Growling. Grunting or growling is a sign your rabbit is angry or stressed. You may be invading their territory, and they're telling you to back off. Aggressive behavior will most likely ensue, so watch out.
If she pulls sway, growls, grunts or paws, tell her (firmly) she is quite rude and continue to ignore her. NEVER HIT OR SHOUT AT A BUNNY, AND NEVER FORCE THEIR AFFECTIONS. Eventually she will be curious. She may want to nibble on your magazine, sit on you, or simply lie down next to you.
Your rabbit is aggressive because they are scared
However, sudden aggression can occasionally be a result of fear. For example, if your rabbit gets suddenly startled by a loud sound nearby or a fast movement, they may instinctually lash out at whatever happens to be nearby.
Rabbits are also capable of growling, snorting, and hissing, all of which are generally associated with signs of aggression. Whimpering and thumping (a sharp stomp of the hind feet) are often associated with fear. The final, most worrisome sound a rabbit makes is screaming.
Rabbits can display aggressive behaviour towards their owners or perhaps companions during the spring – the rabbits' natural breeding season. This aggression is hormonal and indicates a normal desire to defend their territory and ward off any rivals.
A rabbit who is angry will quickly twitch their tail up and down. Beware the rabbit holding their tail up, it is frequently followed by spraying. Rabbits who are not spayed and neutered will spread their scent by spraying everything in sight. They may also do this when they are upset or simply dislike a person.
Angry and unhappy rabbits
Signs to look out for include: Tense and 'up' body. Rather than crouching and tensing, like a stressed or worried bunny, your rabbits may tense in a more aggressive stance if they're unhappy. They might crouch and angle their head up, rather than having it flat against the floor.
Rabbits grunting usually means they're angry and possibly feel threatened. Sometimes, the grunting is followed by a nip or bite. Some rabbits do not like it when you rearrange their cages as you clean. So they might grunt, charge, or even nip you when you try.
A: Rabbits usually show aggression towards humans (and other rabbits) because of fear or frustration, or because they want to defend their territory. This can include nipping, biting and thumping their feet loudly on the ground; some rabbits also scream, which can be unsettling.
Tense body, upright tail, laid back ears / Lunging: Lunging or a tense body with laid back ears and upright tail is an angry or territorial behavior. The rabbit is telling you it doesn't like what you are doing and is prepared to fight.
There are many things that can set off a rabbit's temper: loud noises, territorial disputes and hunger being common culprits. If your rabbit seems grumpy and is giving you the angry grunts, give them some tasty food and some quiet time to calm down.
Depending on the severity of the offence, a rabbit can hold a grudge from hours to several days. Sometimes, a simple stroke on the forehead or an apologetic treat can remedy a miffed bunny, but if your rabbit is truly offended, they can sulk for quite some time!
Many rabbit caretakers struggle with behavior problems that include destructive digging and chewing behaviors. Some rabbits also develop bad litter box habits. Other rabbit behavioral problems include fear and aggression toward humans and other animals.
Honking is often a sign of pleasure. Some bunnies honk when they are eating, getting treats, getting attention, or snuggling.
Unspayed/unneutered rabbits tend to be much more aggressive. Unspayed females are particularly territorial, if they are going through a real or false pregnancy. Territorial behavior may include lunging, grunting, boxing, scratching, kicking and biting.
A good place to start is to look at your rabbit's ears. If they're close together, facing upwards and pointing outwards, your rabbit is likely to be relaxed and happy. If they're worried, their ears will be flattened against their back.
Offer a treat
The easiest way to apologize to a rabbit is to offer them the treat.
Your rabbit doesn't want to be held
Even though many people think of rabbits as cuddly animals, most rabbits absolutely hate being held. In fact, being carried is a scary situation for rabbits. Their first line of defense is to run as fast as they can and hide.
Their ears will lay back at a 45º angle and their tail will go up. Their nose will also usually be going very fast. If your rabbit is getting aggressive because they are scared, they might be leaning away from you, but if they are territorial, they may be leaning toward you.
Because rabbits are social animals, they will often get depressed if they are left alone for too long.
These verbalizations sound similar, but have different meanings. Honking denotes fun and pleasure. Grunting is an expression of distaste or disgust. If accompanied by a hiss or growl, the rabbit is wholly displeased.