If you’re looking for a pet that’s small, affectionate and unreasonably fluffy, look no further. The Angora rabbit is the fluffiest small pet known to man.
Their fluffiness, however, is deceptive. Before you run out and adopt a living pom-pom, here are 19 reasons to reconsider having Angora rabbits as pets.
Angora Rabbits Have a Lot of Fur
What do you think happens when you don’t brush an Angora rabbit? All that soft, lush floof turns into uncomfortable mats that take even more time to remove.
Mats are most common around an Angora rabbit’s feet and face, so removal is tricky and not particularly fun for either party involved. Would you love someone coming at your nose with scissors? We didn’t think so.
To avoid the headache of detangling a ticked-off bunny, daily brushing is mandatory.
Like, a Lot
It’s 1000 percent mandatory. You could try to argue, but you’d be wrong. Just accept that Netflix and bunny grooming are now part of your daily routine.
They’re Basically Bunny Slippers You Have to Feed
Pros of buying bunny slippers on Amazon instead:
- Keeps your feet warm
- Looks practically the same as a real bunny
- $29.98, compared to at least $50/month on just hay
- Does not leave a trail of poop on the floor
Bunny slippers don’t love you, but do you really need love? Love’s a lot of work.
The Sheer Floofiness of Angora Rabbits Makes Everything They Do Extra Dramatic
If you’re on the verge of impulse buying a live animal just because it’s impossibly fluffy, your household has already met its melodrama quota for the day. An Angora rabbit’s aggressive relaxation will only add fuel to the fire.
I Mean, Look at This Yawn. Horrifying
What do you mean “cute bunny”?
This is clearly a longhaired blobfish, and it’s going to haunt our dreams for weeks.
Maintaining an Angora Rabbit’s Coat Is a Daily Commitment
Grooming needs vary depending on the time of year, but when a bunny is molting, scooping up all that loose fur can take up to an hour per rabbit.
The French Angora rabbit is lower maintenance, but it still needs to be brushed at least weekly. It’s like having a dog, only walking a rabbit doesn’t include much walking.
Do You Really Want to Brush This Fur Ball Seven Days a Week?
English Angoras are gorgeous to look at, but there’s a price to pay for the fluff ball look. In addition to the grooming time, they’re definitely not hypoallergenic.
That’s one way to avoid having your in-laws over. The trail of chewed-up baseboards and rabbit pellets don’t hurt, either.
Angora Rabbits Are Highly Social Creatures, So Playmates Are a Necessity
Whoever marketed rabbits as small pets meant to live in cages should be fired. They’re not.
Rabbits aren’t anything like hamsters or rats. While they can be kept in a fairly small enclosure to sleep and eat, they need space to run around and play. Unlike hamsters, they also need lots of interaction.
Think you can leave them home alone all day? Great idea, as long as you’re cool with a depressed pet prone to destructive behavior and rebelliously nipping your heels.
Preferably, Rabbit Playmates. In Other Words, You’ll Be Covered in Fur at All Times
All rabbits, not just Angora rabbits, are much happier when kept in bonded pairs. Otherwise, you’ll be responsible for meeting 100 percent of your bunny’s social needs.
Unless you work from home or your boss is cool with having a pile of hay in the breakroom, your bunny definitely needs a friend.
If You Thought Longhaired Cats Were Bad, Just Wait Until an Angora Rabbit Molts
English and French Angoras both naturally shed their fur. While that limits the need for professional grooming, it does mean that your house will be blanketed in fluff a few times a year.
When Angora rabbits molt, they replace their entire coat with a new one. The old fur falls out over a week or two. Hope you didn’t like the color black, because you won’t be wearing it anymore.
Since They’re Basically Living Stuffed Animals, Your Kids Are Guaranteed to Beg for More Than One
Double the rabbit, double the grooming time. Have fun.
And I Think We Both Know You Lack the Willpower to Say No
If you can say no to a face like this, invest in a 23andMe kit. We don’t want to alarm you, but you’re probably part robot.
And if You Don’t Get Your Angora Rabbits Spayed and Neutered, We All Know What Happens Next
The fact that rabbits reproduce like rabbits should come as no surprise. Not getting bunnies spayed or neutered also predisposes them to the development of certain cancers, so even if you have two bunnies of the same gender, getting them fixed is a must.
It also prevents unpleasant behaviors like aggression and spraying urine to mark territory. Isn’t pet ownership fun?
After Brushing Your Angora Rabbit, What Are You Supposed to Do With Its Endless Piles of Fur?
You could have the fiber spun into ridiculously soft, warm yarn and hand knit into a shawl or sweater, but do you really want to be that cozy? Look at this lady. Sure, she looks amazing, but picking up a sweater at Target is so much easier.
The Way They Sprawl Out on the Kitchen Floor Will Give Your Dog an Identity Crisis
Especially since your dog gets yelled at for having accidents, but bunnies pretty much poop wherever they want. They can be litter trained, but they’ll still leave a trail of pellets here and there. If we were your dog, we’d be offended too.
Like, Are You a Dog? Are You a Cow? Make Up Your Mind
Can you just pick a species and stick with it? You’re confusing the other animals.
And Then They Look at You Like This
Confusing the other animals and confusing our hearts. Angora rabbits are so much work, but they somehow hypnotize their owners into liking it.
Kiss Your Carrots Goodbye
Run away now, before it’s too late.
Because Once You Own an Angora Rabbit, You’re at the Mercy of Their Supreme Cuteness
Glad you think farms smell quaint and homey, because that’s how your entire living room smells now. Once you fall in love with an Angora rabbit, there’s no going back. Good luck, pal.