The American Fuzzy Lop is a breed of domesticated rabbit that is very similar to the Holland Lop. It’s a wooly rabbit similar to Angora rabbits with slightly shorter fur. It’s the result of an attempt by breeders to create a multicolor Holland Lop, which up to that point only displayed solid colors. The American Fuzzy Lop comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns and has floppy ears that hang down on the side of its head.
Quick Facts about the American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit
| Species Name: | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Care Level: | Easy |
| Temperature: | All climates |
| Temperament: | Active, friendly |
| Color Form: | Agouti, chinchilla, chestnut, lynx, opal |
| Lifespan: | 5–8 years |
| Size: | Small |
| Diet: | Grass, hay, pellets |
| Minimum Tank Size: | 6’ L x 2’ W x 2’ H |
| Cage Set-Up: | Litter tray, feeding bowl, water bottle |
| Compatibility: | Most other pets |
American Fuzzy Lop Overview
The American Fuzzy Lop is a smaller-sized rabbit that usually weighs between 3-4 pounds. It has short floppy ears that hang down the side of the face, and its hair is longer than most rabbits, but not as long as the Angora rabbits. It has a compact and muscular body and is available in many colors.
How Much Do American Fuzzy Lop Rabbits Cost?
The price of your American Fuzzy Lop rabbit will vary depending on where you get it and whether or not you are looking for a show quality rabbit. You can find a standard rabbit for around $25, but if you want one to enter into shows and competitions, you will likely need to spend between $100 and $200.
The breeder will also affect the price because they may run more tests to ensure your rabbit is healthy, and rabbits in the western United States tend to cost a bit more than those in the east.
Typical Behavior & Temperament
The American Fuzzy Lop rabbit is energetic and loves to play. It enjoys being around family members and is a great pet for small children. It’s a social animal that will allow you to pet it and carry it around. It likes to play with toys, like a plastic ball or a piece of wood and can entertain itself for hours.
Appearance & Varieties
You can find the American Fuzzy Lop rabbit in all of the standard rabbit colors like brown, chocolate, lavender, black, fawn, and white. It also has many color patterns like Agouti, pointed, and several broken or spotty patterns. It usually has brown eyes, but you can also find them with ruby red or blue eyes.
The fur of the American Fuzzy Lop rabbit is a type of wool usually about 2 inches long and very soft. You can spin it into yarn to make clothing if you have the skills.
How to Take Care of an American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit
Habitat, Cage Conditions & Setup
Your American Fuzzy Lop is quite energetic and will require a fairly large cage. We recommend something about 6’ L x 2’ W x 2’ H. Even with a cage this size, it will be important to give your pet plenty of time to roam around outside the cage so it can get the exercise it requires to stay healthy. Inside its cage, it will need a litter box, food bowl, and a drink bottle. It would be best to put some toys in the cage to keep your pet busy when you are not around. Add plenty of Timothy hay that they can use as bedding. It will also help them stay warm if it’s feeling chilly.
Maintenance
Your American Fuzzy Lop rabbit does not shed and will require very little maintenance. The fur doesn’t tangle, but you should brush or comb it every few days to keep it free of tangles and mats, especially around the tail area.
It would be best if you never bathed your rabbit unless necessary because they don’t like it, and it could cause undue stress. A damp cloth is often all you need to remove any dirt you see on the fur.
Do American Fuzzy Lop Rabbits Get Along with Other Pets?
American Fuzzy Lop rabbits are rarely aggressive and have no problem getting along with other pets. However, their smaller size will leave them exposed to cats and dogs that may be aggressive toward them. If you have cats or dogs, we recommend closely supervised visits to minimize the risk to your rabbit. After you are sure they won’t fight, you can give them a little more space.
What to Feed Your American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit
Your American Fuzzy Lop rabbit will require all of the Timothy hay it can eat. It will require this food to keep its teeth manageable and provide the fiber it needs to stay healthy. Timothy hay and grass will make up about 80% of your pet’s diet. The rest of the diet will be fresh fruits, vegetables, and pellets.
Keeping Your American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit Healthy
The American Fuzzy Lop rabbit does not have a predisposition toward any health problems. However, there are a couple of minor things you’ll want to be on the lookout for as you raise your rabbit.
Wool Block
A wool block is the result of your rabbit’s grooming habits. As will happen with the Angora rabbits, your pet will tend to swallow strands of hair as it cleans itself. Swallowed hair can form a ball in the stomach of your rabbit too large to pass through the digestive system. This hairball can trick your rabbit into thinking it is full, which can quickly lead to malnutrition and even starvation. If you notice your rabbit is eating less than normal, you will need to immediately take them to the vet.
Worms
Worms are a parasite that affects many rabbits, especially those that stay outside. However, they can also get them from the food they eat, so even indoor rabbits can get worms. To combat worms, you will need to provide your pet with a deworming paste twice a year.
Tooth and Nail Overgrowth
Tooth and nail overgrowth is a common problem with indoor rabbits. Because of their pampered lifestyle, their nails tend to overgrow, so you will need to keep an eye on them and trim them as necessary. A never-ending supply of timothy hay should prevent your rabbit’s teeth from overgrowing, but you will need to inspect them regularly to make sure. If you notice that your rabbit’s teeth are getting too long, you will need to increase the amount of Timothy hay you provide and add other treats they can chew on, like wood blocks.
Breeding
It used to be difficult to breed American Fuzzy Lop rabbits because the gene responsible for their floppy ears is regressive. There is only a one in four chance of producing a fuzzy rabbit by mating two of them together. However, breeders have refined the breed to produce mostly American Fuzzy Lops. While you can breed these rabbits yourself, most experts recommend not attempting to do so. Rabbits can multiply extremely quickly and can easily get out of hand. You can have more rabbits than you know what to do with and you may have a difficult time supplying appropriate shelter. You will also need to check with local ordinances before you attempt to breed rabbits to make sure it’s legal in your area.
Final Thoughts
The American Fuzzy Lop rabbit makes a great family pet. It’s especially well-suited to small children because they will love their soft fuzzy coat and friendly nature. It’s also a perfect choice for a first pet because it requires very little maintenance outside of occasional brushing and removing the dung from their cage. They have very few health problems and long life spans.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over this in-depth guide and have decided to give these amazing pets a try in your home. If you have found the answers you needed and learned something new, please share this guide to the American Fuzzy Lop rabbit on Facebook and Twitter.
Featured image credit: Monica Harms, Shutterstock
