Furry Diary

Mini Satin

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Also called Miniature Satin (BRC name), Satinette (original name)

Recognised breedShort profile

From United States. The ARBA breed list gives Ohio; the breed was miniaturised from the Satin, itself a US breed from Indiana.123

At a glance the quick version

Weight1.4 to 2.2 kg4321
Lifespan5 to 8 years43
Sizesmall

PetGuide and Animal Corner give 3-4.5 lb; ARBA maximum 4.75 lb; the UK Miniature Satin is listed at 4-5 lb (1.8-2.3 kg).

Gentle and calm once it knows you
Playful
Eye-catching shiny coat
43

Coat and looks how to spot one

short satin fur with a high sheen on a compact body

A small, rounded, short-coupled rabbit with a full, round head and upright ears. Its short coat carries the satin gene, which gives the fur a glassy, almost metallic shine and a very smooth feel.431

ColoursBlackBlueBrokenChocolateChocolate agoutiCopperChinchillaOpalOtterRedSiameseSilver martenTortoiseWhite (red-eyed)Ivory (BRC)431

Personality what they are like

A mild, easy-going little rabbit that enjoys play and settles happily with familiar people. It can be a bit shy with strangers, so gentle, regular handling from a young age helps it grow confident.43

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Needs daily time out of its enclosure to run and explore; Animal Corner suggests at least three hours of free-roaming exercise a day.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Brush about twice a week with a slicker brush, a little more often during the spring and autumn moults. Do not bathe; spot-clean with a damp cloth if needed.43

Home where they are happiest

Best kept indoors in a solid-floored enclosure with room to sleep, eat and play; Animal Corner gives 24 x 36 inches as a minimum cage size, plus daily exercise space. Spot-clean daily and change bedding weekly.43

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Mostly grass hay (around 70% of the diet), a small daily portion of high-fibre pellets (no more than about a quarter cup for this size), fresh leafy greens and vegetables, the occasional bit of fruit as a treat, and fresh water at all times.43

Company who they like around

Friendly and people-oriented when socialised early; benefits from daily interaction and play time.43

The story where it all began

The full-size Satin began in the 1930s when Walter Huey noticed a shiny-coated mutation in his Havanas. Several breeders tried to shrink the Satin from the 1970s onward, and J. Leo Collins finally succeeded after obtaining a Certificate of Development in 1999, starting with red and white lines. ARBA accepted the breed in 2005 (white first), and many more colours followed.432

Fun facts for the dinner table

  1. 1

    It was originally named the Satinette before becoming the Mini Satin.2

  2. 2

    When ARBA accepted it in 2005 it became the 47th recognised breed, and it was showable in white only at first.2

  3. 3

    Its shine comes from a recessive satin gene that first turned up in a litter of Havana rabbits in the 1930s.3

  4. 4

    In the UK the breed is shown as the Miniature Satin and only in the Ivory colour.1

Recognised by the official bits

ARBA
Recognised in 2005 as the 47th ARBA breed after J. Leo Collins presented it; originally called the Satinette and first accepted in white only. Maximum weight 4.75 lb; 16 showable varieties at the time ARBA's breed page was written. National club: American Satin Rabbit Breeders Association.2
ARBA
PetGuide and Animal Corner date the acceptance of the red-eyed white variety to 2006.4
British Rabbit Council
Recognised as the Miniature Satin, 4-5 lb, in Ivory only.1

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Mini Satin. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.

  1. List of rabbit breeds - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, BRC recognition, UK weight and colour
  2. ARBA - Mini Satin arba.netused for ARBA recognition, max weight, history
  3. The Mini Satin Rabbit - Animal Corner animalcorner.orgused for history, lifespan, care, cage size
  4. Mini Satin Rabbit - PetGuide petguide.comused for weight, lifespan, colours, temperament, care

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.