Rex

ARBA states that the Rex was shown publicly at the Paris International Rabbit Show in 1924 and imported to the United States in the same year by John Fehr and Alfred Zimmerman. This supports a French origin and a documented international milestone, not the unsupported claim that every modern national Rex standard began on one identical date.

ARBA sets a maximum show weight of 10.5 lb (4.76 kg) and describes the short, dense, plush coat as the breed’s defining feature. Colour, density, texture and body type must be assessed under the current registry standard; a soft or curly coat alone cannot establish breed identity.

Rex rabbits are often described as tractable, but behaviour remains individual and is shaped by handling, pain, hormones and environment. They need continuous room to run, rear, hide and forage, secure non-slip footing and social contact with a compatible rabbit; show size is not a housing prescription.

Provide continuously available grass hay and fresh water, suitable leafy foods and measured complete pellets according to age and body condition. Groom gently during moulting and keep resting areas dry, clean and comfortably supportive: the special coat should never be used as a reason for abrasive wire-only resting surfaces.

MSD notes ulcerative pododermatitis as a particular concern in Rex rabbits, while pressure, trauma, moisture, hygiene, weight and flooring all contribute. Check soles, nails, gait, incisors, appetite and droppings routinely. Hair loss, redness, sores, reduced eating or fewer faecal pellets require prompt rabbit-experienced veterinary assessment.

Select for functional feet and movement, healthy dentition and breathing, stable temperament, body condition and a coat that meets the chosen standard without sacrificing welfare. Record pedigrees, matings, kindlings, live and stillborn kits, growth, adult weight, foot lesions, dental findings and longevity instead of advertising breed-wide production guarantees.

• Keep Rex and Mini Rex records separate.
• Do not breed recurrent unexplained foot or dental disease before veterinary review.
• Compare litter and growth data within the same management system.