Californian Rabbit – Everything You Need to Know

The Californian rabbit breed is a beautiful big white bunny that is gentle and can be good around children. They do need a little bit of extra space to have a nice run to expend their energies in but they are well worth it to rabbit fanciers of all levels from novice through to expert!

BREED PROFILE OVERVIEW
Breed Name:	Californian
Other Names:	Californian White
Country of Origin:	United States of America
Breed Purpose:	Meat, fur, show, and pets
Breed Size:	Large
Breed Weight:	Female/Doe: 5.45 kgs Male/Buck: 4.9 kgs
Breed Color(s):	White with black points – recognized by the ARBA England recognizes the white with black points (normal color) they also recognized chocolate, blue and Lilac.
Physical Appearance:	They have a well-rounded commercial type body with a cotton tail, short ears that are rounded at the tips and close together on the head. Their bodies are well muscled, and they have a course not a soft dense coat.
Temperament:	Affectionate, can be quite active, friendly, docile, calm and gentle

BREED CHARACTERISTICS

They Californian rabbit breed has an average lifespan of 5 to 10 years of age.
They are a very active breed that does require exercise and toys and or obstacle to keep them occupied. And a lot of time outside in order to work off their excess energy and keep them healthy.
They have a good-sized litter; the babies grow at a good rate to a marketable age and the females make good mothers with excellent maternal instincts.

Good Pets?	They make great pets for families with children of any ages, singles and also the novice owner/breeder
Child Friendly?	Children should be supervised around animals and properly taught how to look after them and handle them. Rabbits can bite and scratch
Ideal Climate:	All climates – rabbits should never be left outside without proper shelter and housing that must be raised off the ground and predator safe.
Conservation Status:	Not listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Not at risk
Recognized by the ARBA?	Yes
Rabbit Associations/Clubs:	Californian Rabbit Specialty Club, Inc.
Where to buy them?	The Californian Rabbit Specialty Club, Inc. would be the best place to find information pertaining to local breeders and other information that may be required.
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Californian Rabbit breed does resemble the Himalayan rabbit breed as their marking are quite alike. The Himalayan rabbit breed has a longer more cylindrical body type.

It is best to have rabbit hutches have solid floors as they can develop sore hocks. It is also best to check their health regularly especially if they are spending time outside or their hutches are outside as they can easily get fly-strike.

They can seem shy or timid at times, but a bit of affection and attention will go a long way in bringing out their loving, gentle and friendly nature.

Their hutches should be lifted off the ground for protection from both the elements, damp earth, and predators. Their cages should be secure and safe with enough room for the rabbit to be able to stretch their legs and world off their excess energy.

Rabbits do actually like to play and as such enjoy toys such a small ball and various obstacles, they can weave their way in and out of, hop on, over, under, etc.

A healthy diet of fresh fruits, vegetable, rabbit pellets, and fresh good grade hay will go a long way to ensuring that your rabbit stays healthy and live a long happy life.

Hay is a must for rabbits to help ensure their teeth do not get too long. During the rabbit’s weekly health checks always check on the state and length of their teeth. If you are unsure about their teeth or something does not look right about them contact your local vet for advice.

When grooming your rabbit, remember to check their nails as they can be clipped but if you have never done it before it is always best to seek advice on how to do it.

Rabbits can make great companions and may even learn to respond to their names or a command to come to you. It does take patience and consistency to get it right and be sure to remember to reward them well.

HISTORY

The Californian rabbit breed was developed by George West of California in 1923. He wanted to develop the perfect meat breed of rabbit with a desirable dense coat.
He produced the breed by first developing a small chinchilla colored male from breeding Chinchilla rabbits with the Himalayan white rabbit breed.

The buck from the off-spring of the Chinchilla/Himalayan cross was bred with a few other New Zealand rabbits in order to make them bigger in stature. Thus, after many years, the Californian Rabbit came about. George West then sent some of his new breeds to two of breeders he trusted in Southern California and together worked on perfecting this beautiful new breed of rabbit.

The Californian rabbit was shown to the American Rabbit Breeders Associations for the first time at one of its conventions in 1932 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Californian rabbit breed became a recognized breed with the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1939 and given a working standard.

They Californian Rabbit breed is about the second most popular rabbit breed in the United States behind the New Zealand White rabbit breed. They were originally bred for their meat and fur production and are good for commercial production.

They are named after the state in America where they were first bred in, the state of California, United States of America.
The Californian Specialty Club was formed in 1946 and was established in order to better develop the breed in order to make it a good breed for the show table.
Their youth members were recognized by the Californian Specialty Club in 1958 affording the youth member the same privileges as the adults. The club was also the first club to recognize its youth members before any other specialty club.

The Californian Rabbit breed has won the “Best in Show” title four times as American Rabbit Breeders Conventions. The Californian rabbit breed shows with a very high standard as their breeders/members become more and more skilled at breeding the Californian Rabbit breed with a result they are breeding show perfect rabbits that conform to high exhibition standards.