A velvet coat and two life stages
A young Rex rabbit already shows the breed's famous plush, velvet-textured coat, but its care priorities are those of any growing rabbit: rich food, secure housing, and kind, consistent handling. An adult Rex is a medium, muscular rabbit whose priorities shift to weight management and foot health, because that same short, dense coat leaves its hocks with less padding than most breeds enjoy. Owners who understand the Rex foot early design flooring correctly from day one, and owners who understand the Rex appetite avoid the slow adult weight gain that makes foot problems more likely. The stages connect: young-stage choices set up adult-stage comfort.
Feeding the growth phase, then the maintenance phase
A young Rex rabbit needs alfalfa hay and alfalfa-based pellets available without restriction while its frame and coat develop. Greens are introduced gradually, watching droppings after each new addition. As the Rex matures, move to grass hay as the unlimited base and a measured daily portion of timothy-based pellets, making the change gradually so the gut adjusts. An adult Rex rabbit is an enthusiastic eater that will happily over-consume pellets and treats, so the measured ration should be actually measured, not estimated from a scoop that keeps creeping upward. Fresh water at both stages is best offered in a heavy bowl the rabbit cannot tip, checked and refreshed daily.
Feet and flooring come first for a Rex
A young Rex rabbit should grow up on solid, soft flooring — fleece, mats, or low-pile carpet over a firm base — because its hocks carry less fur protection than a typical rabbit's from the very beginning. Wire flooring is a poor choice for this breed at any age. An adult Rex rabbit's extra bodyweight presses those same hocks harder, so adult care includes a hands-on hock inspection on a regular schedule: part the fur and look for redness, swelling, or broken skin. Provide the adult with generous padded resting spots it actually prefers, and position them where it already likes to sit, rather than expecting it to change habits for the furniture.
Handling and temperament across the stages
A young Rex rabbit benefits from short, calm handling sessions at floor level, with treats paired to touch, so it grows into the breed's typically friendly adult temperament with confidence in its people. Sessions should end before the youngster becomes restless, and children should interact sitting down. An adult Rex rabbit is usually sociable and steady, enjoying longer floor time, gentle stroking of that extraordinary coat, and a predictable daily routine. Even so, lift an adult Rex only with full hindquarter support, and let it keep its feet on the ground for most interactions — a confident adult that trusts handling is easier to examine when a hock or tooth needs attention.
Health watch points for the Rex
A young Rex rabbit that stops eating, hunches, or passes persistently soft droppings needs prompt veterinary care, and a new youngster deserves an early vet visit to establish its baseline. In an adult Rex rabbit, prioritise the hocks: any rabbit limping, shifting weight off a hind foot, or developing a sore patch should see a veterinarian soon rather than being watched for weeks. Add monthly weighing, since Rex weight gain hides well under plush fur, and treat a rabbit that goes off its hay as a same-day concern at either age. Sharing weigh-in results and hock notes through KinsLe Family Sharing keeps the whole family's picture of your Rex current between checks.