The first Mini Cashmere Lop was shown to the "fancy" in 1992. This was a pretty little Black Fox buck called Ricardo. However it was to be many more years before the breed was accepted. Jane Bramley, the owner of Upton Lops, wrote the original standard and bred the original Miniature Cashmere Lops in the late eighties at the same time as the first show quality Mini Lops had been created there.
However, due to the complicated nature of the acceptance procedure for new breeds and colours and the popularity of the Mini Lop, the standard for the Mini Cashmere was pushed aside for a period of time. Also during this time, Jane suffered serious health problems and was even confined to a wheelchair for a time.
A fellow fancier took up the publicity for the breed, but it wasn't until Jane became Secretary of the National Cashmere Lop Club that further pushes were made to gain British Rabbit Council approval for the breed. Hence it was to be after the turn of the new millennium before this lovely little breed was accepted and at first it was only in a strange collection of colours. However, today the breed is enjoying an upsurge in popularity and since it is now allowed in all colours of its larger cousin, one can only imagine the numbers it could achieve at shows.
Upton Lops has renewed its careful breeding, from the original lines, of these beautiful little rabbits and more will be seen of the Mini Cashmere from this stud in the very near future. 2002 saw limited show appearances but even then several Best of Breeds were achieved with a couple of little does "Chilli" and "Salsa" on their few outings. Their babies are now showing huge potential. Similar to its larger cousin, the Mini Cashmere is not sold by this stud into the pet retail chain.
However, pets are sometimes available to carefully selected and educated homes. These new homes are provided with full instructions on the care of the long coat, although they are surprisingly easy to maintain. The soft, juvenile coats are the more time consuming but once the adult coat is achieved, these rabbits require only a few minutes a week for their grooming, except during a moult.
