In today’s article, I’m going down the list of the top signs that your rabbit hates you. Yes, I know “hate” is a strong word, and I’m using it hyperbolically because we know that rabbits don’t have hate in their hearts. In fact, they are very loving, very kind animals that are often misunderstood. So, in other words, I’m really going to be discussing the top signs that your rabbit may be agitated with you, may mistrust you, or is fearful of you, and then we’ll look at some ways to rectify this behavior.
Runs away or hides from you
Starting at number 10, your rabbit runs away or hides from you. Now, you might think this is common sense, but the truth is that, unfortunately, there are a lot of people who are maybe new to the bunny world and mistake this behavior for “my bunny really likes being chased and they want to be grabbed.” I don’t know why bunnies like to hide; it’s in their nature to do so, and it’s their way of getting out of a situation. When they are ready to come back out again, they will.
They bite you
Now, this one is very, very big and, I think, one of the most explicit signs that your bunny does not like you in that moment. There’s no such thing as a playful bite like you might have with a dog or a cat, where they’re really just playing with you and they don’t intend to harm you. When a bunny bites you, it is very intentional. When they sink their teeth deep into your flesh, it is one of the most painful things you will experience. So, I really want to point out that aggression in rabbits really stems from a place of fear. Your rabbit is defending themselves, and they find whatever’s going on threatening. Your rabbit may also have a history of trauma, depending on where you acquired your rabbit. Maybe they are a rescue, maybe they lived in a shelter their whole life, maybe they’ve been attacked before. Your rabbit’s environment plays a very big role in how they’re going to interact with you. They do not like to be cornered, and so if you are giving them that freedom to integrate, to be part of your home life, to be part of your everyday routine, instead of having a barrier between the two of you, then you’re gonna notice immediate changes.
They lunge at you
Now, lunging is another behavior that is synonymous with feeling threatened, just like biting. It basically means they are ready to fight, ready to attack. it’s important to think about where you’ve been, what you might have done to trigger this reaction. Make sure you’ve washed your hands, maybe you need to change your clothes, and try to give them a little bit of space. If that means staying away from them for the time being, letting them cool down, then so be it.
Chronic disinterest
Now, if your rabbit just has no interest in being with you, I hate to say this, but you have not put in the work to make your bunny become a part of your daily life. The truth is that bunnies are very social animals, and you’re really only gonna get back what you put in with them. So, if you’re not investing your time, your energy, your affection, and your love into earning a relationship with them, then I’m afraid to say that they’re not going to look to you as a source of trust, comfort, and love. But what I will say, and I always say, is integrate them into your daily routines. Get them used to how you operate.
They don’t relax when you are around
This is key because sleeping for a bunny is a very vulnerable activity. If your bunny is really unable to just take a nap and doze off, maybe lounge or flop around you, then that’s a big red flag. You don’t want your bunny to always be on alert mode. As domestic bunnies, they’ve evolved to really depend on us and to cohabitate with us essentially. So, you want them to feel safe. Again, I’m going to bring this back to the home environment. Re-evaluate how their space is looking. If there’s a dog in the house, keep them away from the dog; maybe that’s stressing them out. If there’s loud construction outside, maybe you should move them away from the window. There are all sorts of reasons why your bunny may not be feeling 100% comfortable around you, and you want to foster an environment that’s going to make them feel safe. That’s the most important thing.
They flick you off
Yes, this is the rabbit’s version of a middle finger. When a bunny flicks you off, they’re really flicking their back feet at you, and it means they are offended, that you have really done something to irritate them, and they want to be left alone. For instance, maybe you just brushed them, clipped their nails, took them for a car ride, or maybe you were holding them. You’ve got to respect their space. I always say bunnies are like a hybrid of dogs and cats; they can be really needy and really want your attention, and then the next moment they’re like, “I’m over it, I need space, you’re suffocating me.”
Don’t let you pet them
They don’t let you pet them. Okay, bunnies love pets; they love massages. If your bunny does not want you to pet them, there is something gravely wrong with that. So, I really want you guys to put in the work in building that trust and cultivating that comfort within each other. A lot of people also just don’t know how to pet rabbits, and I don’t know why, but a lot of humans instinctively go for the back. For some reason, bunnies really like the head rubs, the ear rubs, the nose rubs—those are their pleasure points, and you really have to know how to pet them. You want to do it in light, soft strokes. Petting them simulates a grooming session with another rabbit, and a grooming session in rabbit hierarchy is like paying your ultimate form of respect to the bunny because essentially you are submitting to them and letting them be the dominant rabbit. Remember that rabbits have eyes on the sides of their heads, not the front, so you want to approach them from the side, not their blind spots, not above them, and work your way in slowly.
Shaking
Next, your rabbit is shaking. A rabbit that is shaking is in a lot of fear. They are anxious, they want to get out of whatever situation they’re in. You need to stop whatever you’re doing, whether it’s being very loud, very obtrusive, maybe you’re carrying them around—there are so many reasons why you might be causing your rabbit to shake. Without overwhelming your rabbit, try to comfort them, try to console them, talk to them—they love being talked to. It’s very stimulating for them, they love hearing your voice. Don’t try to pick them up or carry them around; that might make them more anxious. Make sure that they are on the ground and that you are at their level. Try to treat test them, make sure they’re taking treats because if they are, that’s a really great sign. If they’re not, there could be something more serious going on, and in that case, they might need to go to a vet.
They thump
The rabbit thump means that they are warning other rabbits of danger nearby, and it’s also a sign of protest. So, they’re unhappy, or they feel like something is wrong. It also comes from a place of fear. If they are thumping, I really recommend looking for ways to soothe your rabbit. Rabbits are sensitive—they have sensitive hearing, sensitive smelling—so just be mindful of that.
They grunt or growl at you
A grunt is a sign of annoyance. Basically, you’ve irritated them in some fashion. Maybe you’ve been teasing them with a treat, maybe you’re not feeding them fast enough, maybe you are in their way and they’re in the middle of something, and they don’t want to be interrupted, like eating their hay. So, just do your best to try to appease your rabbit in that moment. Leave them alone or give them the treat, whatever it is.
So, that’s it for this article, guys! I hope you learned something new. Please, as per usual, share it if you found it helpful. Our question of the day is: which one of these behaviors has your rabbit exhibited with you, and what did you do to fix the problem? Comment down below.