Why Does My Rabbit Do That?
Do you ever observe your rabbit and ask them, “Why did you do that?” If you said “Yes,” you’re not the only person who has felt confused or surprised by rabbit behavior.
The more you interact with a rabbit, the better you will get to know them. To get to that point, you’ll need to understand what they are “telling you,” but they don’t bark or speak. Let’s take a closer look at the unique behaviors of these quiet communicators and begin building the foundation for a great relationship!
Happy Rabbit Behaviors
Nudges: Bumping your feet or legs is your rabbit saying, “Hey, I’m down here.” Think of it as a kind of “hello” or a tiny fist bump from your small friend.
Teeth chattering: Also known as “tooth purrs,” when a rabbit’s teeth gently click or chatter together. This is a way rabbits express that they are happy. This is comparable to a cat purring. This is different from tooth grinding (also on this page).
Twiggy mid-binky
Binkies and zooming: When your rabbit zooms through the house and jumps crazily into the air (sometimes twisting as they jump) this is called a “binky.” This is an indication that your rabbit is very happy!
Bunny flops: This is when your rabbit suddenly flips onto their side and kicks their feet out. They are relaxed and feel safe. You can see the rabbit in the middle photo doing a flop.
Other happy signals could be when your rabbit:
Pushes their nose under your hand and lowers their head for pets.
Closes their eyes and lowers their ears.
Licks you — that’s rabbit grooming!
Rubs their chin on you — that’s how rabbits mark their territory.
Hormone Driven Behaviors
If your house rabbit has not been spayed or neutered, or they were spayed or neutered recently, you will probably encounter these forms of communication. It can take a few months for hormonal behaviors to subside after their vet appointment.
Nipping: Nips pinch and startle us, but rarely leave a bruise or break the skin. Rabbits are usually trying to signal that they are scared, hurt, or uncomfortable. This can be a problem for small children who might be frightened and reactive toward a rabbit who nips.
Biting: When gentler signals are ignored, rabbits will sometimes bite. We see this from bunnies who are picked up too often, teased and taunted, or poked at by children. Again, biting is not rooted in aggression, and you should not punish a rabbit for nipping or biting. Rabbits whose previous communications were ignored or who were not socialized with in the past can skip gentler communication methods and jump to nips or bites.
Grunting: Grunting can be a way of showing irritation with you or other rabbits. You might hear your rabbit grunting if you try to coax them back into their pen after playtime or if they are protective of their toys. Grunting with their ears back tells you that they may get into a fight. Try to diffuse the tension.
Honking: If your rabbit isn’t spayed or neutered yet, honking will probably accompany circling and spraying. Otherwise, it’s an expression of delight for some rabbits. It sounds like soft pig oinks. Some rabbits don’t communicate with honking at all, while others love it.
Circling and spraying: These are typically hormonal behaviors, which rabbits use to mark their territory. After rabbits are altered, they might still circle, but they aren’t likely to spray. Here is more to consider if your rabbit circles and/or sprays:
This level of attention is a “romantic” reaction that will continue until they have been altered and their hormone levels lower.
In unaltered rabbits, this behavior often escalates into spraying pee and possibly biting.
Neuter male rabbits when they are over 3-4 months (and the testicles have dropped).
Female rabbits may also begin biting and/or boxing when they have reached maturity.
Females should be spayed around 6 months because they also have HIGH RATES OF REPRODUCTIVE CANCERS.
Any delay in neutering or spaying may cause unwanted behaviors to become a bad habit that’s hard to grow out of. All adoptable rabbits at SDHRS are spayed or neutered before they are available for adoption.
Unhappy Rabbit Behaviors
Rabbits try to communicate their fear or discomfort, but sometimes humans interpret these efforts as aggression. Learn how to identify negative reactions to help keep your rabbit safe and healthy.
Thumping: This is a way for the rabbit to indicate that something is amiss; in the wild, rabbits will thump to notify the rest of the warren to be cautious. If you place your rabbit on the floor and they turn their back to you and “thump” their foot or flick their back feet as they hop away — they are offended by something!
Nipping, biting, charging, or boxing: When gentler signals are ignored, rabbits will sometimes bite or push you away with charging or boxing. It is often a response to fear or pain. Again, biting is not rooted in aggression, and you should not punish a rabbit for nipping, biting, or any other undesirable behaviors.
Cowering, hunching, and hiding: These can all be signs of fear or pain. Remember, prey animals want to be invisible so predators won’t target them. This instinct that benefitted their ancestors’ survival can prevent house rabbits from getting timely treatment if you aren’t observant.
Screaming: Finally, a screaming rabbit is either in severe pain or fears for their life and is trying to warn others. Please check on your rabbit and their living space if you hear them scream.
Negative reactions can be a sign that your rabbit is ill or injured. Pay close attention to what is normal behavior for your rabbit so you can quickly spot something unusual. You will be more likely to see signs of discomfort while they are at home in a safe place.
Digging: Digging is normal rabbit behavior, but one that can lead to escape or damage if not monitored. Digging is a behavior that has been strongly selected for in the rabbit’s evolutionary history and fits into multiple behavior categories. In the wild, rabbits dig extensive warrens and burrows, with male and female rabbits digging for different reasons. Some house rabbits will also have the tendency to dig, whether it be for marking their territory, establishing a cool place to lay in warmer weather, or just keeping themselves occupied.
If your rabbit is a digger, it is important to give them the opportunity to express this behavior. Supplying them with blankets, rugs, or phone books allows them to meet their need to dig. You can also consider providing them with a digging box (How to Make A Digging Box For A Rabbit - House Rabbit Hub), which will keep them stimulated and meet their need for digging.
