With lovely lop ears and gorgeous, soft fur, it’s hard to miss the Cashmere Lop Rabbit. It’s friendly, docile, and a delight to handle, and it’s a popular pet in the U.S. and great with kids. However, they need more than the usual grooming, so be aware before adopting. Read on if you’re curious to discover all the other characteristics of this beautiful rabbit breed.
Size:
Medium
Weight:
4 to 8 lbs
Lifespan:
7–12 years
Similar Breeds:
Mini Lop
Suitable for:
Families with small children, singles, seniors, any experience level
Temperament:
Docile, easy-to-handle, playful, social
There’s no denying the appeal of the Cashmere Lop. They come in gorgeous colors, are gentle and easy to handle, and have the most adorable lop ears you’ve ever seen. The Cashmere Lop’s coat is also stunning as it’s long, soft, and huggable. It’s relatively intelligent and will remember its name and happily greet its favorite human.
Cashmere Lop Rabbit Breed Characteristics
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability
How Much Do These Rabbits Cost?
You’ll need to find a reputable and caring breeder if you want to adopt a Cashmere Lop rabbit. Yes, you might be able to find one at an animal shelter, but your chances are relatively low. That makes breeders your best choice, but finding one near you might be difficult depending on where you live in the U.S. You’ll be glad to know that these aren’t particularly expensive rabbits. Most private breeders will charge between $30 and $60 for a Cashmere Lop, but vaccinations and other healthcare expenses might increase the initial cost.
Cashmere Lop rabbits are often entered into rabbit shows. To adopt a Cashmere Lop that will have a chance of winning, however, you’ll likely spend between $80 and $100.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Cashmere Lop Rabbit
Unlike some breeds, the Cashmere Lop is quite intelligent, affectionate, and friendly. This is a rabbit that will, with time, recognize its name and gladly run up to meet and greet its favorite humans. Cashmere Lops are well known to be great with children, but you must teach any child who will handle your pet how to do so correctly. Regarding training your Cashmere Lop, they don’t have a high food drive like dogs and cats, and other training methods will be necessary.
Image Credit: Antonio_CSI, Shutterstock
Do These Rabbits Make Good Pets? 👪
The average Cashmere Lop will make a fun, affectionate, and easy-to-care-for pet. As mentioned earlier, the Cashmere Lop gets along with just about everyone and, if handled correctly, will have no problem with children. This clever rabbit breed is very social and often follows its owners around the house while they do chores, work from home, etc. They make very little noise, can be potty trained, and don’t need full-time attention like some pets. In short, Cashmere Lops make wonderful pets.
Does This Rabbit Get Along With Other Pets?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the typical Cashmere Lop will get along well with other pets, especially small pets like hamsters and gerbils. It should be noted, however, that if you have cats and dogs at home with a high prey drive, you’ll need to ensure your Cashmere Lop is well protected. As with most animals kept as pets, if you raise them together and socialize them well, your Cashmere Lop will often get along very well with your cat or dog.
Cashmere Lops Have more or less the same diet requirements as most rabbits. Approximately 80% of their diet should be made up of high-quality hay, which should be made available to them all day long. (Their digestive system needs to be constantly digesting food to stay healthy.) The other 20% of your rabbit’s diet should be made up of high-quality rabbit pellets and snacks like carrots, lettuce, and dark green vegetables. Like all pets, a constant supply of fresh cool water is also critical to your Cashmere Lop’s health.
Habitat & Hutch Requirements 🏠
A Cashmere Lop rabbit can live indoors or outdoors with similar ease. If indoors, their hutch should be 2 feet wide x 2 feet long x 18 inches high. It’s recommended that the floor be solid and not wire, as it can injure your rabbit’s hocks. If you keep your rabbit outdoors, its hutch should be placed in an area of your yard that’s protected from wind and direct sunlight. Also, an outdoor hutch will need clean, dry hay that’s changed often so that, at night, your bunny stays dry and warm. Lastly, as with most rabbits, your Cashmere Lop will enjoy cooler temperatures rather than hot. Keeping the temperature between 65° F and 80° F is recommended, but the cooler, the better.
Exercise & Sleeping Needs 🐇
When it comes to exercise, it is recommended to let your Cashmere Lop out of its hutch for 2 to 3 hours a day. Also, providing them with appropriate toys and games is a good idea, but if you give them enough attention, toys might not be necessary. Like all rabbits, Cashmere Lops are crepuscular, which means they’re active in the morning and late in the day but sleep at night. Therefore, wherever you place their hutch, it should be quiet and dark at night.
Training 🥎
The Cashmere Lop, as mentioned earlier, is a relatively intelligent rabbit that can be trained to know its name and use a litter box. Treat-based training, however, isn’t recommended as they don’t have a high food drive.
The Cashmere Lop requires more grooming than many other breeds. It has a long, silky, and thick coat that can mat and tangle easily. In fact, young Cashmere Lops require more grooming than most rabbits until they shed their baby coat. Vets recommend brushing your pet at least twice weekly to prevent coat health issues. Trimming your pet’s nails regularly is also necessary, but a professional groomer can help if you have problems getting your pet to stay still.
Lifespan and Health Conditions 🏥
You’ll be pleased to know that the Cashmere Lop is a healthy breed with few congenital issues. They can, like most rabbits, suffer from flystrike which can be deadly. Also, vaccinating your rabbit against myxomatosis and VHD is a must, as well as treating them for worms, ticks, and fleas.
Minor Conditions
Dysbiosis
Abscesses
Bladder stones
Constipation
Obesity
Serious Conditions
Pasteurella multocida
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
Myxomatosis
Rabbit Syphilis
Young Doe Syndrome
Bloat
Male vs Female
Like several breeds of rabbits, the female Cashmere Lop will usually be about 10 to 20% larger than the male. Experts recommend adopting a male Cashmere Lop if you’re a first-time rabbit owner since they are less territorial and destructive than females. If precautions are taken, however, a female Cashmere Lop will also make a wonderful pet. Like most mammals, female Cashmere Lops tend to live longer than males.
3 Little-Known Facts About Cashmere Lop Rabbits
1. You’ll Find Cashmere Lops in Almost Every Color
That includes every color from cinnamon and opal to lynx and agouti, as well as the typical white, brown, and black. You can likely find a Cashmere Lop to match whatever color you like most.
2. Cashmere Lops Like to Chatter
Cashmere Lops are known for “chattering” when they rapidly click their teeth together. In most cases, this means that your pet is peaceful and content. However, if you often see your Cashmere Lop chattering, a vet visit might be necessary as it could be a sign of illness.
3. Some Cashmere Lops Can Reach 11 Pounds
Although their average weight is about 7 to 8 lbs, some Cashmere Lops can reach 11 lbs, which is large but not enormous for a rabbit. It’s critical to avoid overfeeding your pet since obesity can reduce its lifespan significantly.
After reading all the facts and figures about Cashmere Lop rabbits, you’ll agree that they make beautiful, affectionate, and fun family pets. As with all pets, it’s helpful to socialize your Cashmere Lop well, especially if you have other pets in your home (or plan to get some).
Although they get along well with children, you must teach your kids how to handle and engage with your new pet to avoid accidents or injuries. This isn’t the type of pet you want to adopt if you’re always away from home. However, owning and caring for a Cashmere Lop should be a genuinely joyful experience for you and your entire family.
