You should touch a bunny gently on the forehead, top of the head, behind the ears, and cheeks, as these mimic grooming and feel good; avoid the belly, feet, tail, and blind spots near the mouth, as these areas can trigger fear or make them feel vulnerable. Always approach slowly, let the bunny initiate contact, and watch for signs of enjoyment (like nudging) or stress (like freezing or thumping).
They are seeking attention and affection and the area they use to nudge is an ideal area to pet your rabbit. The area between the ears/top of the head is also a favorite spot for most rabbits. Some rabbits enjoy having their cheeks stroked but be careful to avoid his/her chin!
The 3-3-3 rule for rabbits (and other pets) is a guideline for adjusting to a new home: 3 Days for the rabbit to feel overwhelmed and hide, 3 Weeks to start settling in and showing personality, and 3 Months to feel truly at home and build a strong bond. It helps adopters manage expectations, understand that fear and skittishness are normal, and encourages patience as the bunny decompresses in its new environment, emphasizing providing a safe space and routine.
Never pick rabbits up by their ears.
This is extremely stressful for them and is highly likely to injure them.
The best areas to start petting your rabbit are on their forehead and behind the ears. These tend to be sweet spots for rabbits and feel like a nice massage. Once your rabbit is comfortable with you petting them in these places, try stroking them on the back and rubbing their cheeks.
You activate his grooming reflex/licking reflex when rubbing his ear like that. It's similar to dogs' scratch reflex. If we massage the end of our bun's ear, she will close her eyes and relish the moment.
As a rule, a rabbit should be able to take at least three hops in a row from one end to the other. It can be difficult to buy purpose-built accommodation measuring these dimensions but there's no reason why you can't build your own! Rabbits are a prey species and need to be able to hide from things that scare them.
If from an early age and rabbit feels comfortable with the human, they can get OBSESSED with being petted. My bun melts as soon as I pet his cheeks, head and behind his ears. He stomps if I don't pet him when walking by and lowers his head (in rabbit language) demanding them.
Rabbits are prey animals; that is, they are the ones preyed on by the carnivorous animals (raccoons, dogs, wolves, cats). Raccoons have been known to scare a rabbit to death just by crawling over his cage, never making contact. Your rabbit depends on you to keep him safe.
Their back legs are stretched out behind the body and their front paws are pointing forward. A happy rabbit jumps into the air with all four paws off the ground and twists in mid-air before landing. This is called 'binkying' and is a sign that the rabbit is happy or excited.
Rabbits need unlimited access to grass and hay, so they shouldn't ever be left without food. However, if it's an emergency and there's no other choice, then they can go up to 12 hours without eating.
Put one litter tray in your bunny's cage or near his bed and a second in a corner of the room or between a piece of furniture and the wall. Leave a few droppings and a piece of urine-soaked paper inside the trays so your rabbit gets the idea. If your bunny hops into the tray, give him lots of praise and maybe a treat.
When rabbits are cradled so they're almost flat on their backs, it could inadvertently induce a trance-like state. 🐰This is also known as “TRANCING” or TONIC IMMOBILITY. While initially it might seem peaceful, as if the bunny is relaxed and enjoying the position, trancing is actually a stressful experience for them.
It's easy to take care of them, but you should keep in mind the things these little guys do NOT like the most.
If your rabbit loves to sit down next to you, especially if it's grooming or licking you, too, then you'll know you're in.
In rabbits, weakness may be due to the effects of organ or metabolic disease, obesity, or to direct damage to the nerves. If the nerves are injured -- either within the brain or spinal column -- they will not communicate properly with each other and the rest of the body.
Use a high pitched "EEEEEK!" followed by a firm, but non-aggressive "nooooo" to let your rabbit know that his bite hurts. Placing your hand on his head and pressing down gently will help him understand that you are the boss. Never push his head down in a violent or punishing way. Rabbits do not understand punishment.
Unfixed rabbits after this age can get very territorial and spray urine and poop everywhere. Spaying and neutering your rabbit will make it more likely for him to learn proper litter habits. Another reason your rabbit may have messy litter habits is that you are giving him too much freedom at once.
Rabbits are sociable creatures that can form deep bonds with their human companions.
Rabbit bites can be painful and serious. If a bite bleeds excessively, shows symptoms of infection, or concerns you in any way, it's best to seek medical attention. You can reduce the chances of a rabbit bite by watching for signals of fear or aggression.
Happy Trembles: The Good Vibrations
Believe it or not, sometimes trembling is actually a sign of pure bunny joy! Just like how we might wiggle with excitement, rabbits can tremble when they're experiencing positive emotions. You might notice this happy trembling when: Your bunny is being petted in their favourite spot.
We recommend a good quality soft straw as the ideal bedding for warmth and comfort, particularly for outdoor rabbits. It's warm because the hollow strands trap warm air and it's also absorbent. It's important to understand the difference between hay and straw.
Signs of stress may include: appearing nervous (freezing, hunched up with ears flat against the body) being excessively jumpy and watchful (bulging eyes) being aggressive to people or other rabbits, particularly if the behaviour is unusual.
Even in the pet world, rabbits are among the fastest small mammals. Cats, for example, can run at a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour, but most household cats rarely reach that speed. Rabbits are also faster than guinea pigs, which can only run at around 6 miles per hour.