At a glance the quick version
Fur & Feather gives 2.47-3.06 kg; the Wikipedia breed list gives 5-7 lb (2.3-3.2 kg).
Coat and looks how to spot one
short normal fur
A small, erect-eared rabbit that looks like a Chinchilla dressed in blue: the same ticked, shaded chinchilla-style coat, but in soft blue-grey tones instead of slate.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Needs daily time to run, hop and explore, with puzzle feeders, tunnels and toys to keep it busy.3
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short coat needs only occasional brushing. Routine care is mostly regular hands-on checks of coat, nails and teeth plus grooming to keep the coat in good order.23
Home where they are happiest
Needs a secure living area of at least 3m x 2m x 1m with room to hop, stretch, play and hide, plus toys, tunnels and foraging chances for enrichment.3
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Plenty of hay forms the base of the diet and keeps the constantly growing teeth worn down, with fresh leafy greens and a measured portion of good-quality pellets. Carrots are best kept as an occasional treat.3
Company who they like around
A sociable animal that is happiest living with at least one other rabbit; the RSPCA usually rehomes rabbits in pairs.3
The story where it all began
The Squirrel grew out of the Chinchilla in the 1920s, when blue-toned kits were first shown as Blue Chinchillas, and it received a provisional standard in 1928. The original line later died out, but breeders recreated it in the 1980s and it remains an uncommon breed today.1
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Before it had its own name, the Squirrel was shown as the Blue Chinchilla.1
- 2
It received a provisional British standard as early as 1928.1
- 3
After the original line disappeared, enthusiasts brought the breed back in the 1980s.1
- 4
It is recognised in Britain but not by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.2
Recognised by the official bits
- British Rabbit Council
- Recognised; given a provisional standard in 1928 and now looked after by the Rare Varieties Rabbit Club.1
- ARBA
- Not recognised.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Squirrel Rabbit. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily while moultingevery week
- Nail trimevery 6 weeks
- Teeth checkTeeth never stop growingevery week
- Fresh hayUnlimited hay every dayevery day
- Spot cleanevery day
- Full cleanevery week
- Bottom checkCheck the fur around the tail stays clean, especially in summerevery day
- Free roamAt least 4 hours of running space a dayevery day
- VaccinationsSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upevery year
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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.
- Squirrel - Fur & Feather furandfeather.co.ukused for origin, early name, 1928 provisional standard, recreation, colour, weight, club
- List of rabbit breeds - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin (Scotland), weight, BRC/ARBA recognition
- Rabbits - RSPCA rspca.org.ukused for general rabbit care: space, diet, companionship, exercise, grooming
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.