Hairless animals aren’t that unusual. Sometimes it’s the norm for a specific species — like the naked mole-rat — or for a member of a furrier species with a condition like alopecia. Opinions may differ on how cute we think they are, but we’re definitely used to seeing them.
But until I stumbled across Mr. Bigglesworth on Instagram, I had never seen a hairless rabbit.
I mean, it makes sense that they would exist. Pretty much any creature with hair or fur — humans included — have the occasional example of too little or too much hair.
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As I learned more about this special bunbun, I realized that there’s a reason we don’t see them very often.
Hairless bunnies are born when both parents have a copy of a specific gene called the “ff gene.”
When that happens, almost every litter will have a hairless baby among the kits.
Sadly, they don’t live very long. Most hairless bunnies don’t survive longer than a few weeks, due to the mutation causing other health issues.
When a woman named Cassandra saw a listing from a local breeder selling bunnies, she was curious about the one not for sale.
Having never heard of a hairless rabbit, she called the breeder out of curiosity, and was told that she could just have the bunny for free.
Due to their health issues, hairless rabbits are not saleable and the breeder usually euthanizes them.
Cassandra picked him up the next day, naming him Mr. Bigglesworth.
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because he was named after the hairless cat in the Austin Powers movies.
Since hairless rabbits are so rare, Cassandra was unable to find much information online about his condition.
Desperate, she created him an Instagram account hoping that someone with knowledge would see him and reach out.
And boy, did people see him.
In the two years since, Mr. Bigglesworth has gained a sizeable following online.
Other owners of similar rabbits have also reached out, allowing more knowledge to be shared about these rare buns and how to care for them.
They’re proving that being different doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have a long life full of love.
To see more of Mr. Bigglesworth, follow him on Instagram @mrbigglesworthrabbit .
