Last Updated on June 12, 2023 by Emma Reynolds
An Angora rabbit is a rabbit bred for its long hair. They are fuzzy and soft, and many people like to watch the Angora bunny groom themselves.
When they are first born they have no fur so it’s easier to make sure that you don’t miss anything while grooming them because there is nothing else getting in the way!
Once their fur starts growing back, the Angora has very big ears which can be used as blankets on really cold days. It’s fun to put an Angora outside during summertime because they will sunbathe if it’s warm enough outside! And this helps keep your fluffy friends from getting sick.
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Origins of the Angora Rabbit
Angora rabbits are a type of rabbit that originated from the Angora region in Central Anatolia (Turkey). The background story of Angora rabbits runs back to the 16th century.
It was because Sultan Selim II Angoras became one of the most popular domesticated rabbits as Angoras were his favorite pet. Also, Angora rabbits were popular pets among the French royalty in the Middle Ages and 18th century.
In ancient times as well, they were bred for their long, soft fur and used to create mohair (a coarse type of wool). This wool came in several colors and grades of quality, depending on which breed it came from.
What are its defining characteristics?
Angora Rabbits, specifically, have long, thick hair which is the defining characteristic of this type of rabbit.
The amount of wool on their body can be as much as twice as dense as any other breed! They come in many different colors too; white to brown with black stripes. But no matter what color they are it will always feel like silk against your skin due to their special coat!
One cool fact about Angoras is that their wool doesn’t itch. Thus, people who have sensitive skins do not have to worry about wearing Angora rabbit wool.
The wool of Angora rabbits gets tangled often so that it needed to be brushed carefully. This takes time to brush their fur, which makes the wool of Angora rabbits expensive and rare outside of the countries like China. China is one of the countries that have large Angora farms where rabbits are raised for meat and wool.
Another specific characteristic of Angora rabbits is that the male and female angoras look alike. They cannot be differentiated from their looks.
The most common breed of Angora rabbits is the Cashmere one. This type of Angoras have a short dense coat of about 3 inches in length by 4″. Their wool is thick when touching and very plush underfoot.
Why should you own an Angora Rabbit?
Many people love to own an Angora Rabbit because they are beautiful and have a wonderful coat. They also require less space than other breeds of rabbits because they groom themselves often. That means there is not so much fur left around for them to get tangled up in!
The benefits of owning an Angora Rabbit are many:
- They are loving and affectionate, easy to care for, interesting pets with lots of character.
- They can make ideal companions as they love cuddles and attention from their owners.
- Angora Rabbits have longer hair which is extremely soft.
- They eat a diet of hay (or grass), fresh vegetables such as carrots or cabbage, limited fruit, and water.
- They’re hypoallergenic.
- It is that kind of a pet that won’t disturb you too much when indoors since these rabbits never scream!
Looking for an Angora Rabbit to Buy or Adopt?
Take a look at our 2021 updated list of breeders and adoption centers in the US to find the best and most affordable Angora Rabbits near you. You’ll find plenty of English Agoras, French Agoras, German Angoras, and Giant Angoras to choose from!
How much space do Angora bunnies need?
A lot of people who hope to have an Angora bunny have this question; how much space these rabbits need. When raising rabbits, they should have ample space in order to walk around freely without feeling overly crowded or confined.
Rabbits are social animals so you want to make sure they have enough room for the rabbit. The recommended space is at least three square feet per animal, but a few more inches will not hurt them too much either.
Also, within their space, Angoras need to have access areas for protection from extreme environmental changes such as extremely hot or cold weather.
What kind of cage or hutch is suitable for Angora Rabbits?
Many Angora rabbit owners doubt whether they need a cage. Rabbits are very social animals and enjoy the company of other rabbits, so they would prefer to live in a rabbit-proofed space rather than be constantly caged.
Rabbits also need plenty of space to hop around, but this can make homes unsuitable for Angora Rabbits unless you’re sure that your home is completely free from dangers such as wires or electrical cables.
The benefits of having an indoor cage include:
- Preventing the accidental escape of your pet rabbit when it’s not supervised by humans.
- Providing your Angora Rabbit with privacy while also keeping its living area clean.
- Protecting your houseplants from getting eaten!
- In addition, there are many types of cages available on the market.
Some rabbit owners even put their Rabbits in cages because these pets tend not to like being picked up or carried around by humans. And some breeds of rabbits have very strong hind legs, which makes them a little tricky for small children to pick them up and play with them.
Rabbits love walking on the ground level as well as hopping over obstacles and climbing walls! In fact, many Angora bunny owners say that putting your pet in a cage can often lead to behavioral problems such as:
- Aggression
- Excessive chewing behavior (especially wire)
- Biting people’s hands
- Hair loss due to confinement
To avoid getting issues, one clever solution that some owners do is to buy a large hutch or create a big playpen where there’ll be plenty of space for your Angoras to run around. It’ll protect them from predators, keep your garden safe (from being chewed to the ground by your furry friends!), and will make sure they don’t poop everywhere.
Get a Great Hutch for Your Angora Rabbit
Finding an Angora bunny is one thing, but getting a cage or hutch that’s best for your furry friend is quite another task! To save you some time, We’ve sifted through and selected the best rabbit hutches in the market today in 2021. Click here to take a look at our list.
Once they’re litter trained, it’ll be a good idea to keep them in a designated area where they can sleep in their hutch, do their business in the litter box, and eat their hay or other yummy vegetables and fruits.
Are they good pets, and why or why not?
So, are Angora rabbits ideal as pets? The answer to this question is a resounding yes! Angora rabbits are considered good pets because they’re intelligent, easy to care for, and can be trained.
They also don’t usually carry diseases or parasites like other household animals such as cats and dogs do so there’s no risk of having a sick pet that requires expensive medical treatments all the time.
They have sensitive ears, which means they may not tolerate loud noises well but otherwise, their health requirements are fairly low making them less costly than more demanding types of pets such as reptiles or birds who need specialized diets in order to thrive.
Angora bunnies will only require feeding on hay (a type of grass), vegetables, or pellets supplemented with fresh water every day depending on how often you want your rabbit fed.
Conclusion
Angoras are some of the best rabbits you can have. They’re soft and fluffy, and despite their long fur, they don’t stink like a lot of other rabbit breeds.
If you’re curious about where to buy or adopt an Angora rabbit, take a look at our detailed guide here on the latest 2021 Angoras for sale and adoption in the US, UK, and other countries.
Emma is a young, enthusiastic veterinary assistant based in Portland, Oregon. She has a natural affinity for all things fluffy, with rabbits being her absolute favorite. She got her first rabbit, a Holland Lop named Pippin, at the age of 7 and has been head over heels for them ever since. Emma holds an Associate Degree in Veterinary Science from the Portland Community College and has been working in a small animal clinic for the past 2 years.