Angora rabbits are intelligent and affectionate creatures. They can form tight bonds with their humans, but they also have some quirks you should know about. Here are some pros and cons of owning an Angora rabbit.
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The Pros and Cons of Angora Rabbits
With everything comes the good and the bad. With angora rabbits, it’s just plain ridiculous. While I do love our rabbit, she drives me absolutely bonkers at the same time. Let me explain…
Rabbits make wonderful pets. They have lots of energy and personality. Owning a rabbit is very different from owning a cat or dog. Here are some reasons I love my Angora rabbit, and reasons I don’t.
4 Reasons to Love Angora Rabbits
1. Angora Rabbits are Adorable
How can you look at this face and not be filled with love and amazement that such a creature exists? Sometimes I feel like I have some mythical creature living in my home. I could spend hours just marveling at her adorableness. But I don’t, because that would be a huge waste of time. I still need to have a life!
2. Angora Bunnies are Loving and Sweet
When she’s not running away and hiding from the crazy human that just wants to love her and hug her and squeeze her forever, she can be a very loving pet. Sometimes she’ll allow me to hold her and pet her for minutes at a time, although I’m starting to suspect it’s only for the ego boost. When she’s sitting in my lap allowing me to adorn her with kisses and love, she’s at her best, this is almost enough to make me forget how she is when she’s at her worst. Read on…
3. Angora Rabbits Provide Wool
A knitter is always in need of more yarn. Even when her yarn bins are overflowing and she finds balls of yarn stuck between the couch cushions, still she needs more. When you have an Angora rabbit in your house, you can always make more yarn. The possibilities are endless! Dollypop’s wool is the softest and warmest anywhere in the land, and the fact that it’s pure white means you can easily dye it to any shade. This is why it’s not just her adorable-ness but also her usefulness that makes me love her.
4. Angora Rabbits Attract Attention
You roll into any party with this cutie in your arms, and you’ll be insta-friends with everyone there. Of course, these new friends only like me for my rabbit, but it’s something, isn’t it? I haven’t met a soul yet who isn’t absolutely astounded that such a creature exists. Friends always ask to see her when they come over and squeal with excitement when she enters the room. She truly is the queen of this household, and I, her humble servant.
4 Reasons to Hate Angora Rabbits
1. She Thinks She’s Better Than Me
I can see it in her eyes. She knows people only come over to our house to see her and loves to rub her popularity and beauty in my face. I’m just her human slave, only good for untangling her glorious snow white hair and cleaning up her poop trails. Just look at that face! You can’t look at that expression and not see a pompous rabbit who looks down on her slovenly human housemate.
Seriously, rabbits have a very complex social hierarchy and body language.
2. Angora Rabbits Can Be a Lot of Work
Every week the little princess gets a 2-hour spa session. I can’t even remember the last time I had a two hour spa session, but this darling rabbit needs one weekly. Why? The key to her power and attraction- her woolly mane of beautiful fuzz gets matted if it isn’t brushed and blown out regularly.
The blowing is the worst part. I have to use a high intensity pet blower (basically a very powerful reverse vacuum) to push out all the bits of dander and loose hair that accumulate on her in a week, and there is a lot. The disgusting white powder and globs of fur fly out of her and directly onto me, making me look like a bag of flour exploded on my head.
3. House Rabbits Can Be Destructive
We used to have a glorious, vintage orange couch in the room that Dolly lives in. Used to. She scratched at the seats until she’d made giant holes in each one, exposing the springs and stuffing inside. Then she filled the hole with poop and every time I would go to visit her, she’d be sitting all high and mighty in the poop cave, glaring at me.
She also somehow magically jumped five feet into the air in order to knock over four (count em’ FOUR) of our window planters that were full of spinach (which was just ready to harvest), then proceeded to eat every bit of vegetation and take a dirt bath in the remains. She did this in the course of one hour. You can read the whole story here.
