Plush Lop Rabbit: Pictures, Care Guide, Lifespan & Traits

The Plush Lop Rabbit has a soft and dense coat that resembles plushy fabric—hence their name. There are two varieties of these rabbits: miniature and standard. The miniature variety was first developed in 1995, while the standard came later in 2001.

These rabbits were developed solely to be companion animals. They’re friendly, docile, and affectionate. They enjoy human cuddling and attention, making them great companion rabbits. However, they aren’t necessarily perfect for everyone. To find out if this rabbit breed is suitable for you, keep reading.

Breed Overview

These rabbits are pretty intelligent and need lots of stimulation. They’re social animals and often do best with a companion rabbit, especially if their humans are out of the house for much of the day. You should plan on implementing plenty of play and exercise time, too.

Plush Lop Rabbit Characteristics

How Much Do These Rabbits Cost

The cost of a Plush Lop Rabbit depends on the quality of the rabbit, as well as your location. The average cost of a miniature version is around $300–$400. However, standards are much cheaper at $20–$400.

That said, you may find rabbits that are much more expensive than this standard. Rabbits with rare colorations, like blue eyes, may cost more. If a breeder specializes in show rabbits, you can expect them to cost a bit more, too.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Plush Lop Rabbit

The Plush Lop Rabbit is known for its friendly and docile temperament. They were bred to be companion rabbits, so their personality fits in well with most families. They’re outgoing and affectionate, loving human attention and being less skittish than other breeds. They like interaction, but this also means that they may be more work than other rabbit breeds.

You can train these rabbits somewhat. They are intelligent, but most of this intelligence isn’t put towards obedience. They may learn how to use a litter box and come when called. However, they aren’t going to be as obedient as a dog.

With that said, you do similarly train them to a dog or cat. They require patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. It may take a while for them to learn even the most basic command. Plus, individual personality does come into play. Some may be more trainable than others

Do These Rabbits Make Good Pets? 👪

These rabbits were bred solely to be companion animals. Therefore, they make pretty good pets. They’re suitable for new and experienced rabbit owners alike. They love human interaction and get along with most, making them perfect for families. They’re also very interactive, as they’re often playful and curious.

They’re fun pets to have around as long as you care for them correctly. Plus, these rabbits are very plushy, which makes them attractive to most rabbit owners.

Does This Rabbit Get Along with Other Pets?

This rabbit can get along with other pets, like cats and dogs. They aren’t as skittish as other rabbit breeds, so they may work best in homes with other pets. However, introducing and socializing both animals is vital. Most cats and dogs will see rabbits as prey animals unless they are carefully socialized.

Furthermore, rabbits that weren’t introduced to dogs or cats at a young age will be scared, as they are predatory animals. Rabbits will benefit from a very slow introduction to ensure that they aren’t scared. It may take a while for your rabbit to get along with others, but it is completely possible.

These rabbits get along well with other rabbits of the same or similar species. They’re quite social. Therefore, they work best when kept in pairs, as this provides some extra stimulation. However, it’s important to introduce two new rabbits together carefully unless they are siblings.

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Things to Know When Owning a Plush Lop Rabbit:

Food & Diet Requirements 🥕

Plush Lop Rabbits have similar dietary needs as other rabbits. They’re herbivores, which means that they only eat plants. The main portion of their diet should be appropriate hay. This should be provided at all times, as it wears down their teeth. Rabbits need constant access to fiber-rich hay to keep their digestive tract moving.

These rabbits also need a small number of pellets, which add some needed nutrients to their diet. These should be high in fiber and low in fat and protein. They should only make up about 20% of their diet. On the other hand, hay should make up about 70% of their diet. You should not leave pellets available at all times.

The final 10% of their diet should be fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens. These provide vitamins, minerals, and variety to your rabbit’s diet. However, not all fruits and veggies are safe or healthy for your rabbit.

We recommend sticking to foods like apples, bananas, berries, carrots, celery, cucumber, kale, lettuce, parsley, and spinach. Some several fruits and vegetables are toxic for rabbits and should be completely avoided.

Habitat & Hutch Requirements 🏠

You’ll need to purchase or build a proper hutch for these rabbits. It depends largely on whether you’re keeping this rabbit indoors or outdoors. In most cases, these rabbits do best when housed indoors. However, if you provide them with the proper enclosure, you can keep them outside as well. It is harder to keep them safe from predators and the weather when outdoors, though.

If you keep your rabbit indoors, you should keep them in a wire-walled cage with a solid bottom (wired bottoms can lead to foot problems). Bigger is better, typically. A larger area provides more room for your rabbit to play and explore. 24 x 36 inches is fine for smaller varieties, however, you want at least 30 x 36 for standard ones.

You can add a litter box to the cage filled with newspaper and pellets. Many rabbits will figure out a litter box with minimal training. Your rabbit will need some sort of bedding, too, such as hay, straw, or shredded paper. Water and food should be attached to the side of the cage to prevent spillage.

When possible, your rabbit should be allowed out of their cage to exercise. You have to keep them safe while you do this. Therefore, a playpen, exercise pen, or fenced area is suitable. You shouldn’t just let them wander around unless you are watching them very closely.

Provide enrichment items like chew toys, balls, and tunnels to help keep your rabbit entertained. It often works best to have several toys that you switch out regularly to keep your rabbit entertained.

If kept outside, you should have an enclosed “house” area where your rabbit can sleep and escape the elements. You can also have an open wire or mesh area where your rabbit can exercise and see their surroundings. Besides this, their outside hutch should be nearly the same as their indoor one, with enrichment toys, bedding, food, and water.

