Pet Breed Guide NZ
Mini Rex Rabbit
The Mini Rex Rabbit is a charming small pet, renowned for its distinctive, plush 'velveteen' fur that feels incredibly soft to the touch. Originating from the USA, these compact rabbits typically weigh between 1.6 to 2 kg, making them an ideal size for many Kiwi homes. Beyond their unique coat, Mini Rex are celebrated for their docile and friendly temperament, often enjoying gentle interaction and cuddles. They are intelligent and can even be litter trained, adding to their appeal as indoor companions. With a lifespan of 7-10 years, they offer long-term companionship. In New Zealand, Mini Rex Rabbits are generally legal to keep as pets, though prospective owners must always confirm current MPI guidelines and local council regulations before bringing one home.
Photo Gallery
NZ Ownership Snapshot
Verified NZ Status- Noise Level
- quiet
- Social Needs
- pairs
- Animal Type
- rabbit
- Diet Type
- Hay-led herbivore diet with vegetables and pellets
- UVB Required
- No
Verified MPI pet-import pathway: rabbits may be imported as pets only from Australia under MPI requirements. Local council bylaws and animal welfare obligations may still apply.
Breed Snapshot
- Size
- small
- Lifespan
- 7-10 years
- Origin
- USA
- Care Focus
- Social rabbit breed that needs gentle handling, secure housing, and daily enrichment.
- NZ Price
- NZD $50 - $150 (for a single rabbit from a reputable breeder or rescue)
- Annual Vet Cost
- NZD $150 - $400 annually (includes routine check-ups, vaccinations, and potential minor treatments. Costs can be higher due to limited exotic vet availability in NZ).
Personality Scores
NZ Lifestyle Fit
Mini Rex Rabbits are well-suited to a variety of New Zealand homes, from city apartments to suburban sections and even rural baches, provided they have adequate space and protection. For apartment dwellers, a large indoor enclosure with daily supervised free-roam time is essential. Homes with a secure outdoor run on a section can offer them fresh air and exercise, but protection from predators and the elements is paramount. Climate considerations are important: they need shelter from the intense summer sun and the cold, damp conditions prevalent in areas like the South Island, or the humidity of Auckland. Their enclosures must be well-ventilated but draught-free. There are no specific regional restrictions on Mini Rex Rabbits in NZ beyond general council bylaws, but always check locally. Legal sourcing in NZ is typically through reputable breeders, pet shops adhering to welfare standards, or via rescue organisations like the SPCA NZ, ensuring healthy and ethically acquired pets.
Verified MPI pet-import pathway: rabbits may be imported as pets only from Australia under MPI requirements. Local council bylaws and animal welfare obligations may still apply.
About the Mini Rex Rabbit
The Mini Rex Rabbit is a delightful small pet, cherished globally for its unique physical attributes and amiable disposition. Originating in the United States in the late 1980s, this breed was developed from the standard Rex rabbit, specifically bred to be a smaller, more compact version. They typically weigh between 1.6 to 2 kg, making them a manageable size for various living situations. With a lifespan ranging from 7 to 10 years, a Mini Rex can be a long-term, loving addition to a Kiwi household. These rabbits thrive on routine and companionship, often forming strong bonds with their human caregivers and, ideally, with another rabbit.
What They Look Like
The most striking feature of the Mini Rex is undoubtedly its fur. Unlike other rabbit breeds, the Mini Rex possesses a dense, plush coat where the guard hairs are the same length as the undercoat, giving it a luxurious, velvety texture. This unique fur is incredibly soft and lacks the coarse feel often associated with rabbit coats. They have a compact, rounded body shape, with short, erect ears and a broad head. Their eyes are bright and alert, reflecting their curious nature. Mini Rex rabbits come in a wide array of colours and patterns, including popular varieties like Castor, Black, Blue, Broken, and Himalayan, offering a diverse choice for potential owners.
Personality & Behaviour
Mini Rex Rabbits are known for their calm, gentle, and friendly personalities, making them excellent pets for families, couples, or individuals. They are generally docile and enjoy being handled, often seeking out affection and gentle petting. While they appreciate quiet time, they are also playful and curious, enjoying toys and exploring their safe environments. As social animals, Mini Rex thrive when kept in pairs, ideally a desexed male and female, to prevent loneliness and provide natural companionship. They are relatively quiet pets, communicating through subtle body language and occasional soft thumps. Their intelligence means they can be litter trained and even taught simple tricks, making interaction rewarding.
Life in New Zealand
Keeping Mini Rex Rabbits in New Zealand is generally legal, offering Kiwis the opportunity to enjoy these charming pets. However, it is crucial for all prospective owners to consult the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website and their local council for the most up-to-date regulations and any specific bylaws that might apply to rabbit ownership in their area. Providing a secure and stimulating environment is key to their welfare. This includes a spacious hutch or indoor enclosure, protected from the elements, especially the South Island's cold winters and Auckland's humid summers. Sourcing Mini Rex Rabbits from reputable breeders or rescue organisations ensures you acquire a healthy animal and supports ethical pet ownership in Aotearoa.
Is This the Right Pet for You?
