Cashmere Lop

The cashmere lop is a long-coated lopped domestic rabbit that developed in Britain from long-haired youngsters appearing in dwarf lop lines during the late twentieth century. It keeps the compact, round-headed lop outline, with broad dropped ears and a dense coat that is longer and softer than normal rabbit fur but generally shorter and less woolly than an Angora's fleece. Many colors and patterns are seen, depending on the registry, including agouti, chinchilla, self colors, shaded colors, and broken markings. In show settings the coat should fall naturally and have enough density to frame the body without hiding poor type.

Coat care is the main reason this breed is not a low-maintenance first rabbit. Juveniles pass through a stage when the coat can mat quickly, so regular grooming and checking behind the ears, around the tail, and under the chest are important. Adults may be easier, but they still need gentle combing during molts to reduce swallowed hair. Cashmere lops also need the usual rabbit basics: a hay-led diet, safe exercise, cool housing, and nail and dental monitoring. Breeders select strongly for coat texture and manageable density, not only length, because an over-heavy coat can make welfare and presentation harder.