Be sure that their hutch is placed in a shaded area to avoid overheating, especially in the summer. The hutch must be strong enough to withstand the predators in your area, too.

Exercise & Sleeping Needs 🐇

These rabbits are pretty energetic and smart, so they need serious exercise and stimulation. They enjoy exploring their surroundings and interacting with others. Therefore, they need a spacious cage and a safe area to run around in. As we’ve stated, a playpen or exercise pen works best in this situation.

You should provide them with active toys, like balls and tunnels. These promote exercise even when you aren’t around.

Like most rabbits, the Plush Lop Rabbit is crepuscular, which means that they’re most active during dawn and dusk. They tend to sleep during the day and night. However, they only sleep for 6 to 8 hours, which means that they will spend some of the day and night awake.

Rabbits sometimes sleep with their eyes open, depending on how deep their sleep is. You can tell they’re asleep by looking at their ears, which relax when they are asleep.

Training 🥎

These rabbits aren’t easy to train. While they are intelligent enough to learn basic commands, like their name and using the litter box, these basic commands take longer to teach a rabbit than the average dog. Plush lop rabbits also have their personalities and temperaments. Therefore, some may be more trainable than others.

It’s best to start training when your rabbit is young, though a rabbit of any age can learn new commands. You should regularly train your rabbit to keep the commands fresh in their mind. Choose a quiet, distraction-free area for training, and choose a time when your rabbit is alert.

You train these rabbits similarly to any other animal. Simply catch them doing the thing you want to lead them to do, say the command word, and then give them a treat. It takes them longer than other pets to catch on, so you’ll want to be extra patient.

Keep the training session to 5–10 minutes but train every day when possible. These rabbits need mental stimulation, which the training provides, and revisiting the commands regularly helps keep them fresh in your rabbit’s mind.

Grooming ✂️

Because of their coat, these rabbits have moderate to high grooming needs. It does vary a bit from rabbit to rabbit and season to season. Their coat resembles plush fabric, and it is very soft and dense. They molt twice a year with the season changes, which can produce excessive amounts of shedding.

You must brush them regularly to prevent tangles and control shedding. A wire-bristled brush works best, especially when your rabbit is shedding. You can also use a slicker brush or fine-toothed comb for smaller areas.

Do not bathe these rabbits, even if they look unclean. Bathing causes stress and greatly reduces a rabbit’s ability to control their body temperature, which can result in hypothermia. You can use a damp cloth and dry shampoo designed for rabbits to gently clean them. Brushing can also remove debris and dirt from their coat.

During each grooming session, check your rabbit’s ears for signs of dirt, wax, and mites. Even if you keep your rabbits indoors, they can get quite dirty. At some point, their ears may get mites if they aren’t cleaned.

Use a cotton ball or soft cloth that’s slightly wet to clean your rabbit’s ears when you notice dirt. Don’t insert anything into the ear canal, as this can cause damage.

Trim your rabbit’s nails every 4–6 weeks or as needed. Use a pair of nail clippers designed for small animals. You can also take your rabbit to a vet or groomer if you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself. Be careful not to clip the quick, which can cause bleeding and pain. You can also offer branches and wooden toys, which may help wear the nails down naturally.

Lifespan and Health Conditions 🏥

These rabbits have average health when compared to other rabbits out there. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years with the proper care. However, their lifespan can vary due to a variety of different factors, such as genetics, environment, and stress. They’re generally healthy animals, though they are prone to some health problems.

Like many rabbits, their teeth grow continuously, so they must be worn down. If they aren’t, they can become overgrown, causing difficulty eating, pain, and abscesses. Providing your rabbit with hay can prevent this, but some may need their teeth regularly trimmed by a vet.

They may also get ear infections or mites. Both require veterinary attention and can be prevented by keeping your rabbit’s ears clean and dry. Rabbits also get respiratory infections when not kept in the right environment. This includes snuffles, which is a bacterial infection. Keeping your rabbit’s cage clean can prevent this somewhat, as well as limiting their exposure to dust and smoke.

If not fed properly, rabbits can get gastrointestinal stasis. This condition causes the rabbit’s digestive system to slow down and not work properly. Hay helps keep their gut moving and active. Once gastrointestinal stasis occurs, the rabbit needs to be seen by the vet.

Male vs. Female

The differences between male and female Plush Lop rabbits are rather small. Males tend to be slightly larger, for instance. They may reach 5 pounds, while females usually stay below 4. Females have a small dewlap, which is a fold of skin under their chin that helps them store fat.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Plush Lop Rabbit

1. They’re a newer breed.

This breed is newer and was developed in the 1990s by a breeder in America and another in Australia. The miniature Plush Lop was developed first, and then the standard was developed later.

2. They have a plush coat.

These rabbits get their name from their extremely plushy coat. It resembles plush fabric, which is how the rabbit got its name

3. Plush Lop rabbits are very friendly and docile.

These rabbits were bred to be companion animals, so they are extremely friendly and docile. They’re curious and playful, which makes them great for families.

Final Thoughts

The Plush Lop rabbit is a companion rabbit known for its soft, plushy coat. This breed comes in two different sizes: miniature and standard. However, the exact size difference between the two variants isn’t well defined.

These rabbits are extremely docile and friendly, which makes them good for families. They’re playful and get along with just about everyone. They’re even compatible with other pets as long as they are properly socialized and introduced.

They have very similar needs to other rabbits out there—they need a diet that consists mostly of hay and pellets with very few fruits and veggies.

Featured Image Credit: SpiritBunny, Shutterstock