If you love rabbits or you want to add to your pet family, one breed you will consider is the angora rabbit. And why not? This rabbit has a bundle of soft fluffy hair that is great for cuddling.
Angora rabbits are good pets as they are adorable and attract attention. However, this article explains why they are not the easiest to care for.
You will learn more about angora rabbits, the cost of caring for them, and what to consider before buying one. It is a complete guide to owning one of these fluffy animals.
Angora Rabbits: All You Need To Know
Angora rabbits are one of the oldest types of domestic rabbits, and they are famous for their primarily white wool but can also be colored. It is also called angora wool. Here are some common breeds of angora rabbits.
- English angora rabbits
- German angora rabbits
- Satin angora rabbits
- Brazilian angora rabbits
- Swiss angora rabbit
- Korean angora rabbit
- Russian angora rabbit
- Japanese angora rabbit
- Giant angora rabbit
- St Lucian angora rabbit
The adult breeds of these rabbits can weigh up to 5.5 kg, and because their wool is light, they do not add any significant weight.
Lifespan
Angora rabbits live as long as 7-12 years, and this period is determined by how well they are groomed and cared for. The biggest health challenges these animals face are wool blocks and wool mites.
At a point in their lives, your angora rabbits may ingest their wool once or twice, which is problematic for their digestive tract.
Their wool cannot be broken down and processed by their digestive system, so it remains there and even causes a blockage that interrupts the digestion of other food substances.
The length of their hair makes them at risk of a wool block which can lead to death, and to prevent this, you need to pluck out their wool every 90-120 days.
Wool mites, also known as Cheyletiella Parasitovorax, affect the skin of angora rabbits. Some common signs of the infestation of this parasite include fur loss and flaky or itchy skin.
If the wool of your angora rabbit is your priority when raising angora rabbits, this infection will reduce the wool quality. You can treat this health problem using Ivermectin or carbaryl powder.
How much does an angora rabbit cost?
Purchasing an angora rabbit alone can cost between $50 to $300, depending on the type of breed you want. However, aside from the cost of purchasing it, you must also be aware of the cost of growing and caring for it. Here are some aspects of caring for angora rabbits that require financial investments.
Rabbit cage
A cage is excellent for bunnies and even grown-up rabbits, although if you prefer that their wool doesn’t pile up in your indoor living space, you can consider an outdoor shed for the adult rabbits.
A shed is essential for your rabbits and bunnies to play in occasionally. Angora rabbits love to hop around; providing a suitable space for this is essential.
It costs as low as $20 to purchase a rabbit cage and up to $100 to have a nice shed for these rabbits.
Grooming set
Some breeds of angora rabbits require more maintenance than others, but for all breeds, you will require a grooming set that includes a grooming brush or comb, shampoo, nail clippers, and scissors.
The comb and brush are necessary for maintaining the fur of your angora rabbits, and the scissors are essential for trimming down the fur when it grows too big. Depending on the quality and materials inside, a grooming set can cost between $20 and $200.
Rabbit pellets
These pellets make up 5% of your rabbit diet, and while they lack the essential minerals and vitamins for growth, they contain high amounts of fiber and protein, making the wool of your angora rabbit grow thick and healthy.
Angora rabbits only need half a cup of pellets for healthy hair growth; having a bag should last a long time. Your budget for these pellets should be $5 per month. With the growth of your rabbit fur, remember to trim it when necessary to prevent wool block.
Fresh vegetables and Hay
A rabbit diet consists of pellets, Hay, fresh vegetables, and some fruits. Fresh vegetables and fruits give your angora rabbits the proteins and vitamins they need for proper growth.
Hay is the most crucial part of a rabbit’s diet as it is high in fiber and helps your rabbit maintain a healthy digestive tract. Expect to spend $15 monthly to cover the cost of fresh vegetables and Hay for angora rabbits.
Rabbit litter
Your bunnies need a suitable spot in their cage for their private business. A litter is also great for the excellent health of your angora rabbits.
The ideal material for rabbit litter is paper-based litter, which is excellent for their respiratory and digestive systems and biodegradable.
Other options you can consider for litter options include shredded paper, wooden pellets, and soft paper-based bedding materials.
Veterinary expenses
This expense depends on the rate at which your rabbit falls ill or gets injured. If this rate is low, you will need to visit the veterinary clinic less, and if the rate is high, then you will need to plan a monthly veterinary visit.
However, even with a low rate of injury or sickness, you should plan a bi-annual visit to the veterinary clinic for your angora rabbits, as rabbits are very good at hiding their illness. It is also helpful to watch out for symptoms and abnormal behaviors in this animal.
Are Angora Rabbits Good Pets?
Angora rabbits are great pets to have at home. Not only are they fluffy and good-looking, but they are also easy to love and return your affection.
When they are bunnies, they do not look so cute as they lack fur, and their eyes are closed, but in a few weeks, you will observe their rapid development.
While angora rabbits may seem like your ideal pet, it is essential to know that most breeds are high maintenance and will require regular supervision when growing up. You will immensely enjoy their company if prepared to start groping them.
Important things to know about raising angora rabbits
Aside from the cost of raising angora rabbits, some critical details will help you groom this animal properly.
A lot of furs
When raising angora rabbits, you must be prepared to see most of your environment covered with fur. It especially applies if your rabbit mostly stays indoors, and it doesn’t matter if you brush off the fur. They seem to fall out on their own.
Fortunately, instead of letting all that fur get everywhere in your house, you can shave them off and sell them to spinners or spin them yourself if interested. Read also Are Angora Rabbits Endangered?
Rabbits are independent animals.
If you want a very attached pet like a dog, you will not get that with rabbits. Much like cats, rabbits enjoy the company of humans and appreciate the food. However, they like their space and can live independently of your affections.
Rabbits also take time to bond with their humans as you ease them into the process. They may get defensive, but being cautious with them helps.
Playtime for angora rabbits
Like any other animal, angora rabbits have their time for fun activities. They enjoy playing with toys, chewing on twigs, and hopping around in an open space (preferably outdoors). Doonly stray farther than required when letting them play outdoors, or they may get lost or injured.
They poop a lot
An average rabbit can produce 500 pellets of droppings a day, and you should be prepared for that when raising an angora rabbit.
An excellent approach in this situation is to train your rabbits for indoor and outdoor environments, but you must clean up after them when they are young. If your rabbit doesn’t poop frequently, it is a sign of ill health, and you must visit a veterinary clinic.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever seen an angora rabbit, you must have fallen in love instantly and wanted one in your home. If you wonder if these rabbits make good pets, you will be relieved to know they are great. However, they are hard to groom.
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This article provides relevant information on the cost and effort of grooming angora rabbits. You should be ready to deal with a lot of fur and poop, but using your grooming set and some training, you should do just fine.
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