Rabbits are generally quiet creatures! They’re prey animals so don’t want to draw unwanted attention to themselves. Rabbits show their feelings through movements like thumping, jumping, and kicking. But they also make noises to communicate.

Rabbits make different sounds than cats or dog so it’s important to learn your rabbit's noises. This helps you understand their needs better. It’s important to spend time with your rabbit as this helps you learn the sounds they make. You can then understand what they are trying to tell you, and remember to pay attention to their body language too.

Do Rabbits Make Noises?

So what noise does a rabbit make? Rabbits are a quiet species which helps protect themselves from predators, but use noises to communicate how they're feeling. Did you know rabbits cluck? The noises they make can range from happy noises like humming to unhappy sounds like a growling rabbit and when they grind their teeth.

If your rabbit makes a loud noise, it’s because they’re in a great deal of distress. So you can decipher rabbit sounds, here are some common rabbit noises and what they mean:

• Clucking: sounds like hiccupping and often occurs when a rabbit dozes and feels content.
• Humming/honking: a distinctive noise to express love. Often accompanied by circling behaviour, followed by mounting.
• Muttering: expresses that your rabbit is feeling unhappy or cross.
• Growls: hissing, grunting and growls signify your rabbit is feeling threatened or angry. This is your rabbit’s way of saying “leave me alone!”. Rabbits will use these noises and lunge at you or their companions to protect themselves and their territory.
• Screaming/squealing: very loud screams or squeals are a sign of fear, distress or extreme pain. Rabbit screams sound like a child’s scream, if you hear this noise, comfort your rabbit and check for signs of injuries or dangers. If your rabbit remains distressed, contact your vet. Don’t delay if your think your rabbit is ill or in pain. Soft squeals portray displeasure or anxiety.
• Teeth grinding: this isn’t a good sound to hear your rabbit make. Teeth grinding indicates your rabbit is in pain or feeling stressed, so you should contact your vet.
• Tooth purring: similar to a cat’s purr, this is softer rabbit sound than teeth grinding and is an expression of contentment. You’re most likely to hear this rabbit noise when stroking or petting your rabbit.
• Wheezing: continual wheezing is usually a sign of a breathing problem that needs to be seen by a vet. But, if your rabbit is resting and lets out a big wheezy sigh, it's a sign of contentment.
• Whining: may be an indication of annoyance, curiosity or to seek attention. You’ll be able to differentiate the meaning by the context; what is your rabbit doing at the time of making the noise?

How Body Language Helps to Understand Rabbit Noises

If you’re unsure of the rabbit noise meaning you can look at your rabbit’s body language. Rabbits use their ears, whiskers and nose position to express how they’re feeling. If your rabbit's happy and contented their ears will be close together, facing slightly backwards and pointing outwards. They may even perform a 'binky' which is where they jump into the air and twist.

Worried or uncomfortable rabbits crouch low with their heads flat to the ground. Their ears will be wide apart and flat against their back. Angry or aggressive rabbits will have a tense posture with their tail up and ears held back or pointed upwards and facing outwards. Exposing their teeth is also a sign of aggressive behaviour.

How Else Do Rabbits Communicate?

Rabbit licking and nibbling is a sign of affection and respect. If your rabbit is doing this to you or another pet, it shows that they’ve formed a strong bond. If a rabbit wants attention, they’ll nudge using their nose, and if this doesn’t get them the attention they’re after, they may nip you.

If you’re positioned higher than your rabbit, like sitting on the sofa, your rabbit may try to get your attention and some affection by sitting on their hind legs and stretching up to you. If your rabbit turns its back on you or flicks their feet as they’re hopping away, it means that they’re upset with you. Often seen after a visit to the vet!

Rabbits also communicate through scent. They mark their territory by rubbing their scent glands on an item, animal or person. Rabbits have scent glands located under their chin, so if you notice your rabbit rubbing their head/chin on you, it means they have formed a bond with you, and are marking you as theirs!

What noise does a rabbit make? There are a number of rabbit noises that can tell you a lot about how your rabbit is feeling, but they can go unnoticed as they’re often very quiet. Looking to your rabbit’s body language and other signals to help you to understand if your rabbit is feeling happy, distressed, or angry. Speak to your vet if you’re concerned about your rabbit’s behaviour or suspect they might be in pain. 

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 young rabbit’s care, Everypaw’s Rabbit Insurance could be just the cover to look after your little thumper.

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