Mary Jensen 
Rabbits are not only valuable for their fur, but also for the positive emotions they bring when interacting with them! There’s no arguing with that, but right now we want to talk specifically about beautiful, soft, and delicate rabbit fur. To keep your rabbit looking cute and charming (as it should be!), you need to take good care of its coat.
As is well known, rabbits are divided into the following types according to their fur:
- normal-haired (these are colored and hermelin rabbits, the ratio of guard hair to undercoat is identical to that of wild European rabbits);
- long-haired (so-called fox and Angora rabbits with fur in which down hair predominates);
- short-haired (these are Rex rabbits, whose fur resembles chinchilla fur; it is thick, plush, and short).
All rabbits need coat care, but the methods depend on the length of the coat. For grooming, you can use various combs, brushes, slickers, detanglers, furminators, and massage gloves, choosing the tools according to the type of coat. When caring for normal-coated and short-haired rabbits, it is sufficient to use a comb and a furminator. When choosing combs, make sure that their teeth are not sharp, otherwise they will injure the rabbit’s delicate skin. After combing, wipe the rabbit’s coat with a damp cloth to remove loose hairs.
As a rule, this does not cause any difficulties even for novice rabbit breeders. It is enough to comb the animal once or twice a week, and only during the molting period should the procedure be carried out every day.
It is necessary to accustom a rabbit to combing (as, indeed, other pets) from childhood, since all hygiene procedures are very stressful for the animal. If something frightens it or causes discomfort, it may scratch or even bite you. If the baby gets acquainted with a comb, claw clippers, and scissors early on, then as an adult, it will be calm about grooming. If the rabbit reacts strongly to combing, it is better to perform the procedure together: one person holds it, and the second combs its fur, trims its claws, etc.
When starting to groom the fur, do not rush. Treat the rabbit gently and calmly, but persistently. Place the pet on a table. Its surface should not be slippery (you can put a mat, for example, made of porous rubber, which “sticks” to the table).
Talk to the animal calmly, scratch its forehead (many rabbits enjoy this very much). Start combing from the back, gradually moving to the sides. Try to do everything carefully, do not pull the fur, talk to your pet in a calm, soft voice.
After combing the back and sides, move on to the belly. It is very convenient to sit down and place the rabbit on your lap with its paws facing up. Pay special attention to the groin and armpit areas, as this is where tangles most often form. Don’t forget about the fur on the tail.
The ideal grooming tool is a furminator, a specially designed metal comb for removing hair and preventing tangles. Its design allows you to very effectively remove dead undercoat without traumatizing the skin or damaging the guard hair. You can find a furminator of the right size and for any type of fur at a pet store. After using it, your rabbit’s coat will look healthy and beautiful.
How to care for the fur of a long-haired rabbit?
This process takes much more time. The main thing is to prevent the formation of tangles. They form easily and simply on soft fur, and if dead hair is not removed in time, it falls out to the state of a felt boot (especially in long-haired breeds). This is not only unattractive, but also causes the rabbit severe physical suffering, as diaper rash develops under the matted fur. In addition, the animal may experience pain because the tangled fur pulls on the skin.
When combing a long-haired rabbit, first comb through the entire coat with a wide-toothed comb in the direction of growth, from nose to tail. If you come across a large mat, carefully separate it from the rest of the fur and untangle it with your fingers, then comb it out, holding it at the base so as not to pull on the rabbit’s skin. If the matted area is very close to the skin, let it grow out a little so that it can be safely cut off later. The largest tangles will have to be cut with scissors or a tangler. Then the rabbit’s fur should be combed with a slicker brush, preferably with “droplets” at the ends of the teeth.
To combat tangles, you can use special cosmetic products – sprays to prevent the fur from becoming tangled. As a rule, they should be applied after combing the fur into place. However, the best prevention against tangles is daily combing out excess fur.
There is another danger lurking for rabbits during the molting period: the formation of hairballs (bezoars) in the stomach. Very often, they cause the death of animals. As a preventive measure, you can use a special paste to remove hair (a veterinary product for cats, which is sold in pet stores).
Fluffy rabbits, if they are not show rabbits, can be trimmed with special scissors or clippers for animals, leaving the fur about 2.5–3 cm long. You need to trim very carefully, especially in the area of the knee tendons.
If you are diligent and properly care for their fur, believe us, your rabbit will look truly beautiful!
