Rex rabbit: velvet coat, sensitive feet and real care needs

Veterinary note — This page describes a breed and its predispositions, not a diagnosis. Redness, a scab, swelling or a wound under the foot, or a rabbit that limps or shifts its weight, needs a vet experienced with rabbits.

The Rex is a medium-to-large rabbit — 3.5 to 4.75 kg under the French breed standard — recognisable by its short, velvety coat, in which the guard hairs are cut down to the length of the undercoat. That coat has a direct consequence: it cushions the underside of the hind feet poorly, and the Merck Veterinary Manual lists the Rex as predisposed to pododermatitis, or sore hocks. With a Rex, the priority is therefore flooring and hocks, far more than the brush.

This page covers the Rex breed. The condition itself — stages, treatment, outlook — is detailed in sore hocks in rabbits, and where the Rex sits among other sizes in the main domestic rabbit breeds.

Rex, Petit Rex, Dwarf Rex: three sizes under one coat

The rex coat is a fur mutation, not a size. The French standard recognises three breeds that carry it:

So before adopting a “Rex”, ask which one: a standard Rex weighs about three times as much as a Dwarf Rex, with everything that implies for space, litter tray and budget — see what size enclosure for a rabbit and how much does a rabbit cost per month.

Why a rex coat protects the feet less

In an ordinary rabbit, the coat combines a dense undercoat with longer, stiffer guard hairs. Under the hock, those guard hairs form a cushion that spreads the load. In the Rex, the mutation shortens and thins the guard hairs until they blend into the undercoat: the cushion disappears.

The Merck manual puts it plainly: the Rex appears predisposed because it lacks the longer guard hairs that usually act as a cushion over the hock. Two factors make matters worse:

• weight: a standard Rex can exceed 4 kg, and the same source lists heavy breeds among susceptible rabbits; the RWAF adds that overweight rabbits are far more likely to suffer sore hocks than rabbits of a recommended weight;
• damp and soiling: urine-soaked litter softens the skin of the hock, and Merck lists the build-up of urine-soaked droppings among contributing factors.

The weekly hock check

A regular look under the hind feet lets you spot wear before a sore. Once a week is a practical routine, not a clinically proven frequency.

• Sit on the floor with the rabbit tucked against you and lift one hind foot at a time, without tipping the rabbit onto its back.
• Look at the whole surface that touches the ground, from the heel to the toes.

What flooring suits a Rex?

This is the most effective lever. The RWAF’s advice for preventing sore hocks applies to every rabbit, but a Rex needs it more than most:

Three habits complete the picture: trim the claws regularly, because overlong claws push the weight back onto the hock (how to trim a rabbit’s nails); watch the weight (my rabbit is getting fat); and change the litter before it is soaked (best bedding for rabbits). The full comparison of surfaces is in the best floor surface for rabbits.

Coat care: less is more

A rex coat needs little care. The PDSA says the Rex does not require traditional grooming and can simply be wiped over with a damp cloth if necessary; the British Rabbit Council considers regular visual inspection sufficient for most Rex rabbits, with light brushing using a soft brush or damp cloth during shedding periods.

In practice:

• no slicker brushes or undercoat rakes, which are designed for double coats and are generally pointless on this one;
• during a moult, remove dead fur with a damp hand or a soft brush: a Rex swallows its own fur when grooming too — see rabbit moulting: normal or not;
• no baths: a Rex needs washing no more than any other rabbit (can you bathe a rabbit).

Temperament: what the reputation does not tell you

The PDSA describes the Rex as usually calm and good-natured. That is a reported tendency, not a guarantee: health, past experience, socialisation, reproductive status and environment all shape each individual’s behaviour. One point does weigh on daily life: a 4 kg rabbit is awkward to carry and dislikes it, so care is done at floor level (my rabbit doesn’t like being picked up).

Where to go next

A concrete next step: before a Rex arrives, walk around its space at rabbit height and note every bare, hard or wire surface. Anything that cannot be covered comes out of its living area. Then add a hock check to your weekly routine.

For other medium and large breeds, see English Spot and butterfly-marked rabbits and the Flemish Giant; for the opposite end of the coat spectrum, the Angora rabbit. Our other guides are gathered in the rabbit breeds section and on the rabbit species page.

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual — Noninfectious diseases of rabbits (pododermatitis)
• RWAF — Sore hocks
• PDSA — Rex rabbit
• British Rabbit Council — Grooming
• French rabbit breeders’ federation (FFC) — Rex standard