We also used to have a carpet in that room. And walls. And a floor. Okay, she’s not THAT bad, but she has destroyed everything in that room that is destroyable and everything that’s not, she simply poops on and walks away. Speaking of poop…
4. Rabbits are Poop Machines
Seriously. Poop everywhere. EVERYWHERE! If she walks six inches, there’s six little turds left in her path. When she’s running and hopping they shoot out of her like rockets. Poop rockets. I’ve considered putting a diaper on her, but that would make me hate her more because it would mean more work for me. Refer back to hate reason #1.
In all seriousness, I adore Dolly and the good makes up for the bad (most of the time).
To all the fierce animal lovers out there, I’m one of you, don’t go chasing me down with pitchforks and torches over a post that was clearly written in jest.
And just so you know… If you do come knocking on my door with a pitchfork in hand, I will force you to use it to clean my chicken coop.
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That was so funny! I was giggling and read most of it out loud to my husband. I’ve had house rabbits too. Sometimes they can be trained to not poop all over. Sometimes. 😉
Hahaha, yes, we had a rabbit in our college dorm that we (sort of) litter trained. He still left little poops all over the place but he at least peed in one spot!
I have a male Plush Lop (Rex mixed with Holland Lop). He used to poop and pee everywhere! The minute I got him neutered he started to use the litter box in his cage and that was it. No more poops on the floor!
Very interesting! I had no idea that neutering would make such a big difference!
Nice post. I used to have an angora rabbit – she died about a year and a half ago – I miss her a little, but just a little! Mine was quite difficult to groom. She hated the feel of it, and always tried to bite. I had to wear heavy protective clothing, even in hot weather. I think what I appreciated most about her was how much I learned about rabbits. She and her little Netherland dwarf friend were much more active, curious, and intelligent than I ever imagined rabbits to be. I don’t think I will ever get rabbits again, but I am glad I had that experience with them.
I have a half breed angOra, and lion head. She is such a diva. I got an 8 week old male English lope, and she changed! From a sweet, litter box using snow white princess, to a fluffy, hair spreading, pooping-on-whatever-i-want, queen of house! Love her more then anything. … but my lop is a million times easier! Get boys! They are much less complicated then the diva girls!
I’m so glad that Dolly lets me groom her without much trouble. It would be SUCH a hassle if she didn’t! I’m looking forward to getting some French Angora rabbits in the future, I’ve heard they take a little less work than the English.
Oh my gosh yes. With English it’s feels like as soon as you put the down after grooming poof they need touched up again…lol I’ve never had French but have heard that they are much easier. German and Giants are great I just use a blower online I don’t even have to brush them. I love my satin… he’s my low-key poof ball. Thanks for the article I loved it and love the bond you have with her.
I think your bunny is the cutest bunny in all the land, Meredith. I lub her! ….. If you ever need a break, you just bring her over here and I’ll look after her (and her poop rockets) 😉
xoxo!
Thanks Love! I’ll ship her off to you tomorrow, prepare for poopfest 2015!
Oh boy, can I relate to this! We have two and there sure are a lot of work/poop machines. They do NOT sit on my lap like the ones on youtube who are being used directly for fiber. But we love them and that’s all that matters.
thanks for a good laugh
HAhaha I laughed when I saw the well behaved Angora’s on youtube as well. Dolly would much rather be flinging poop all over the place than getting quietly groomed!
And this is why I tell people…get your house rabbit a cage of its own. 🙂 To a rabbit, a cage isn’t a prison, it’s a nice, safe burrow. Let your rabbit out to run when you’re there to supervise, and let it stay in its own house when you’re not. Paint & sheetrock mud aren’t really ideal dietary supplements. I am glad you’re enjoying your Dolly, and it’s only proper that she be the Queen of the household. My own houserabbit, Shaitan the Satin Angora, happens to be the King here.
