The Velveteen Lop is a breed of

rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit speci ...

that is a cross between the

rex rabbit The term rex rabbit (without capitalization) refers informally to one of at least nine breeds of domestic rabbit (or a specimen thereof or similar thereto). One such breed is the ''Rex,'' which is recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Associ ...

and the

English Lop The English Lop is a fancy breed of domestic rabbit that was developed in England in the 19th century through selective breeding. It is believed to be the first breed of lop rabbit developed by humans, and it may be one of the oldest breeds of ...

History

Breeder Virginia Menden began developing the breed in 1991, with the goal of creating a rabbit that had a semi-arched body shape and fur similar to that of the Mini Rex. Menden named the breed after the children's story ''

The Velveteen Rabbit ''The Velveteen Rabbit'' (or ''How Toys Become Real'') is a British children's book written by Margery Williams (also known as Margery Williams Bianco) and illustrated by William Nicholson. It chronicles the story of a stuffed rabbit's desire ...

''. The breed became eligible to be shown at ARBA sanctioned shows in February 2019, but is not currently allowed to compete for Best of Show.

Appearance

The Velveteen Lop's coat should feel short and plush to the touch. The fur is thick creating a velvet-plush like texture. The coat can be a variety of colors or patterns, including tri & harlequin. Color standards are those of the Rex Rabbit & English Lop. The overall goal is to have the fur content and quality of the Rex rabbit, with the build and ear length of an English lop. It should have a semi-arched body shape, and the chest should be full. The head should be wedge-shaped. The ears should be low on the rabbit's head, and should measure at least 14 inches from tip to tip. Healthy rabbits weigh 6 to 12 pounds, as a medium sized rabbit. Because they are a newer breed & not a fully recognized by some registries (working), size & type may vary slightly.

Lifespan

Velveteen Lops can live for 5-11 years.

References

{{Reflist Rabbit breeds