Why groom your bunny?
Grooming....
Normal & Rex coats
Use a soft-bristled brush for day to day care.
Slicker brushes and cat moulting combs are useful for thick coats.
Try grooming the traditional way: spit on or wet your hands and brush the coat back and forth. Rubber gloves also work!
Long haired rabbits
The entire coat (including armpits, groin and tummy) must be combed or clipped
Outdoor long haired bunnies need weld-mesh wire floors or a thick layer of straw. Rabbits prefer wire floors to woodshavings, and straw best of all. Fix a weld-mesh cover over the litter tray
Don't allow long haired rabbits outside in wet weather
Get help if you are struggling to cope with your rabbit's coat. Rabbit rescue centres and breeders of long haired rabbits will probably be able to help. Some accept rabbits for clipping for a small fee.
Long haired rabbits are not all the same!
Adult Swiss Fox and Cashmere Lops with show quality
"Dougal" coats may only need grooming once per week. But most pet long haired rabbits have coats that tangle easily and require daily grooming.
Worst of the lot are "Woollies". These are rabbits whose normal coated parents carry the recessive long haired gene. They commonly arise in pet litters with a Cashmere lop ancestor. Woolly coats are incredibly difficult to look after even with twice daily grooming. Some experts feel they are better off being put down as soon as they are identified in the nest.
Clipping
Clipping involves a lot of work every 4-6 weeks with less work in between.
Use scissors 2 inches long from pivot to tip. Round bladed scissors are safer, but won't penetrate mats as well as scissors with sharp ends. Rest a comb against the skin as protection. Don't "tent" the skin!
Even if your rabbit's hair is staying long, consider a "sanitary clip" around the vent area . Normal dog clippers clog with rabbit fur. Specially adapted blades are available, but expensive!
If your outside rabbit is clipped in cold weather, bring him indoors or provide a bunny-proofed heat lamp.
Grooming
Start with a wide-toothed comb. When you've done the whole bunny, repeat with a fine toothed comb. Finish with a flea comb between the ears, round the vent, under the chin, and in the armpits.
You can't keep a long haired bunny tangle free with a soft brush. The top may look lovely, but there may be a matted mess underneath.
Metal-toothed slicker brushes are effective, but can scratch - take care!
Cat moulting combs are great at removing dead undercoat.
Mats should be teased out with the fingers or cut off. Combs with revolving teeth work well .
Once you have a well groomed rabbit, try blowing the hair (hair dryer on cool) once a week to speed up grooming sessions. Tease out tangles with your fingers.
Tricky bits
Step up the grooming when bunny starts to moult. Pluck out loose hair; and watch the droppings closely. If they become small and hard seek veterinary help.
Young long haired rabbits can be a nightmare to keep tangle free: clip off the baby coat and keep the coarser adult coat groomed as it appears.
Neutering may alter the coat. Previously easy-coated long haired rabbits may become woolly and difficult to groom.
Handling for grooming
Make sure the rabbit is well supported and feels secure. Sit on the floor and use your knees to help hold the rabbit!
Touching the chin, genital area and tummy often causes struggling, and rabbit skin is delicate and easy to tear. You will need help until your rabbit learns to tolerate being groomed.
Unhandled rabbits may find the whole process so distressing they have to be de-matted under sedation or general anaesthetic.
Introduce grooming into your routine as soon as possible - short sessions at first, and reward your bunny with a favourite treat if he keeps still.