Angora rabbits: breeds, grooming, wool and care

What is an Angora rabbit?

An Angora is a rabbit with a long woolly coat instead of normal fur. The welfare charity UFAW explains that the long coat comes from a recessive gene, and every Angora carries two copies. The wool is fine and fluffy with very few of the coarse guard hairs that keep normal fur tidy: in the English Angora, guard hairs make up only 1 to 5% of the coat. That is why it is so soft, and why it tangles so fast.

Angoras are one of the oldest rabbit breeds. Fur and Feather, the British Rabbit Council's journal, says they reached Britain in the late 1700s, with a legend that the first woolled rabbits were seen in Angora, Turkey (now Ankara) and taken to France, the first country to spin their wool. PetMD counts at least 11 Angora breeds worldwide. Our rabbit breeds guide shows how they compare with other breeds.

Angora breeds: English, French, Satin, Giant and German

The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognises four Angora breeds. The German Angora is kept by its own breed association, and in the UK the British Rabbit Council recognises a single Angora breed.

"Angora lop" rabbits are usually crosses between an Angora and a lop breed, not a recognised breed. If you like the look but not the workload, the Lionhead and Jersey Wooly have shorter woolly coats that are easier to manage, though they still need regular grooming.

Angora rabbit temperament

PDSA describes English Angoras as very sociable and good-natured, and ARBA calls the French Angora docile. PetMD finds Angoras intelligent, friendly and playful, able to learn a litter tray and even come when called. Like most rabbits they usually dislike being picked up, and a frightened one may kick, scratch or bite.

The temperament is lovely. The catch is that grooming means handling, every day, for life. Start gently and early, keep sessions short, and pair them with a favourite green. UFAW warns that many rabbits find grooming and clipping stressful, and some need sedation at the vet. Our guide on how to tame and bond with a rabbit helps build the trust grooming needs.

How to groom an Angora rabbit

Daily, gently and right down to the skin. The British Rabbit Council recommends daily gentle grooming for Angoras, and PDSA says the English Angora's coat needs thorough grooming every day. PetMD sets the minimum at several times a week. UFAW reports that mats can appear overnight, and that wool mats when it gets wet.

1. Set up on the floor. Sit on the floor with the rabbit on a towel on your lap or a non-slip mat. Never groom on a high table, where a jump can break a rabbit's back.
2. Part the wool with your fingers. The British Rabbit Council advises teasing the wool apart by hand to reach the base of the hair and pick out hay and debris before using any tool.
3. Comb in small sections. Use a fine-toothed comb on one small patch at a time, holding the wool near the skin so you don't pull. Work from the back end forward.
4. Do the trouble spots. Belly, armpits, behind the ears, between the back legs and around the bottom mat first. Check the feet are clean too.
5. Cut out mats, don't drag them. A mat close to the skin should be snipped out with round-ended scissors, keeping a comb or your fingers between blade and skin. UFAW warns rabbit skin is thin and easy to cut.
6. Check the bottom. Look for urine-soaked or dirty wool under the tail. UFAW stresses checking this daily, especially in warm weather.
7. Finish with a reward. End before the rabbit gets restless, with a handful of their favourite herbs.

Clipping and shearing

PetMD says Angora hair grows about 1 inch (2.5 cm) a month and, after about six months, can die, shed and mat. It suggests clipping with shears or shaving with clippers every 3 to 4 months, and the German Angora breeders' association recommends shearing every 90 days. ARBA says the Giant Angora does not moult, so it must be shorn. The British Rabbit Council notes many pet owners clip regularly to keep the coat short and prevent matting.

A short clip turns an Angora into a much easier pet. Because rabbit skin tears easily, PetMD suggests a rabbit-savvy vet or groomer, at least for the first few clips. A freshly shorn rabbit can get cold: the German breeders' association notes shorn rabbits may need extra warmth whatever the weather.

Angora wool block

Wool block is a blockage in the gut caused by swallowed wool. Angoras groom themselves and swallow loose wool, especially during a moult or when mats make them over-groom. Rabbits cannot vomit, so the wool has to pass through. UFAW explains that a mat only the size of a large dropping can block the intestine, and that a complete blockage can kill within hours.

