Shaded group

Sable Point Holland Lop

A cream or off-white body with dark sepia points on the ears, nose, feet and tail. Reads a little like a Siamese cat, which is exactly what the genetics are doing.

A sable point Holland Lop sits in the shaded group. A cream or off-white body with dark sepia points on the ears, nose, feet and tail. Reads a little like a Siamese cat, which is exactly what the genetics are doing.

Genuinely uncommon, and one of the colours people search for by name. If this is what you want, expect to wait for one rather than expecting to find one today.

The genetics

Sable point carries the himalayan allele at the C locus alongside a shaded allele. The pigment is temperature sensitive, which is why the points appear on the coldest extremities of the body.

What a good one looks like

Clear contrast between a pale body and genuinely dark points. The nose marking should be defined rather than smudged.

What to check for

A body that is too dark, which loses the contrast entirely. Points that are grey rather than sepia.

Is sable point actually rare?

Uncommon and distinctive. Worth knowing before you buy: because the pigment is temperature sensitive, the points darken in cold weather and fade in summer heat. A sable point bought in January will look different in July. That is normal and it is not a fault.

Common questions

Why do my sable point Holland Lop's markings change colour?

Because the pigment is temperature sensitive, which is the same mechanism that gives a Siamese cat its points. The markings darken in cold weather and fade in summer heat. A sable point bought in January will look different in July, and that is entirely normal.

How can I tell a sable point from a cream?

The points. A sable point has genuinely dark sepia markings on the ears, nose, feet and tail against a pale body. A cream has no points at all.

What it costs

Every Holland Lop here is $300 to $400 regardless of colour. Full pricing here.