June 22, 2024, 9:37 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Dogs bark, cats meow – but rabbits? These long-eared, peaceful creatures use a diverse repertoire of body language, scent marks, and even sounds to communicate with each other. But it’s not always easy for us humans to understand their subtle cues. PETBOOK explains: How does rabbit body language work, and what does it mean?
The position of the ears, eyes, tail, and paws: All of this must be taken into account in order to decipher the body language of rabbits. PETBOOK explains the most important signals and reveals what standing on hind legs, ear position and the like mean.
How do rabbits use body language to show that they like people?
This is probably a burning question for all rabbit owners: How do these long-eared creatures express affection to their owner? If you study the body language, movements and behavior of your rabbit carefully, you can recognize subtle signs of affection. For example, a gentle nudge on the hand can be interpreted as a friendly “Hello!”. This is also how rabbits greet each other or invite another rabbit to groom them.
If the rabbit shows this behavior towards “their” owner, it can also be interpreted as a request like, “Feed me!” The licking of the hand is also a great sign of love. This behavior has its roots in grooming and is a sign of affection. If the rabbit rubs its chin against its owner, it is marking them with its scent glands. Expressing: “You belong to me.”
Although rabbits are generally considered to be rather quiet contemporaries, they also use some sounds accompanied by movements to express when they like someone or feel comfortable. A slight gnashing of teeth and munching when stroking clearly show that the rabbit feels comfortable and enjoys being close to humans or other rabbits.
What does the body language of relaxed or happy rabbits look like
When dozing or sleeping, rabbits often sit in a relaxed position with their ears folded back. When they are in this position, their attention is not required. Some lie down and stretch out on all fours. If a rabbit rolls around on the floor with relish, it is expressing feelings of well-being. Relaxed rabbits also express this through their body language when they groom themselves. They sit on their hind legs and lick their front paws in order to clean their faces and ears. If the rabbit is completely relaxed, they roll around and yawn.
If an attentive rabbit has discovered something interesting, it will sit up on its hind legs in order to get a better view. It can also express its curiosity or excitement by eagerly sniffing.
Exuberant side-stepping and high-spirited leaps in the air can often (but not only) be observed in young rabbits if the rabbit is in a playful mood and is working off excess energy. Sometimes, in addition to their exuberant leaps, they communicate with other rabbits by squeaking. Be aware: if they shake their head often in a noticeable way, this may be an indication of illness. If so, go to the vet!
How does a rabbit behave when it’s not feeling well?
A rabbit that presses itself flat against the ground while pressing its ears close to its body and opening its eyes is very frightened. This posture can easily be confused with the relaxed sleeping position – the difference lies in that the eyes are widened with panic and the posture is tense. Sick rabbits often behave differently from what they normally do: they hop less and often just sit impassively. A lack of appetite is also an alarm sign and a reason to quickly visit the vet.
Rabbits are social animals that naturally use their body language to communicate with other rabbits. Differences of opinion amongst them are sometimes settled by chasing, jumping at or biting each other. This behavior can be observed; for example, when rabbits are brought together – they do this to clarify their hierarchy. If danger threatens, however, rabbits always stick together. They drum on the ground with their hind legs to provide warning to their mates.
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