Normal fur or Satin fur?

[funnybunnymummy]

When I first got Gus (about 5 months ago),I thought he had regular fur (heck, I thought he was an English Spot!), but since he's started moulting (in December), his furseems to be changing. It's now much, much shinier, especially on his face and feet. His body isn't super shiny, but it does have a kind of shimmer to it that I never noticedbefore, especially in the sun.

The thought did cross my mind that maybe he had satinized fur, but after asking about it here, I just chalked it up to a healthier diet and more exercise. But then yesterday, when he was outside in the sunshine,his fur (especially on his face!) was practically sparkling! I tried to get some pics with my camera, but they just don't do it justice.

So is it possible Gus has Satin fur (and thus is a Satin rabbit) and I just didn't notice tillrecently? Or can regular rabbit fur sparkle in the sun too?

I've been looking at pics of Satin rabbits on the internet(including the two I know of here: Shino and Chaucer) and he does seem tobe builtlike a Satin, but his fur just doesn't lookas shinyas theirs seems to in their pictures.

What do you guys think?

Oh, and here's a picture of him in regular indoor lighting (his fur looksmore ivory than white indoors):

Thanks!

Rue

 

[funnybunnymummy]

And now I'm looking at him again, and I'm thinking, "Nah. He's totally got normal fur. Can't be satinized. He's just never really shiny . . . unless he's out in thebrilliant sunshine, of course!"

Rue

 

[pamnock]

You might be seeing a coat with a brilliant luster rather than an actual hollow satinized hair shaft.

However, yes it is possible for a rabbit with santinized fur to appear very dull, then molt out into a definite satin coat.

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Thanks, Pam.

Lustrous seems about what his fur looks like in "regular" light (indoors and not in direct sunlight outdoors). So I was sure it was just his improved diet, etc. that was making him look so much more "shiny." But then the way his fur was sparkling yesterday . . . it looked just like glass! That's what brought me back to wondering about Satin fur.

I'm thinking I should send some of his hair to school with my son to check under a microscope. Then I'll know 100% for certain and will stop wondering!

Thanks again!

Rue