Rabbit Shedding and How to Deal With Excessive Fur

Rabbits shed a lot, which can be quite a surprise if you’re a first-time rabbit owner.  

Rabbits shed their coats to help them prepare for changes in the weather. It’s a big part of how they regulate their body temperature! 

Several factors signal to a rabbit’s brain when it’s time to shed its coat, including sunlight and the temperature in its surroundings. 

Most rabbits will have two big shedding seasons per year in spring and autumn to prepare them for summer and winter. 

They usually also have a couple of other periods of shedding each year where they shed less than during the ‘big shedding seasons’. 

Shedding periods are often up to 6 weeks long and can be around 3 months apart. 

The months they shed depend on when the temperature changes where you live.

Baby rabbits (known as kits or kittens) have soft fluffy coats. 

As they reach around 5 to 6 months old, the baby coat will be replaced with a transitional coat.  You won’t see much shedding around this time.

Over the next year as the rabbit fully reaches adulthood, their transitional coat will be replaced with their adult coat. This is when you’ll start to see the adult shedding seasons.

Some rabbits can become quite grumpy and change their behavior slightly when they’re molting.  

As long as there are no other signs of ill health, this is not anything to worry about.

Why Is My Rabbit Shedding All Year Round?

Lack of natural sunlight indoors Different temperatures indoors Genetic issues

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Why Does My Rabbit Have a Shaggy Coat During Shedding?

While a rabbit is shedding their fur, it can often look quite shaggy with an uneven coat. Don’t worry, this is normal and to be expected! 

A rabbit can also get ‘stuck in molt’ which means they haven’t shed all of their old fur before the new fur starts to grow.  You will need to help them get rid of the old coat by brushing them!

Sometimes the old coat and new coat underneath can be slightly different colors. You may see darker skin where the new coat is growing. 

You might even see a line of fur known as a shed line, where you can see both the old and new coats. 

Why Is My Bunny Shedding So Much?

It can look like a lot of fur is being shed, especially when it’s flying around your house and getting on everything. However, most rabbit shedding is normal and is nothing to worry about.

Can I Stop My Rabbit From Shedding?

Shedding is a natural process and one that helps to keep your rabbit healthy, so you can’t stop them from shedding. 

Sometimes a large amount of shedding isn’t normal for your rabbit and can be a sign of a health issue. This is referred to as excess shedding. 

Signs of Excess Shedding

Bald patches Dry skin Dandruff Inflammation Sores Itching Changes in behavior

Causes Of Excess Shedding 

Fleas Mites Ringworm Urine scald Saliva burn Skin infection  Overgrooming

Can Rabbits Get Hairballs?

Yes, rabbits can get hairballs! Rabbits can’t vomit, so there’s no way for them to get rid of this blockage, meaning it can cause serious issues. 

Click on the bunny below to find out how to prevent hairballs!

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When rabbits are heavily shedding, you should ideally brush them daily. If they’re going through a lighter shedding season, brushing them once or twice a week is plenty.

You should brush your rabbit gently, as they have sensitive skin.  Use a good quality brush or grooming glove and ensure you get down to the skin to remove the shed undercoat. 

How To Reduce The Impact of Shedding

Vacuum often Brush your rabbit often Wear a mask during grooming Don’t allow rabbit access to bedroom or kitchen Clean fan blades Use air purifier Clean AC and heater filters Use lint brushes/rollers 

When a rabbit sheds it’s a natural process that is necessary for them to maintain their body temperature and stay healthy.

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