not replace a veterinary consultation.

🍄Tiña (dermatofitosis)🦟Pulgas 🌡️Golpe de calor ☠️Intoxicación / envenenamiento ⚖️Obesidad 🐰Estasis gastrointestinal (conejos)

See all 158 diseases in the health guide

Screening and prevention for the Rex

Recommended tests and screenings

✓Inspection of the footpads to detect pododermatitis (sore hocks), to which the Rex is prone owing to its scant protective fur over the hocks
✓Periodic dental examination (every 6 months) to rule out malocclusion and molar overgrowth
✓Faecal test for coccidiosis and intestinal parasites, especially in kits
✓Monitoring for Encephalitozoon cuniculi in the event of neurological signs or head tilt
✓Vaccination against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (RHD/RHD2)

Prevention

Annual vaccination against myxomatosis and RHD (booster RHD2 according to the exotics vet's schedule), deworming and early neutering (4-6 months), which prevents uterine cancer in more than 80% of unspayed females. Padded, clean flooring to prevent pododermatitis.

Check-up schedule

Annual exotics veterinary check-up (including a dental check) and vaccine boosters; from 5-6 years of age a six-monthly review is advisable.

Warning signs

!Stopping eating or passing droppings for more than 12 hours (digestive shutdown / GI ileus: LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY)
!Scabs, redness or sores on the soles of the hind feet
!Drooling, watery eyes or dropping food (dental problem)
!Small, scarce or absent droppings and a bloated abdomen
!Head tilt, loss of balance or seizures

Rex gallery

Foto de la raza rex — Foto: Wikimedia Commons

Frequently asked questions about the Rex

How long does a Rex live?

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The life expectancy of the Rex is 8-12 años. A good diet, adequate exercise, annual veterinary check-ups and preventive care can help reach the upper end of that range.

How much does a Rex weigh?

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An adult Rex weighs between 2.7-4.5 kg, depending on its sex, genetics and condition. It is mediano.

Where does the Rex breed come from?

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The Rex originates from Francia. Recognised by ARBA. Originally from France. Unique velvety coat.

How much exercise does a Rex need?

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The Rex has media energy. **Space:** at least 4 h/day out of the cage in a safe area. Cage = rest/night-time only.

Is the Rex good with children?

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**Children:** with respectful ones from age 8 (no rough handling). **Other rabbits:** yes (neutered, gradual introduction). **Dogs:** avoid hunting dogs. **Cats:** possible, supervise.

Who is the Rex NOT recommended for?

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It isn't the right breed for: Homes with loose hunting dogs. Rough young children (rabbits are easily frightened). Life 100% in a cage (cruel · they need 4 h/day loose). It's important to choose a breed that's compatible with your lifestyle.

What health problems does the Rex have?

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Common conditions in rabbits: GI stasis (digestive shutdown · EMERGENCY), dental malocclusion (check every 6 months), encephalitozoonosis. Life expectancy 8-12 years with proper care.

Why is the Rex rabbit so prone to sores on its feet?

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Its characteristic velvety coat is also very short on the soles and hocks, which are left less protected. On hard, mesh or dirty flooring they develop pododermatitis (calluses and sores). Always provide soft, dry and clean surfaces.

Can a Rex live alone in a cage?

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No. It is a social animal that needs at least 4 hours a day out of the cage and, ideally, the company of another neutered rabbit. Living shut away all day causes stress, behavioural problems and obesity.

Does the Rex rabbit need vaccinations?

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Yes, even if it lives indoors. It is vaccinated annually against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (RHD/RHD2), which are transmitted by insects and by indirect contact. The schedule is set by a vet specialising in exotics.

Is it a good pet for young children?

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With reservations. It is a prey animal, easily frightened, that does not tolerate being jostled or picked up roughly. It is suitable from age 8 and always with supervision, teaching children to stroke it on the ground rather than lift it up.

What should I do if my Rex stops eating?

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It is a veterinary emergency. A rabbit not eating or passing droppings for more than 12 hours indicates a digestive shutdown (gastrointestinal ileus) that can be fatal within hours. Go to an exotics vet immediately.