The French Lop Rabbit: Lopping Mad Guide

What is a French lop rabbit?

Yep, though most of us think of the lopped ear bunny as a super-cute pet, people in the past loved to chow down on the tender meat! Nowadays (thankfully) French lop rabbits are renowned in the rabbit world as show bunnies and great pets, thanks to their cutesie appearance and benevolent temperament.

What do French lops look like?

French Lop rabbits are instantly recognizable. A bunny with floppy ears, they possess a medium to large-sized body and a large head to match, thanks to their Butterfly rabbit genes. The English lop rabbit gene bestowed those OMG cute floppy lop ears that make them simply adorable (not to mention super popular as pets!). Those famous rabbit ears hang down the side of the bunny’s face like a good size set of bangs, measuring 5 to 8 inches long, with the original English lop having slightly shorter ears than it’s French relatives. These gorgeous, long, floppy ears are what make the French lop rabbit so sweet, pretty, and appealing.

Their bodies are typically quite thick and compact, with stumpy, short front legs which are parallel to the body, and a large, open face with a wide nose. Their chubby cheeks give them an angelic, cherub-like look with a total vibe of ‘Who? Me? I did not eat those carrots!’.

The average weight of an 8 month + old French lop rabbit is roughly 11 to 11.5lb for a male and female French lop rabbit respectively.

What’s the coat of a French lop rabbit like?

Another reason the French Lop rabbit is so popular amongst pet owners is their fluffier-than-thou coats. Usually, the French lop rabbit will have a solid-colored coat with minimal or no markings. You can find French lop rabbits in a variety of colors, with the most typical being gray, blue, black, brown, and white. Their fur is short, dense, and super soft. Simply stroking your French lop rabbit can induce a calming feeling, thanks to the softness of their coats and their easy-going personalities.

How to look after your French lop rabbit:

Of course, with any great rabbit comes great responsibility. While lop rabbits are typically rather low maintenance (in comparison to, say, a pony), they nonetheless require commitment, love, and care. Before you go ahead with acquiring your French lop rabbit, ensure you have the time and money to properly care for your new bundle of fluff.

Finding the perfect home for your French lop

French lops are rather on the large end of the scale when it comes to rabbits. As such, they’ll need an appropriately sized cage. When you’re shopping for your new rabbit cage, try to find one that’s no smaller than 36″ by 24″ in terms of floor space, with a solid, non-wired floor. Your French lop rabbit needs to be able to fully stand up in his/her cage, and able to stretch out completely. If in doubt, always go for a larger size rather than one that seems a little small. Remember, your French lop rabbit will be sleeping and eating in there!

Speaking of food, here is our article on the best rabbit food available. Please check that out and make sure your bunny gets the best food out there.

Due to their large size, it has been recommended by experts that French lop rabbit owners place large, ceramic floor tiles which have been frozen on the floor of the hutch. This is easy to do yourself, and your rabbit will truly thank you for their new in-house coolant system! This method is preferable to using frozen water bottles to keep your French lop rabbit cool, as the latter tends to create condensation. This, in turn, will make your French lop a little damp, and more than a little uncomfortable.

Feng Shui for your furry friend

Okay, you won’t need to employ an interior designer for the inside of your French lop rabbit hutch. However, you must make sure that the inside of your hutch is padded and comfortable for the feet of your rabbit. The same padding (think straw, sawdust, or hay) can be used as bedding. Ideally, you’ll want to lay down between 5″ and 6″ inches of padding down for your French lop, with a little more if your bunny is on the larger side. It’s certainly a good idea to create a hiding place for your French lop to retreat to if he or she is feeling a little introverted or nervous. French lops are hugely sociable creatures, but, like humans, they need their down-time too!

Grooming tips

French lop rabbits are fairly easy to care for when it comes to their grooming needs. A little brush once a week should be sufficient in taming any matted fur. That said, matted fur is unlikely in French lops, as their coats are so soft and sleek. However, to be on the safe side, schedule in a few minutes for a quick brush during the week.

Do French lops shed?

French lops, similarly to other rabbits, will shed their baby fur around the age of 5 months. After this, they tend to shed their coats twice annually, around Spring and Autumn. They’ll molt from anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks, and during this time you’ll want to brush them a little more frequently. Set some time aside twice or three times each week in Spring and Autumn to brush any molting fur away.

How long do giant lop rabbits live?

Before you get confused, French lop rabbits are commonly referred to as giant lop rabbits. They’re a large rabbit, and typically weigh over 11lb, which is the minimum weight requirement for a rabbit to be considered ‘giant’.

So, these bunnies with floppy ears have an average lifespan of 5 years, although in some cases they can live until 6 or 7 years of age. So, remember kids, your French lop rabbit is not a short-term commitment!

Are French lop rabbits good pets?

If this is your first time considering adding a French lop rabbit to your household, of course, you’ll want to know if they make good pets. Well, good news. The French lop rabbit is renowned for its amiable, friendly, and calm personality (along with those amazing lop bunny ears, of course!). After a little research, you’ll find they’re super easy to care for, too.

So, put simply, yes. The French lop rabbit is known to be a great little pet for all these reasons! A little word of warning, however: due to their large size, the French lop rabbit is more suitable for a home with older children and adults, rather than very small children. Toddlers and young children can sometimes overhandle rabbits. So, if you’ve got tiny people in your home, encourage them to be gentle and considerate of their new French lop rabbit, for everyone’s benefit.