A Mini Rex Rabbit can be a wonderful pet for individuals or families prepared to commit to their specific care needs. They require daily attention, including feeding, fresh water, litter box cleaning, and social interaction. Their social nature means they do best with a companion rabbit, doubling the commitment but also the joy. While generally low-maintenance in terms of grooming, their health requires vigilance and access to a vet experienced with exotic animals, which can be limited in some parts of New Zealand. If you're looking for a quiet, affectionate, and relatively easy-to-care-for companion with a unique look, and you are prepared for the long-term commitment and responsible pet ownership, a Mini Rex Rabbit could be the perfect addition to your Kiwi home.
Fun Facts
Fact 1
The Mini Rex's unique 'velveteen' fur is due to a genetic mutation that causes the guard hairs to be the same length as the undercoat.
Fact 2
They were first recognised as a breed by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) in 1988.
Fact 3
Mini Rex rabbits are often used in pet therapy due to their calm and friendly nature.
Fact 4
Despite their small size, they are quite intelligent and can be litter trained and taught simple commands.
Fact 5
Their short, dense fur makes them less prone to matting compared to long-haired breeds, but still requires regular brushing.
Related Breeds
New Zealand White Rabbit
The New Zealand White is a calm, well-muscled medium rabbit with a dense, pure white coat; most are albino with red eyes, though blue-eyed whites also occur. Adults usually weigh 4 to 5.5 kg and live 5 to 8 years. The breed was developed through crosses in the United States, with ties to New Zealand as well, and was first kept for meat and fur before becoming a show and companion animal. Temperament is docile, and the breed is curious enough to explore readily and bond closely with its people, staying most active around dawn and dusk. Digging and chewing are natural behaviours here, so digging boxes and chew toys earn their place. Daily needs are a hay-led diet, three to four hours of supervised exercise in a secure, rabbit-proofed run, spot-cleaning, and nail trims every four to six weeks. It suits a patient household with floor space and room for a bonded pair.
Dumbo Rat
Dumbo rats are fancy rats with large, low-set ears — the same species and the same care needs. Pet rats are legal in NZ, but the dumbo ear type is not present in New Zealand's closed rat gene pool (importing rats is banned) — NZ pet rats are standard-eared. They need company of their own kind, daily handling and out-of-cage time, and an owner who watches for the two common rat problems: respiratory infection (Mycoplasma pulmonis) and tumours with age. Typical lifespan is 2-3 years.
Angora Rabbit
The Angora is a long-coated rabbit from Turkey, grown for a dense, soft wool that covers the whole body and, in lines such as the English Angora, the face and ears as well. Angoras are medium rabbits of roughly 2.5 to 5.5 kg and typically live seven to twelve years. Temperament is calm and gentle rather than boisterous: they tolerate handling well when it is regular and unhurried, can be litter-trained for indoor living, and are sociable enough that most settle better kept in pairs. The coat is the real commitment. Daily brushing and regular shearing prevent matting and wool block, and the rear end must be kept clean and dry, since a soiled coat invites flystrike in warm, humid weather. Mites and overgrown teeth are the other things to watch. An Angora suits an owner with time for grooming every single day, not someone wanting a low-maintenance rabbit.
Flemish Giant Rabbit
The Flemish Giant is one of the oldest and largest domestic rabbit breeds, traced to Belgium in the 16th century and widely known as the gentle giant. Adults carry a long, semi-arch body of roughly 6 to 10 kg, erect ears reaching up to 20 cm, and a dense, glossy coat in seven recognised colours: black, blue, fawn, sandy, light grey, steel grey and white. Typical lifespan is 5 to 8 years. Temperament is placid and easy-going, notably less prone to panic than smaller, more skittish breeds, and the breed is bright enough to be litter trained and to learn its name. Size drives the workload: spacious housing, several hours of secure exercise a day, unlimited hay, soft flooring to guard against sore hocks, and weekly checks of teeth, ears, nails and coat. It suits a home with genuine floor space and children old enough to handle a heavy rabbit gently.
Peruvian Guinea Pig
The Peruvian is the long-haired guinea pig, its silky coat growing continuously to 15 to 20 cm or more, sweeping forward over the head into a fringe or mop-top and backwards from the rump; underneath sits a compact, cobby body of roughly 700 g to 1.2 kg. Coats come in solids, bi-colours and tri-colours, and lifespan is generally 4 to 7 years. Temperament is sweet and gentle, often timid at first, and the breed is highly social, suiting same-sex pairs or small herds rather than life alone. The coat sets this breed apart from short-haired cavies: daily brushing, periodic trimming and scrupulous hygiene, because neglected long hair invites fungal skin infections, mites and lice. Alongside that come a hay-led diet with vegetables rich in vitamin C, daily supervised floor time, and indoor housing, which protects the coat and avoids overheating in humid weather. It suits an owner who genuinely enjoys grooming.
Teddy Guinea Pig
The Teddy is the crinkle-coated guinea pig: short, dense fur that stands upright rather than lying flat, giving the plush, soft-toy look behind the name. Adults weigh about 700 g to 1.2 kg, measure 20 to 30 cm and typically live 4 to 6 years, with coats in solids, agoutis and Himalayans and short, floppy ears. Temperament is friendly, docile and curious: shy at first, then content with lap time and gentle handling. The breed is thoroughly social and does best in same-sex pairs or small herds. Grooming is moderate rather than demanding, so daily care centres on hay, fresh vegetables supplying the vitamin C guinea pigs cannot make themselves, clean water, spot-cleaning, and supervised floor time in a guinea-pig-proofed space. Weekly checks cover nails, teeth and overall condition. It suits first-time small-pet keepers and families able to house at least two indoors.