• Unlimited grass hay, the main thing that keeps wool moving through
• Extra grooming during a moult to remove loose wool before it is swallowed
• Fresh water always available
• Daily check of droppings: fewer, smaller or wool-strung droppings are an early warning

Heat, cold and where an Angora should live

PetMD says Angoras tolerate about 10 to 24°C (50 to 75°F) and overheat quickly in sun. The German breeders' association gives an ideal of 14 to 20°C (58 to 68°F) and asks for cooling above 24°C (75°F). The RSPCA keeps all rabbits at 10 to 20°C (50 to 68°F), with shade once it nears 20°C (68°F). A clipped Angora copes with summer far better than one in full coat.

Wet wool is the other enemy: it mats, takes a long time to dry, and draws flies. An Angora living outside needs a dry, well-ventilated, shaded home and daily checks; many owners keep them indoors. Our guides to rabbit temperature and indoor or outdoor rabbits cover the set-up.

Angora rabbit cage and bedding

Space is the same as any rabbit: the RSPCA minimum for two rabbits is 3 m × 2 m × 1 m (10 ft × 6 ft 6 in × 3 ft), shelter and run joined. Bedding is where Angoras differ. No source sets out an Angora bedding rule, so we've reasoned from what wool does: loose shavings, straw and fluffy bedding cling to wool and tangle into it. Soft rugs or fleece over a solid floor, paper-based litter in the tray, and hay in a rack or feeder instead of scattered all over keep the coat far cleaner. See our rabbit bedding guide and rabbit cage size guide.

What do Angora rabbits eat?

Mostly hay, and plenty of it. PetMD's guide is a pile of grass hay at least the size of the rabbit, twice a day or more; about 1 cup of dark leafy greens per 2 lb (900 g) of body weight; about ¼ cup of pellets per 4 to 5 lb (1.8 to 2.3 kg); and fruit only as a treat. The fibre in hay is what keeps swallowed wool moving. Our rabbit diet guide covers the details.

Weekly care checklist

• Groom daily, and check under the tail every day
• Feel the whole body for hidden mats, especially belly, armpits and behind the ears
• Weigh your rabbit; wool hides weight loss
• Check droppings for size and wool strings
• Check the eyes for wool rubbing (especially English Angoras)
• Change any damp bedding
• Book the next clip if the coat is past about 8 cm (3 in)

Angora rabbit health problems

The RSPCA lists Angoras among breeds bred for their long fur that commonly carry inherited health problems. PetMD and PDSA add these to watch for:

• Matting: sore, infected skin under mats; UFAW notes chin mats can stop a rabbit eating and leg mats can stop it moving
• Wool block and gut stasis: an emergency
• Flystrike: UFAW says flies are drawn to soiled wool, and maggots can reach their most damaging stage in as little as 38 hours in warm weather. Ring a vet at once.
• Wool mites and fur mites: scurf and itching
• Dental disease, eye and ear infections, and E. cuniculi
• Myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease, both preventable by vaccination

Our rabbit health guide explains each one. PetMD recommends pet insurance for Angoras because the coat raises the risk of skin and gut problems.

Angora rabbits for sale or adoption

Rescues first. Angoras and Angora crosses often end up in rescue when owners discover the grooming, and many arrive clipped, neutered and vaccinated. In the UK, search Rabbit Rehome, which lists Angoras among its breeds. In the US, the House Rabbit Society's adoption page links to local rescues. Our guide on where to get a rabbit covers what to ask.

For a breeder, ARBA's Angora pages link to the National Angora Rabbit Breeders Club and a find-a-breeder directory; in the UK, the National Angora Rabbit Club is the breed club. Ask:

• Is this rabbit used to daily grooming and being clipped?
• Will you show me how you groom and clip?
• Have the parents had wool block, flystrike or tooth problems?
• Was the rabbit bred for wool, show or as a pet? Wool lines often grow heavier coats.
• Has it been vaccinated, and will you take it back if needed?

PDSA put the average price of an English Angora at about £40 as of November 2026, and estimates £7,900 to £11,100 to keep one over its life, roughly doubled for a pair. We have no equivalent US figure from a source we trust. Our rabbit cost guide has the full breakdown.