Totally true! Our Dolly is spoiled rotten. We’ll be moving out to the country next year and will build her a beautiful hutch outdoors, but for now she’s stuck inside with us! 😉
i’ve had angoras for years, and I can absolutely relate! I don’t get “powder” when I groom them, though, except for the time one of them got fur mites. Is the powder a grooming product you’re using?
lol… I totally had to laugh when you said, “she is a poop machine”
Dude, my horse is a poop machine! She poops like 20 piles the size of your rabbit every single day. My husband even calls me a poop farmer, but I love it and I wouldn’t have it any other way…
Hahahahaha, now THAT’S a true poop machine! I can’t imagine! It’s a labor of love though, and that’s what matters.
I totally agree when you said that they are really adorable, and you can stare at them or hours. Personally, I would do that as well, but I still haven’t bought one for myself. I should be informed well first before doing so to ensure that they will be in good hands. One of the things that I should be informed is regarding their grooming, so I would need to find a groomer I can trust as early as now.
I found an English Angora rabbit in my front yard last year. After doing my due diligence to find her actual home with no avail, I kept het. Boy, I had NO IDEA what I was getting into! She is diva x 100. I have 3 dogs that live inside my home as well. Phred runs things. She adores and must be near one of my dogs at all times. I think the dogs think she is just another one of them. She runs loose in the house. I’ve tried putting her in her cage but she literally trashes around until she turns it over and can get out. Now, her cage is not small and it is 2 stories. She HATES to be groomed so I have to take her to the vet to be sheared every 3 to 4 months. She is very pushy and if she wants something from you, forget walking without her being under your feet. We are currently trying to find a litter for her new litter box that both she and I can be happy with. Her hair is so long and grows out within a month so everything sticks to it and thwn ends up all over the house. My poor house looks like she has had a party every morning when I get up. As much as she drives me crazy I love her to death. People are amazed when they see her laying with the dogs like she is one of them.
Oh, they are a handful! Not like other rabbits at all.
I am years late to this post, but in case it’s helpful to other rabbit owners/potential owners, 90% of rabbits can be litter box trained. Spaying/neutering helps a lot with litter habits as others have said. It also really helps with chewing and other “destructive” behaviors. Rabbits naturally are clean animals and will go in one spot. Poops all around the house like some have described is indicative of a territorial issue, not potty training. They are trying to mark and establish their territory. This is why spaying and neutering helps so much, but they can be trained even when intact.
I have two rabbits now who are both intact and 95% litter box trained. Accidents are always territory related. Rabbits are very routine oriented and learn their spaces by smell so moving furniture or changing up a routine etc can trigger territory issues (poop) and anxiety. They are also quite curious and do get bored so it is important to have toys for them or interaction or else they will get into everything no matter how well you think you’ve proofed your home.
Rabbits do not do well in cages. They need to move around to prevent arthritis and other mobility issues. They will also get extremely bored. I would recommend an ex pen or similar area for them—as they don’t necessarily need the whole house. Mine have free range but typically only spend time in like 2 rooms (again this is due to territorial establishment).
But, yes they are divas. Both of mine chose their spaces. I basically had no say on what rooms or areas they want to be in. But they behave most of the time now that their areas and routine are established. They also do not do well outside. The potential of a predator can scare them (literally) to death. They are sensitive to temperature changes, especially heat.
I know my comment was long but I saw a lot of comments on behavioral issues and most of what was described can be resolved with a few lifestyle changes for the buns and humans. I’d hate to see anyone discouraged from rabbit ownership or not getting the most out of their pet because of this resolvable issues. I’ve owned rabbits my entire life (30 years) and have encountered all these issues described above, but have seen them resolved through patience, understanding, and adjustments made by their owners. Thank you!!
Rachel, Thank you so much for sharing your valuable insights and experiences with rabbit ownership! Your tips on litter training, spaying/neutering, and understanding their territorial behaviors are incredibly helpful. It’s clear that, with the right care, adjustments, and understanding, many common behavioral issues can be resolved. Your dedication to providing a good life for your rabbits is commendable. If anyone has questions or concerns about rabbit ownership, your comment will undoubtedly be a valuable resource. Thanks again for contributing to the conversation!