Mini Plush Lop Rabbit: Breed Guide, Care Tips, and What to Expect in 2026

TL;DR

• The mini plush lop rabbit is a small, velvet-coated breed with lopped (drooping) ears, typically weighing between 3 and 4.5 pounds at full size.
• Mini plush lops are considered one of the most beginner-friendly rabbit breeds because of their calm, affectionate temperament.
• They need a diet of 70-80% fresh timothy hay, daily exercise outside their enclosure, and weekly grooming (House Rabbit Society, 2024).
• The average lifespan is 8 to 12 years with proper care (American Rabbit Breeders Association, 2023).
• This guide covers everything a first-time owner needs: breed traits, housing, diet, health, and how to find a reputable breeder.

What Is a Mini Plush Lop Rabbit and Why It Stands Out as a Pet

The mini plush lop rabbit is a small domestic rabbit breed defined by two physical traits: lopped ears that hang down beside the face, and an exceptionally dense, plush coat that feels similar to velvet or velboa fabric. Adult mini plush lops weigh between 3 and 4.5 pounds, making them compact enough for apartment living while still being sturdy enough to handle regular interaction.

The breed was developed in the United States by Devie D’Anniballe in the early 1990s by crossing Mini Lops with Holland Lops and Rex rabbits. The Rex rabbit contributes the signature fur texture – short, upright guard hairs that give the coat its soft, push-like feel. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) officially recognized the breed in 2021 (ARBA, 2021).

Mini plush lops are popular with first-time rabbit owners because they combine a manageable size, low-shedding coat, and a reliably gentle personality.

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Mini Plush Lop Size, Appearance, and Coat Types

Mini plush lops reach a maximum weight of 4.5 pounds and stand roughly 10 to 12 inches long. They have a compact, rounded body – called a “mandolin” body type in rabbit showing terms – with a wide head, full cheeks, and thick-based ears that hang close to the cheeks.

The coat is the defining feature. Mini plush lop fur is 0.5 to 0.75 inches long and grows upright rather than lying flat, which gives it the plush texture. It does not mat as easily as longer breeds like Angoras, but it does require weekly brushing to remove loose fur and prevent hairballs.

Coat colors recognized by ARBA include:

• Broken – white base with patches of any solid color.
• Solid – uniform single color across the entire body.
• Shaded – darker color at the tips that lightens toward the belly (sable point, seal, and smoke pearl are common examples).
• Agouti – banded individual hairs that create a ticked or wild-coloring effect.
• Pointed white – white body with colored ears, nose, feet, and tail.

Mini Plush Lop Temperament: What Their Personality Is Actually Like

Mini plush lops are calm, social, and tolerant of handling – three traits that make them well-suited for households with children or first-time rabbit owners. They bond closely with their primary caregiver and will often seek physical contact by nudging or flopping beside a person they trust.

They are not aggressive by nature. Biting is uncommon in a well-socialized mini plush lop and usually only occurs when the rabbit feels cornered or is in pain. Unlike more nervous breeds, mini plush lops tend to stay relaxed during routine handling such as nail trims or vet visits once they are accustomed to it.

That said, they do need daily social interaction. A mini plush lop left alone in its enclosure for most of the day will develop stress behaviors – cage circling, bar chewing, or fur pulling. They do best with at least one hour of free-roam time and 20 to 30 minutes of active human interaction per day (House Rabbit Society, 2024).

Housing Requirements for a Mini Plush Lop Rabbit

A mini plush lop needs a minimum enclosure size of 4 feet by 2 feet with a height of at least 2 feet. The rabbit must be able to stand fully upright on its hind legs and take three to four full hops in a straight line without hitting a wall (House Rabbit Society, 2024).

Wire-bottomed cages are not suitable. Mini plush lops have dense fur on their feet but limited natural padding, and solid or slatted plastic floors prevent the sore hocks (skin ulcers on the hind feet) that wire flooring causes.

The enclosure should include:

• A litter box in one corner filled with paper-based bedding or kiln-dried pine pellets – never cedar or pine shavings, which release aromatic oils toxic to rabbits.
• A hay rack or hay holder that keeps timothy hay clean and accessible at all times.
• A water bottle or heavy ceramic water bowl refreshed daily.
• At least one hide box where the rabbit can retreat and feel secure.

The ambient temperature in the rabbit’s space should stay between 60-75°F (15-24°C). Mini plush lops are sensitive to heat and can develop heat stroke rapidly at temperatures above 85°F (29°C) (ARBA, 2023).

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What to Feed a Mini Plush Lop Rabbit: Diet Breakdown

The daily diet of a mini plush lop should follow this breakdown by volume:

Food Type	Percentage of Daily Diet	Notes
Timothy hay	70-80%	Available at all times, not rationed
Fresh leafy greens	15-20%	1 packed cup per 2 lbs of body weight
Pellets	5%	1/4 cup per 5 lbs of body weight daily
Treats (fruit, root vegetables)	Under 5%	No more than 1 tablespoon per day

Hay is not a supplement – it is the foundation of the diet. Hay keeps the digestive system moving (rabbits cannot vomit, so GI stasis is a medical emergency), grinds down continuously growing teeth, and provides the fiber that prevents obesity (House Rabbit Society, 2024).

Safe leafy greens include romaine lettuce, cilantro, parsley, basil, and arugula. Avoid iceberg lettuce (low nutrition, high water content), spinach in large amounts (high oxalic acid), and any member of the onion family (toxic to rabbits).

Pellets should be plain timothy-based pellets – not seed mixes or pellets with colored bits, which are high in sugar.

Mini Plush Lop Health: Common Conditions to Watch For

Mini plush lops are generally healthy but have several breed-specific health risks that every owner should know before bringing one home.

