Angora Rabbit

One of the oldest groups of domestic rabbit breeds, bred for the long fibers of its coat, known as Angora wool, gathered by shearing, combing or plucking. It originated in Ankara, historically called Angora, in Turkey, was introduced to France in 1723 and became fashionable among French royalty by the mid-eighteenth century, spreading across Europe by the century's end and reaching the United States in the early twentieth century, where wartime demand during the Second World War expanded domestic production to more than 54,000 kilograms a year. Angora wool is exceptionally fine, measuring 14 to 16 micrometers in diameter, comparable in softness to cashmere, and grows about one inch a month, requiring regular grooming to prevent matting and felting that can cause discomfort and infection. At least 11 distinct Angora rabbit breeds exist, four of them officially recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, the English, French, Giant and Satin varieties, and beyond wool the animals are also kept as pets, though their grooming needs make them demanding companions.