The Angora Rabbit
Originating in Turkey, the Angora rabbit is one of the oldest varieties of domesticated rabbits in the world.
Angora rabbit history
The first historical reference of this rabbit dates back to 100 BC, when French monks began to domesticate wild rabbits. The species became quite popular as pets with the French royalty during the 1700s. By the end of the 18th century the rabbits had already spread to other parts of Europe.
The rabbit’s fur attracted much attention and soon it was discovered that excellent quality fiber could be yarned out of it. This led to a flourishing Angora rabbit breeding business in Europe. Napoleon is said to have owned an Angora farming business.
The Angora rabbit first appeared in the United States during the 1920s. However due to high labor cost, the Angora industry could never really flourish well there. Tests show that Angora wool is 7-8 times warmer than other wools and are known to posses therapeutic qualities.
Angora rabbit appearance
Having a humorous appearance, the Angora rabbit resembles a fur ball. They are calm and docile creatures who need regular grooming. Grooming prevents the fiber from matting and felting. They have a playful personality. They are social animals and enjoy their owner’s attention. They also enjoy playing with toys such as ball or an old glove.
Medical Consideration
A condition named wood block, where the innards become clogged with hair, is common to these rabbits and should be treated carefully. The long fur can cause the rabbit to overheat at times. So maintenance is a must. The average life span of an Angora rabbit is 5-7 years. However, many outdoor rabbits have shorter life span than this.
Breeds of Angora rabbits
The American Rabbit Breeding Association (ARBA) recognizes four different Angora rabbit breeds – the English, the French, the Giant and the Satin. Let us look into them in details.
English: The average weight of the English Angora rabbit ranges from 2-3.5 kilograms. The smallest Angora rabbit breed, this breed is most common as a pet largely because of its teddy bear look. They are gentle in nature. Grooming is very much essential and it requires to be groomed at least twice a week.
French: French Angoras weigh somewhere between 4.5 to 5.5 kilograms. Their entire body is covered with fur except the nose and front teeth. They yield very good quality and require little maintenance. They are bred for dual purpose – meat and fiber. Their dense wool comprises coarse guard hair. French Angoras require low maintenance. Carrying out a blowing program once or twice a week is enough. They are available in a plethora of colors ranging from light shades to solid colors. Their diet consists of fiber, hay and orchard grass. They are known to feed on vegetables and fruits as well.
Giant: Weighing around 4-4.5 kilograms, the giant Angora is the largest Angora rabbit breed recognized by the ARBA. It produces more wool than any of the other breeds. The wool needs to be clipped off every 90 
days in order to prevent ‘wood block’. Like many other ‘giant’ breeds, the giant Angora rather grows slowly.
Satin: One of the most beautiful and yet the least popular of Angora rabbit breeds is the Satin Angora. It is 
derived from a cross between a Satin and French Angora. Compared to the English variety, it can be groomed easily. Satin Angora’s wool has an extremely silky texture. However, it does not produce as much wool as the other Angora rabbit breeds.