Angora rabbit

The Angora rabbit (Turkish: Ankara tavşanı) is one of the oldest groups of domestic rabbit breeds. These rabbits are special because they have very long, soft fur that comes from their coat, called Angora wool. This fur is collected by shearing or gently pulling it out, known as plucking.

There are many kinds of Angora rabbits. Four of them are officially recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. These four are the English Angora, the French Angora, the Giant Angora, and the Satin Angora. Other types include the German, Finnish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, St Lucian, and Swiss Angoras.

History

The Angora rabbit likely began in Ankara, a city in Turkey, a long time ago. It was taken to France in 1723 and became a favorite pet of French royalty. By the late 1700s, Angora rabbits were found all over Europe. In the United States, clothing made from their wool became popular in the early 1900s. During World War II, people needed more of this soft wool, so they raised Angora rabbits in larger numbers.

Angora-rabbit wool

Main article: Angora wool

Angora rabbits are kept for their soft, silky wool. This wool is very fine and gentle, like cashmere. A healthy Angora rabbit can grow about 3 centimeters (1 inch) of wool each month. Their wool needs regular care so it doesn’t get tangled and make the rabbit uncomfortable. The wool is collected every few months by gently pulling it out or cutting it with small scissors. This keeps the rabbit comfortable and gives us useful wool. Rabbit wool does not cause allergies like some other animal wools, so it is a special choice for many people.

Health

Main article: Domestic rabbit § Health

Angora rabbits need special care because their long fur can cause health problems. Their fur can sometimes block their digestion, which is dangerous. To keep them healthy, their fur needs to be trimmed or gently pulled out every three to four months.

Angora rabbits can also get tiny bugs called wool mites that live on their skin. These mites can make the rabbit’s skin flaky and affect the quality of their fur. There are safe treatments that help get rid of these mites.

Angora rabbit breeds

The Angora rabbit has a special gene that gives it a very long, fluffy coat. This coat is called Angora wool and can be gathered by cutting or pulling it. There are several types of Angora rabbits, but four are well-known in the United States: the English Angora, the French Angora, the Giant Angora, and the Satin Angora.

English Angora

The English Angora is the smallest of the four main Angora breeds. It has fluffy fur on its ears, face, and front feet, giving it a teddy-bear look. Its wool needs regular grooming to stay neat.

French Angora

The French Angora is a bit larger. It has a clean face without much fur, except for small tufts on the rear legs. Its wool is dense and needs less grooming.

Giant Angora

The Giant Angora is the largest Angora breed. It was created to produce a lot of wool and has a unique body type. Its wool is very dense and comes in three types: soft underwool, awn fluff, and awn hair.

Satin Angora

The Satin Angora has a silky, shiny coat. It doesn’t produce as much wool as other Angoras but is being bred to improve this. Its wool is strong but can be tricky to spin.

Other Angora rabbit breeds include the Finnish Angora, Japanese Angora, Russian Angora, St. Lucian Angora, Swiss Angora, Dutch Angora, and Belgian Dwarf Angora.

Genetics

Scientists studied the genes of Angora rabbits to learn why they have special fur. They found that a gene called FGF5 is important. In these rabbits, a small change in this gene makes their fur grow longer than usual. This helps make the Angora rabbit's coat special and fluffy.