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American Fuzzy Lop

The Fuzzy Lop, Fuzzy, AFL

Family: LeporidaeOryctolagus cuniculusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Arifa Khursheed

   The American Fuzzy Lop rabbit is a snuggly little bunny that reminds us of a teddy bear!

   The American Fuzzy Lops generally have wonderful personalities and like many of the lop rabbits, they love to be cuddled! They have wonderful personalities and are also great for showing. They are furry and cute and can be very loving and affectionate.

   This bunny is considered a good first rabbit for new owners. Both males and females are very sweet and make excellent pets though females can sometimes be a bit more shy and skittish. Females can especially be nervous with loud noises and fast movements.

   True to their name they do have long fuzzy coats. They will need some regular grooming, generally once a week for an adult. Babies will need grooming more often until they get their adult coats at about six months.

For more information about Rabbits and their care see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Rabbit

Background:     The American Fuzzy Lop originated from the Holland Lop. There are a couple of suggestions as to how this bred developed. One idea is that this a genetic fault in the Holland Lop where occasionally a long haired Holland Lop results. Another idea is that an occasional long haired Holland Lop is a result of much earlier breeding attempts between the Holland Lop and the Angora, so some Holland Lops could be carrying the the necessary gene to produce long hair. Either way, long haired Holland Lops were bred together to create the American Fuzzy Lop which became a recognized breed in 1988.

Description:    The American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit is a small, round, wooly rabbit weighing up to about three and a half to four pounds. They have short wide faces, short lopped ears, and long fur.

Color differences:    The American Fuzzy Lop Rabbits come in a variety of colors and patterns. Several groups of colors include: agouti, broken, pointed white, self, shaded and solid. There are 19 recognized show colors.

Lastest Comments on American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit View all 35 comments on American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit Add Your Comment

Hayley - 2012-01-21 I just got a fuzzy lop. She is a little over 3 months old. When they (breeders) dropped the doe off with the buck, one of the bucks owners put her into the wrong cage. They wanted to breed Holland Lops. Well, it was some time till they realized 3 of the litter of 8 were fuzzy lops. As a result of being in the nest box with her brothers and sisters; her fur us horribly matted. I have used slicker brushes, and dematting combs; but I don't seem to be making a difference. She isn't a big fan of the brushing so I try to do frequent short brushings. I'm concerned that the mats are going to start causing her problems. This is my first rabbit and I've read that their skin is so delicate it can be easily torn just by brushing. If anyone has advice I would be thankful! Also, has anyone ever heard of shaving them? The mats are all connecting into one huge mass; poor thing can't really do much with them. Clarice Brough - 2012-01-21 When rabbits develop a matted coat, it can take several grooming sessions to get the matting out by carefully separating and combing small portions at a time, being careful not to pull the skin. It's not a good idea to use scissors to cut them out as it's easy to get the skin. You can also take your bunny to a groomer, to have the mats taken out. Erin - 2012-02-12 I am a groomer and the way I would do it is very carefully, talking to her soothingly. Take breaks if need be. Use a mat comb if you can ( you can sometimes get them a farm or pet stores and online). It is a tool that is basically a comb but it has razors that break up the mat. Also you can someone help you hold your bunny and shave it, but I don't know how the hair would grow back in. You would need to let your bunny get use to the clippers before attempting to shave and also be careful not to cut her. Mats are incredibly painful. They will keep getting worse if you don't get them out. If you are not comfortable doing yourself you can talk to a vet or a groomer. PLEASE do not use scissors! You can and possibly will cut the skin. linda - 2012-03-08 me love bunnies Reply

