Californian
The Californian was developed in the 1920s by George West in California, crossing Himalayan, chinchilla and New Zealand white stock to produce a dual-purpose fur and meat rabbit.
It became one of the most widely kept breeds in the United States.
It is a large rabbit of about four kilograms with a dense flyback coat, white bodied with dark points on the nose, ears, feet and tail — the same temperature-sensitive colouring as a Siamese cat, and the reason kittens are born pale. The eyes are pink. Temperament is generally calm and tolerant, and the breed is regarded as one of the easier large rabbits to handle.
- Origin
- California, United States, 1920s
- Size
- 3.5–4.5 kg
- Lifespan
- 8–10 years
- Coat
- Dense flyback coat, white with dark points
- Temperament
- Calm, tolerant, handles easily
- Recognition
- Widely recognised and common
3 californian photos, newest first
Living with a californian
A weekly brush keeps the coat right, with more during a moult.
The point colouring is temperature-dependent, so a rabbit kept somewhere cold develops darker points and one kept warm develops paler ones. It is normal.
Pink eyes are more light-sensitive than dark ones; provide shaded areas rather than constant bright light.
Standard care otherwise: neutered pairs, space to run and stand upright, hay as the bulk of the diet, annual myxomatosis and RHD vaccination. Being a heavier breed, check the hind feet for sore hocks and use deep bedding rather than wire.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual rabbits vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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