There are subtle signs that can be observed to indicate how your rabbit is feeling and whether your pet is displaying happy or unhappy rabbit body language, including being scared, stressed, aggressive or sick.

It's important as a rabbit owner to know how to read your pet rabbit's body language to provide optimal care and spot early warning signs of stress or illness.  

How Can You Tell If a Rabbit is Happy?

A relaxed stance indicates happy rabbit body language, sometimes lying stretched out on their sides. You may even see your rabbit flop. Your rabbit's eyes may half close, and they appear at ease.

Relaxed rabbit body language is often accompanied by nose twitching and sometimes excited hops into the air, twisting their hind legs mid-air, also known as binkies.

Happy rabbits will show curiosity and a willingness to explore their environment. They'll happily eat hay and grass and be at ease.

Unhappy, Scared Or Stressed Rabbit Body Language

Stress is a common issue in pet rabbits, and it's important to be vigilant for stressed rabbit body language.

A good way to look for stress is to observe the rabbit's ear body language, as rabbits will give ear signals to indicate stress. Stressed rabbits will flatten their ears against their bodies, appear tense and crouch down low or have their ears pricked up on high alert, looking for potential threats. The ears will often move around, searching for sounds, and can move independently. If they sense danger, usually, the rabbit runs for cover.

The way your rabbit stands is another way of looking for stress signs. Stressed or scared rabbit body language includes crouching low with flattened ears or a poised, alert stance. Sometimes, the rabbit runs for cover. When stressed, the rabbit often thumps the ground with its back feet. This behaviour is a way to inform other rabbits of potential danger. Stressed rabbits will also have wide eyes and often an increase in the frequency of the twitching of the nose as they sniff for any scent of danger.

When in a state of heightened stress, rabbits may vocalise. This can include grunting, squeaking and, in extreme fear or pain, even screaming. Vocalisation indicates a very high level of stress.  

What Does Aggressive Rabbit Body Language Look Like?

Aggressive behaviour in rabbits is not uncommon, even in domesticated animals. It's often a natural response caused by pain, stress, handling issues or issues between rabbits, such as hormonal aggression or territorial aggression. When faced with a danger, rabbits will often freeze or flee. However, sometimes they have no choice but to fight.

Aggressive rabbit body language is directly related to this fight response. A rabbit in fight mode will often lash out with its front legs, often growl, bite and scratch. It's important to be vigilant for aggressive body language. Rabbits can inflict serious injuries on each other when in fight mode. Aggression between rabbits is less likely to occur in bonded animals.

Female rabbits, whether neutered or unneutered, are more likely to show aggression and display aggressive body language than male rabbits. 

Sick Rabbit Body Language: How to Know When They're Ill

As rabbits are genetically designed to hide body language, it's important to be vigilant for sick rabbit body language. This includes:

• Going off food
• Hunched stance
• Drooling
• Grunting
• Weight loss
• Diarrhoea

Sick rabbits are less keen to explore their environment and are less likely to interact with you or each other. Hair loss can indicate illness but can also be associated with nest-building behaviour due to pregnancy or false pregnancy.

Rabbits can deteriorate rapidly, so it's important to get your rabbit checked by your vet promptly if your rabbit shows any body language that could indicate poor health.

Interactive Rabbit Body Language

Rabbits display many body language clues when they're interacting with each other and their owners. Their body language can reflect the nature and purpose of the interaction.

Mating Behaviour

Nipping, circling, grunting and urinating behaviour can be sexually motivated body language, reflecting the rabbit's desire to mate. This can also become learned behaviour directed at the owner to gain attention. Such body language and behaviour can also indicate hierarchical dominant body language.

Begging

Another learned behaviour used to interact with owners is begging behaviour. This can become learned behaviour when a bunny is rewarded repeatedly.

Chinning

Rabbits also use chinning to communicate. They'll rub their chins against objects to leave their scent, produced by their scent glands. This conveys information to other rabbits about the individual. Rabbits may also mark their territory to communicate with other rabbits.

Bonding Behaviour in Rabbits

Another important time rabbits use body language is when bonding. Favourable bonding body language involves sniffing, nuzzling, and grooming each other.

Sometimes, when bonding, rabbits will mount each other to assert dominance. Rarely, rabbits will instantly attack each other. More commonly, they'll initially just ignore each other as they assess the other rabbit from afar.

Understanding Bunny Body Language Can Improve Your Bond

While rabbits may not display emotions in obvious ways, their body language offers valuable insights into their wellbeing. By observing subtle cues like posture, ear movements, and behaviour, rabbit owners can better understand their pet's emotional state, whether they're happy, stressed, or unwell.

Recognising these signals early can help prevent health issues and improve the bond between owner and rabbit. Being attuned to these signs is essential for ensuring a rabbit's physical and emotional health, making it easier to provide the best care possible for your furry friend.

Everypaw Rabbit Insurance

Here at Everypaw, we want to help you keep your bunny healthy and in tip top shape. So, when it comes to your rabbit’s care, Everypaw’s Rabbit Insurance could be just the cover to look after your little thumper.

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