Education | Lagomorphs
4 Reasons You Think Your Bunny Hates You
And proof that they don’t
Rabbits are extremely misunderstood as pets, since they don’t portray their emotions the same way more common household pets do (ahem cats and dogs). A rabbit’s love may be harder to gain, but once you do, you’ll never look at them the same — and may quickly become a fluff loving “bunny person.”
I am one of those rare to meet, out and proud, bunny lovers. Rabbits are hilariously devious, smart, and sassy bundles of energy. I have a 5 month old bunny named Clover and a 7 year old bunny named Comet. They are chaotic, adorable, and full of personality. Rabbits are so much more funny and brave than anyone gives them credit for — and have their own way of letting you know when they’re p*ssed off. While you may be convinced that your new rabbit doesn’t love you the way you love him, I’m here to tell you you may be wrong, and here’s why.
1. Your bunny runs away when you chase them
Rabbits are small prey animals. They do not like to be chased, and they do not like to have shadows looming over them. Instead, sit down on the ground while your bunny roams the surrounding area. More often than not, your bunny needs to burn off energy before cuddling up to you and will much prefer having you on their level.
Rabbits love to race around a room under couches and tables, then hop straight into the air for joy. They’ll do this until they tire themselves out, and will look to you for comfort. If, like me, you spent lots of time on the floor casually hanging out with your bunny, they’ll see you as a petting machine. Before long they’ll be nudging you for pets until your hand falls off. Once a bunny allows you to pet him and even asks you for pets — you’ll know for sure they trust and love you.
2. Your bunny hates being cuddled
Most bunnies don’t love being held. They aren’t like dogs who will run into your arms and ask to be held. Instead, bunnies run up to you and want their head and ears to be rubbed. If your rabbit runs up to you and puts their head down — they’re begging for head rubs, and want your attention. Don’t pick up your bunny and squish them, or try to carry them around your house casually. They feel the most secure on the floor, so if you give them the room to run independently, you will see their affection bloom.
3. Your rabbit thumps on the floor with their back feet
Your right, your rabbit is pissed. But no worries- rabbits get irritated or annoyed by very simple changes, but get over their anger in seconds. If you move a favorite toy, rearrange their playpen, or don’t give them their favorite snack when they want it. Rabbits also thump their feet when they hear a weird noise, or are afraid of their surroundings. If you have a lot of loud people or noise in your house, you may hear your rabbit thump more than he would on a quiet chill day. This does not mean your rabbit no longer loves you, it just means they may need some space.
Bunnies do not have the ability to protect themselves the way other animals do. With their size and stature, thumping is the best way to warn others, or inform you of their frustrations. They are doing it to hurt your feelings — they just have very few opportunities to express themselves, and take every opportunities to do so when they can.
4. Your rabbit would rather throw themselves on the floor than snuggle you
If you frequently see your rabbit throw themselves to the ground and hit the floor with a thud, rather than snuggling up to you, this does not mean they hate you. The “dead bunny flop” as many have come to call it is the calling card of an extremely happy and content bunny. Rabbits are the most vulnerable when laying on their belly, because it takes them an extra second to sit back up on their legs and run should danger appear. If your bunny frequently ignores you entirely and thrusts themselves to the floor in front of you, then you know your bunny trusts you entirely and feels safe with you.
Rabbits are small complicated beings. It will take a while to learn the quirks of your bunny, but soon enough you’ll know how to recognize the “I want a banana” thump and the “I demand head rubs” nudge. Then, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a crazy bunny lady — which I think, is a great place to be.
