Californian rabbit
The Californian is a white meat rabbit with dark ears, nose, feet and tail, weighing 8–10½ lb. It is one of the two standard meat breeds: Penn State ranks it second only to the New Zealand White. It is short-coated and shown in all 50 states, so stock and advice are easy to find.
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
- Space needed
- 6.25 sq ft
Is the Californian right for you?
Good fit if
- You want a proven meat breed: Penn State ranks it second only to the New Zealand White
- You plan to cross with New Zealand does. Texas A&M says Californian bucks can improve fryer meat yield
- You want a breed with a show scene in every state
Poor fit if
- You want a choice of colours: there is one variety
- Your rabbits would sit in a hot yard with no shade
- You only have room for a small cage. Adults need about 30 × 30 in
Appearance and varieties
A Californian is white all over except for its ears, nose, feet and tail, which are dark grey or black. There is only one variety.
It was bred as a meat rabbit, and Texas A&M describes the build that goes with that: broad shoulders and a meaty back and hips. ARBA's maximum weight is 10½ lb. It is shown in six classes.417
Production numbers
What to expect from a healthy doe. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Litter size | 7–10 kits23 | Commercial meat rabbits in general: Penn State says 8–10, Texas A&M says 7–8 |
| Fryer weight | About 5 lb at about 10 weeks2 | Commercial meat breeds in general |
| Litters per year | About 52 | With kits weaned at about 30 days |
| Gestation | 31–32 days on average26 | ARBA gives a typical range of 28–32 days |
| First breeding age | 6–7 months2 | Medium-weight breeds; bucks mature about a month later than does |
| Doe's productive life | 2–3 years at full litter size2 | |
| Crossbreeding | Californian bucks on New Zealand White does improve fryer meat yield3 |
Planning a litter? Use the rabbit gestation calculator.
Housing, feed and health
Housing
Penn State recommends an individual cage at least 30 in wide, 30 in deep and 20 in high for each mature buck or doe, in all-metal wire with a feeder and waterer fixed to the outside. Put a nest box in the doe's cage 28 days after breeding.
Penn State stresses that rabbits don't tolerate temperature extremes well. ARBA gives 55–70°F as the ideal range and says rabbits do poorly above 85°F, so give shade and moving air in summer.26
Feed
Penn State says a commercial pellet meets all of a rabbit's needs. Bucks, and does without litters, need 6–8 oz of pellets a day. Pregnant does and does with litters should have all they can eat.
Give fresh, clean water every day. A doe and her litter drink about 1 gallon a day in warm weather.2
Health
Penn State lists cleanliness, good ventilation, close observation and protection from sun and rain as the basics of a healthy herd, and names a respiratory disease caused by Pasteurella as a serious cause of losses in does. Keep new or sick rabbits in separate cages away from the rest.
Summer heat is a risk. Alabama Extension says rabbits don't cope well above 90°F and in high humidity, and that heat can make bucks sterile and stop does breeding.
This is a starting point, not medical advice. If a rabbit stops eating or seems unwell, call a vet who treats rabbits, or your county extension office.29
Similar breeds
| Breed | Adult weight | Litter size | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Californian (this breed) | 8–10.5 lb | 7–10 kits | ||
| New Zealand | 9–12 lb | |||
| Florida White | 4–6 lb |
Head to head: New Zealand vs Californian
History
George West developed the Californian in Southern California in the 1920s. Texas A&M dates the finished rabbit to 1923 and says it came out of experimental crossbreeding aimed at a meat rabbit with a good dressing percentage.
The breed club records that the first Californian was shown at South Gate, California in 1928, and that the breed first appeared at an ARBA Convention in Pittsburgh in 1932. It was given a working standard in 1939. The specialty club was organised in 1946, and ARBA accepted a new standard at the Long Beach Convention in 1949.1410
Common questions
How big do Californian rabbits get?
ARBA's maximum weight is 10½ lb. Penn State gives a mature weight of 8–11 lb.12
Are Californian rabbits good for meat?
Yes. Penn State says medium-weight New Zealand Whites are best for meat, followed by Californians. Fryers of commercial meat breeds are usually processed at about 5 lb, at around 10 weeks.2
Californian or New Zealand for meat?
Penn State ranks the New Zealand White first and the Californian second. Texas A&M says the New Zealand White's weak point is lower carcass dress-out and less meat for its bone, and that Californian or Champagne d'Argent bucks on New Zealand White does can improve fryer meat yield.23
What colour is a Californian rabbit?
White, with dark grey or black ears, nose, feet and tail. ARBA lists only one variety.47
How long do Californian rabbits live?
No lifespan figure here is specific to Californians. Utah State University Extension says pet rabbits in general live 8 to 14 years. In a breeding herd, Penn State says a good doe produces full-sized litters for 2 to 3 years.112
Where do Californian rabbits come from?
Southern California. George West developed the breed there in the 1920s, and it was first shown at South Gate, California in 1928.110
What is the difference between a Californian and a Himalayan rabbit?
Size and use, mainly. Penn State lists the Californian as a medium meat breed of 8–11 lb and the Himalayan as a small breed of 2–6 lb.2
Is there a mini Californian rabbit?
Yes. ARBA's breed ID guide lists the Mini Californian as a separate breed, shown in four classes.7
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, Recognized breeds: Californian.
- Penn State Extension, Rabbit Production.
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Backyard Production of Meat Rabbits in Texas (E-138).
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Rabbit Project Reference Manual (AS 2.010, April 2000).
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, hosted by University of New Hampshire Extension, ARBA Recommendations for the Care of Rabbits and Cavies.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, ARBA Official Breed ID Guide: Rabbit (updated January 2026).
- The Livestock Conservancy, Conservation Priority List.
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Summer Heat and Rabbit Production, UNP-0082 (PDF).
- National Californian Rabbit Specialty Club, Cal history.
- Utah State University Extension, Pet Rabbit Projects: Getting Started (PDF).
Something wrong? Tell us and we'll check it.