GI stasis is the most serious and most common emergency in all domestic rabbits, including mini plush lops. It occurs when gut motility slows or stops completely. Signs include no fecal pellets for 12 or more hours, loss of appetite, a hunched posture, and teeth grinding. GI stasis requires immediate veterinary care – it can be fatal within 24 to 48 hours (Merck Veterinary Manual, 2023).

Dental malocclusion – misaligned teeth that overgrow and cause pain or eating difficulty – is a hereditary risk in lopped breeds. The same genetic mutation that causes the ears to lop also causes changes to skull shape, which can crowd the teeth roots. Annual dental checks with a rabbit-savvy vet are the standard preventive measure (ARBA, 2023).

Ear infections are more frequent in lop breeds than upright-eared breeds because the ear canal has reduced airflow. Monthly ear checks and cleaning with a vet-approved solution reduce the risk.

Uterine cancer is diagnosed in up to 80% of unspayed female rabbits over 5 years old (House Rabbit Society, 2024). Spaying females before age 2 is the single most impactful preventive health decision an owner can make.

How to Groom a Mini Plush Lop Rabbit Without Stress

Mini plush lop grooming is simpler than other long-haired breeds but still requires a consistent routine. The short, upright coat does not mat, but it does shed seasonally – most heavily in spring and fall.

Weekly tasks:

• Brush the entire coat with a soft-bristle brush or rubber grooming mitt to remove loose fur and reduce the amount the rabbit ingests during self-grooming.
• Check the ears for redness, discharge, or odor.
• Check the teeth – the upper incisors should slightly overlap the lower incisors.
• Check the hind end for any fecal matter stuck to the fur, which can attract flies.

Monthly tasks:

• Trim the nails with small animal nail clippers. The quick (blood vessel inside the nail) is visible in light-colored nails as a pink line. Stop 2mm before it. For dark nails, clip small amounts at a time.
• Clean the scent glands – two small pouches on either side of the genitals that collect waxy secretions. A vet can demonstrate this on the first visit.

Do not bathe a mini plush lop in water. Rabbits go into shock easily when fully wet, and a bath is rarely necessary. Spot-clean soiled fur with a damp cloth instead.

Common Mistakes First-Time Mini Plush Lop Owners Make

• Feeding too many pellets and not enough hay. Pellets are calorie-dense and filling – a rabbit that eats too many pellets will eat less hay, which causes dental and digestive problems over time. Hay must be the majority of the diet, not a side item.
• Picking the rabbit up from above. Rabbits are prey animals. A hand coming from above reads as a predator attack. Approach from the side, scoop under the chest and hindquarters simultaneously, and keep the back legs supported at all times to prevent spinal injury from kicking.
• Housing the rabbit in a garage or outdoor hutch. Extreme temperature swings, predator sounds (even through a wall), and toxic exhaust fumes make garages and outdoor hutches poor options. Mini plush lops are indoor pets.
• Skipping the rabbit-savvy vet. General practice vets often have limited small mammal training. Find a vet experienced with exotic animals or specifically with rabbits before you bring the rabbit home, not after the first health problem appears.
• Getting just one rabbit with no plan for social time. Mini plush lops are social animals. A single rabbit that gets minimal human interaction will show chronic stress. Either commit to daily interaction or consider adopting a bonded pair from a rescue.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mini Plush Lop Rabbits

What is a mini plush lop rabbit?

A mini plush lop rabbit is a small domestic rabbit breed with lopped (drooping) ears and a short, dense velvet-like coat. Adults weigh between 3 and 4.5 pounds. The breed was developed in the United States and officially recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 2021 (ARBA, 2021).

How long do mini plush lop rabbits live?

Mini plush lops live 8 to 12 years with proper diet, housing, and veterinary care (ARBA, 2023). Spayed females and neutered males tend to live toward the longer end of that range because reproductive cancers and hormonal stress are eliminated.

Are mini plush lops good pets for children?

Yes, mini plush lops are one of the better rabbit breeds for households with children because of their calm temperament and tolerance for handling. Children under age 8 should always have adult supervision when interacting with the rabbit – an unsupported rabbit that kicks can break its own spine, and accidental drops injure both the child and the rabbit.

What is the difference between a mini plush lop and a mini lop?

The mini lop has a standard rabbit coat with flat-lying guard hairs. The mini plush lop has upright guard hairs that create a plush, velvet texture – this comes from the Rex rabbit genetics in its ancestry. The body shape and ear style are similar, but the fur texture and coat feel are clearly different to the touch.

How much does a mini plush lop rabbit cost?

Mini plush lops from reputable ARBA-registered breeders typically cost between $50 and $150 per rabbit in the United States. Show-quality animals with documented lineage can cost $200 or more. Adoption from a rabbit rescue is often cheaper – $25 to $75 – and many rescue rabbits are already spayed, neutered, and litter trained.

Do mini plush lops need a companion rabbit?

Mini plush lops can live alone if they receive at least one to two hours of active human interaction daily. Without regular social contact, a single rabbit develops stress behaviors. Many experienced owners keep a bonded pair to ensure the rabbits have social contact even when the owner is away. Introductions between two unfamiliar rabbits must be done gradually in neutral territory to avoid fighting.

Key Takeaways

• Mini plush lop rabbits weigh 3 to 4.5 pounds and are recognized by ARBA as of 2021.
• Their velvet-like coat comes from Rex rabbit genetics and requires weekly brushing but does not mat.
• 70 to 80% of their daily diet must be fresh timothy hay – pellets and greens are supplements, not the main food.
• Spaying females before age 2 is the single most important preventive health decision, given the high rate of uterine cancer in unspayed does.
• They live 8 to 12 years, so owning one is a long-term commitment comparable to owning a small dog.