Susan - 2011-08-21 Got a question, got a baby lop-eared yesterday, want to litterbox train him. Put a small blanket in also. Well he's pooping on the blanket so we took it out and SLEEPING and pooping in the litterbox.. We praise him for pooping but take him off the litterbox when he goes to sleep and he goes right back. HELP? What do we do to train him so that we can take him out to run around and play? Charlie Roche - 2011-08-22 They do this for awhile - the litter box is their hidey hole also. If you have ever brought a kitten home or moved your cat, they hide under the bed, in the closet wherever they can hide for over a week at times. They gradually venture out - maybe a foot then two feet and then finally cover a room - returning to the litter box to sleep by it or in a bunnies case to sleep in it. Slowly but surely your bunny will learn the home and the ins and outs and will not just stay in the box. Don't move the box (as this is where he is going which is 1000% of the battle and training) and if you pick him up and play with him - then return him sitting beside the box or at least in the same room. Gradually add some times and his food and water - close to the box and you should be going great. Bunny needs to find his own way around and the ins and outs of the home. Susan - 2011-08-22 First of all, thank you for your reply. Few more questions if you don't mind. We have a 6 year old boy bunny in a cage outside. He was very very small when my husband got him and he had to bottle feed etc.. now he( thumper) is great outside. Plays in the yard with other animals- is awesome) But this new baby(Charlie) may likely be a dwarf and need to stay in. Soo, the thing is, he's in a large cage inside, lots of room- small litter box on one side, food and water opposite side- Do we need to only put food in ever so often or leave it in,? and as i said, he poops everywhere- food bowl, litter box, all over- Will he instinctively eventually go on his own to the litter box or do we have to do specific things for him to learn??? And the books say they tend to use the bathroom in one area of their cage, he doesn't.. Sorry for all the questions, we are just at a loss on what is best for him and we want to train him so that he can spend most of his time indoors.. Thank you again.. Charlie Roche - 2011-08-22 Couple things. Little bunnies are like little kids - by the time they realize they have to go - sometimes they already did it. They will learn better control. Second, the cage might be too small to house all this and the bunny thinks the whole cage is the litter. If the bunny is in the laundry room or pen - relatively safe place - you can put newspapers down under the litterbox. Food water several feet seaparate from box. Bunny goes on paper and just rip paper up and place in litter. That way the bunny isn't going everywhere and learns to go in litter box - just for the one purpose. If in a small hutch - they don't really learn - the small hutch is a safe place to go. His sleepy hidey place with blanket away from the litter. Cut out card board box is fine with his blanket but away from litter. Close enough that it takes a few hops but not so close as to confuse the bunny. Second anything that the bunny has gone potty on is a safe litter spot. Remove the scent - vinegar is good for this. Next - I had 7 muntjack deer and all used a litter box - 1000% accurate all the time - little different but similar. My daughter had 6 then 8 then 11 bunnies - they mutiplied and they all use the litter box. Most are indorr around the house bunnies also. She has them (except for 1) all indoor/outdoor. She put bunch of hutches, tubes, houses and dog houses etc together and enclosed all with fence. Looks like a kids puzzle box - but the bunnies seem to know it. They play around in about 1/2 acre/ plenty of warm places for winter and hutch with open door leading into doggy door onto the porch. Litter on the enclosed porch. Several freely roam the home and use the litter and when they feel like it go outside. She also has 13 birds, 2 dogs, 2 cats +++++ Home is spotless so it must work. With the deer, I had initially just litter in the laundry room and they slept for some reason in the master closet - all of them. I thought they should run around more so built a doggy door in laundry room and taught them to go in and out - yes I did go out the doogy door. They would initially all run in to use the litter. Food - hays / grasses should be avaiable at all times. Vegetables - they pretty much eat right away but those should be removed after a few hours as bacteria sets in. So food (grasses and hays and water should be avaiaible at all times). I think setting up a separate sleepy safe place for bunny will help, also. Cardboard box cut down - it doesn't have to be fancy. Small hutch with wire bottom - that is difficult to work with cuz scent is all over and only sleepy place is the litter. Reply

madison - 2010-07-07 I'm buying an American fuzzy lop what do I need to expect? bella - 2011-02-26 Well, I have not owned a fuzzy american lop, but I am sure you can buy a rabbit handbook at a local pet shop for cheap. Hope I helped, Bella Reply

Nikolle - 2010-10-28 Are you supposed to pet them backwards?? Agrippa - 2011-02-17 My American Lop loves to be petted backwards, but I always make sure to finish by petting the right way to reduce her need to groom. Reply

rose - 2010-05-18 Yesterday I bought an American Fuzzy Lop named Mr. Floppers. He is 6 weeks old and by far the most friendly rabbit I have ever had! And so cute! Hannah - 2010-07-18 You shouldn't ever buy a bunny that is less that 8 weeks old because they aren't properly weaned yet, and can get sick. So please please, be careful and take your bunny to the vet, and get him checked out. For the safety of your animal. [not criticizing just trying to help :] ] maddie - 2010-12-31 Where did you get him? Reply

Nikolle - 2010-10-28 Are you supposed to pet them backwards?? Reply

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