Rabbit Grooming: Moulting, Mats and Nail Trims
Rabbits cannot vomit, so loose fur has to come off with a brush, not a tongue.
Rabbits groom themselves constantly and swallow a lot of fur doing it. Unlike cats, they cannot bring it back up, so brushing is a genuine health measure rather than a cosmetic one.
Moulting
Rabbits moult roughly every three months, and some do it in dramatic patches. During a heavy moult, brush daily with a soft slicker or a rubber grooming mitt. Plucking loose tufts gently by hand is often more effective than any brush. Keep hay intake high — fibre is what moves swallowed fur through the gut.
Mats
- Never cut a mat out with scissors. Rabbit skin is tissue-paper thin and tears instantly.
- Tease mats apart with fingers or a mat splitter, or ask a rabbit-savvy vet or groomer to clip them.
- Long-haired breeds need daily attention or they mat to the skin.
Nails
Trim every four to six weeks. Shine a torch behind pale nails to find the quick. Have a helper hold the rabbit securely on a non-slip surface, and do a couple of nails at a time rather than fighting through all eighteen.
Never bath a rabbit
Full baths cause shock and can be fatal. Spot-clean a dirty bottom with a damp cloth and find out why it is dirty — usually diet or obesity.
