Cashmere Lops
The Cashmere Lop
THE LOVELY CASHMERE LOP
I have kept Cashmere Lops since January 2001 and have been working on my current line seven years this September. This website is facing a much needed update to give you more information about the stunning breed that is the CASHMERE LOP - STAY TUNED!!
One of the facts about the Cashmere Lop is their stunning coats. Amongst popular belief a good adult coat will not need much grooming. From my experience now I have found that Cashmere Lops will need the most grooming when they are youngsters as they are still developing their correct adult coat (see grooming guide). Cashmere Lops are standardised in a variety of colours, so there is plenty to chose from and I would advise choosing colours that are compatible with each other from first starting up (see Phil Batey's fantastic website at http://www.miniaturelops.com for genetic information). The Cashmere Lop wears the ring size D. If you are thinking about breeding/showing Cashmere Lops contact the National Cashmere Lop Club http://www.thebrc.org for more information and advice. Remember do not rush into buying loads of Cashmere Lops and than finding out the colours you have chosen are incorportable or finding out that you can not cope with the grooming (although a good coat should not need much grooming but than you always have moult etc) as that is a recipe for disaster.
I also have another website on Cashmere Lops but I rarely update it as most of the information from that site is now on here:
http://cashmincal.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/
Showing Cashmere Lops
To show Cashmere Lops you will need to make up/purchase some wire trays to fit in the show pens (cages) . The show pens measure 18''. There are a number of ways that you can construct trays but I recommend that you make two smaller trays rather than one large tray, as I have found some pens vary in size.
You can buy trays from the National Cashmere Lop Club and Avondale Hutches at http://www.avondaleanimalhousing.co.uk/
Before the show carefully groom out your Cashmere Lop to get out any small tangles and check that you Cashmere Lop is clean. At the show arrive in plenty of time to groom out your Cashmere Lop/s and sort the pen out. REMEMBER NOT TO FORGET YOUR TRAYS!
I recommend that you purchase travelling boxes that have wire trays built in at the bottom (they can sometimes be verstile and fit in the show pen as well!) to stop your Cashmere Lop getting messed up on the journey there. If not just fit a tray at the bottom of your travelling boxes.
At the show give your Cashmere Lop the once over and check for any mess that they might have trod in overnight and check for any tangles that you may have missed. Once you have done that settle your Cashmere Lop in into their pen and wait for judging to commence.
For more indepth information on shows, please go onto my page about showing
I would like to thank UPTON LOPS for their help, stock and advice, Thanks Jane!!
I would also like to thank Ruskin & Kalian Stud for their help with supplying stock! Thank you all!
Thanks all!
In the group below, you can ask questions relating to Cashmere Lops.
Cashmere Lop Breed Standard
Ring Size D
Body and Condition: 30 points
Head, Ears and Crown: 30 points
Coat: 30 points
Colour: 10 points
Body and Condition
Short compact and strongly muscled with well-rounded loins and broad shoulders giving a compact appearance. The legs should be short, strong and straight. The maximum weight is 5 1/4 bs (2.381 kg) and the miniumum is 4 lbs (1.81kg). The ideal is 4 lbs 12 ozs (1.81kg).
Head, Ears and Crown
The head should be strong, bold and broad with well-developed cheeks. There should be no visible neck. The ears are broad, thick, well furred and rounded at the ends. They are carried close to the cheeks givng a horseshoe like shape when viewed from the front. The inside of the ears should not be visible from any angle when carried correctly. The Crown which is the basal ridge of each ear, should be prominant accross the top of the skull. The eyes should be bold and bright.
Coat
Fur is dense, even and silky with plenty of undercoat approximently 3.81 to 5.08 cm (1.1/2 inches to 2 inches) long and should not be woolley, matted or felted. The topcoat is longer and heavier than the undercoat with plenty of guard hairs hanging down naturally. Evenness is more important than length.
Faults
White hairs in solid colors and white toe nails in coloured exhibits.
Disqualifications
Over kgs 2.381 (5 1/4 lb) Adults under 1.81 (4lbs) Waviness in coat. Maloclussion, Deformities
Grooming
The combs I use for my Cashmere Lops are :
~one with moving wires (for dogs)
~one of different length wires
~ a small comb for those small areas (new photos to come)
To start of with, turn your Cashmere Lop over (I tend to put my cashies on my lap as it find it easier that way than standing up and grooming) and groom around the vent area, as I have found this area needs the most grooming at times and I use one of my smaller combs to do this. I blow into the coat as this will show whether or not an area needs work and has started to tangle. Gently comb out any tangles that are starting to form being careful the whole time you are doing so. Than look into the chest as this is another area that tends to tangle at times. Once again I use the comb with the same length wires. Remember to check behind their legs etc as it can tangle behind there too. I also recommend checking under their chin etc. This is also a good time to check teeth. I also tend to trim nails when I am doing my grooming. Turn your Cashmere Lop back over and check around their back. Ie, start from around their tail and work upwards. If you see any tangles, gently tease or comb them out. Continue working through the coat until all tangles are removed.
I will add some photos one day of a Cashmere Lop being groomed.
The most work is needed when the Cashmere Lop is a youngster.
Baby Cashmere Lops
When Cashmere Lops are younger they need the most work as they are still getting their adult coats. The first coat is always the worst coat as it is much softer and lacks (obviously) the correct guard hairs of the adult coat. When I am beginning to work on their coat I place them on my lap and I very gently tease out any tangles that are starting to form. I recommend that you start working on their coat when they to 10 - 12 weeks old. I try not to do all the initial teasing in one-lot, but in a couple of lot. If the tangles get too much, perhaps trimming them out might be an idea (although not ideal as you might loose some of the new coat this is coming through).
Please remember this is what I do and other breeders will have different views on how to groom out Cashmere Lops.
See the photograph above to view the brushes I use to groom my Cashmere Lops:
Artemis
White Cashmere Lop
