Your rabbit may show signs of wanting attention from you by nudging you, softly biting or even making digging notions directly on you. On the other hand, they may show signs of withdrawing from you, refusing interaction and not responding when you try to pet or play. A lonely rabbit may become hyperactive and angry.
Because rabbits are social animals, they will often get depressed if they are left alone for too long. A rabbit who is treated like a cage animal and left alone inside their enclosure day in and day out is very likely to become lonely and depressed. Instead, it's best to treat rabbits as companion animals.
Rabbits can become depressed if their environment isn't right, or if they're sick or stressed. Unhappy rabbits often seem lethargic and unmotivated. They may sleep more than usual, or hide for hours on end. They may seem reluctant to eat, even when offered their favorite foods.
Bunnies are super-soft, and many will love cuddling with you as much as you love cuddling with them. Once a bunny is comfortable in their new home, they may claim you as their own by rubbing their chin on you to mark their territory. They might even groom you with little bunny licks to show you love!
Rabbits grunt when they feel threatened or territorial. Thumping: Thumping is an attention getting behavior. Sometimes a rabbit will thump to warn others about something it has seen or heard, or to express fear or being upset. Nose Nudging: Nose nudging is another behavior that has several meanings.
As a general rule, rabbits are bonded once they can spend 48 hours together without any chasing or aggressive behaviors. You also want to see positive signs such as grooming, sharing food, and sleeping next to each other to confirm that your rabbits feel safe around each other.
The best way to gain your rabbits' trust is by simply spending lots of time being near them, while allowing your bunnies to approach you in their own time. By sitting quietly with them in a safe enclosure, you'll show your rabbits that you aren't to be feared and that you can be trusted.
Rabbits can develop abnormal behaviour and may suffer if you leave them on their own and with nothing to do for long periods, so you should keep your rabbit with at least one other friendly rabbit.
They are very social. Rabbits enjoy being around people and can usually recognise their owners by sight and sound.
When a rabbit nibbles or bites you softly it is often accompanied with licking, which is a sign of love. He is trying to groom you and is simulating the grooming process (however, you have no fur to build up knots in so it results in just a little nibble of the skin).
Rabbits love being stroked on their foreheads and backs. Always stroke in the direction of the hair, never against the hair (unless you are checking for skin problems). Most also like being stroked behind the ears.
They also love getting a good back scratch around the shoulders. That said, they tend not to like being touched on the ears, neck, feet, stomach or tail.
Hold rabbits gently but firmly - ensure one hand supports their back and hindquarters at all times. Help them feel secure by holding all four feet against your body. Never pick rabbits up by their ears - this would be extremely stressful and is highly likely to injure them.
Rabbits love nothing more than having the space to run around, play, dig and explore while enjoying a bit of 'me' time. Show your bunnies you love them by offering a secure environment where they can display these natural behaviours safely away from predators. A happy rabbit is a loved rabbit!
Staring is very common in rabbits. It's likely your rabbit stares at you out of love and happiness, but they could also be hungry, or confused. Rabbits also have a transparent eyelid that they use while they sleep, which may make it seem like they are staring.
You may worry that your rabbit will be lonely. If you spend a lot of time with your rabbit, they will undoubtedly miss you when you're away, the same way you miss them. The two of you have developed a bond and friendship that your pet rabbit also understands.
Rabbits like to play and need plenty of exercise to stay healthy and happy. Ideally you want to provide them with up to 4 hours daily of supervised time out of their cage.
Lonely rabbits will exhibit a number of attention-seeking behaviors, such as thumping, nipping, and persistent destructive tendencies. If left alone too frequently, rabbits can even become depressed and withdrawn. They may start to show aggressive behaviors or have a decreased appetite.