If your rabbits look tucked up and quiet with their chins tucked in and noses not twitching this can be a sure sign of them feeling unhappy or stressed, as this is not a normal position for a rabbit. Moving or running away. Your rabbits may turn and move away from you (or each other) if they're unhappy.
They will often lose interest in eating, grooming, or even socializing. Some rabbits who become depressed will even resort to aggressive behaviors, such as biting and swatting. Unfortunately, many house rabbits are prone to depression because we caretakers don't know the symptoms to look out for.
Rabbits have a unique way of showing many emotions, and chinning is one of them. Their chin has special scent glands on it, so they mark their territory with their chins. Similar to pet cats rubbing against your leg, if your pet rabbit places their chin on your shoulder or arm, they are claiming you as theirs.
Domestic rabbits will bite as hard as they need to. Sometimes your rabbit will just give you a little gentle nip. This can sometimes be your rabbit showing affectionate or trying to groom you. A nip may also be a gentle, first warning when your rabbit is trying to tell you something.
5. Nudging, head butting or rubbing against you is rabbit body language for loving attention. 'Give them a stroke or cuddle, or what you know they enjoy', says Rosie. 'Rubbing their faces against you is a way of sharing their scent profile, and showing that you really are friends.
Does your rabbit miss you? Many people wonder if their rabbit will miss them when they're gone. You may worry that your rabbit will be lonely. If you spend a lot of time with your rabbit, they will undoubtedly miss you when you're away, the same way you miss them.
Bunnies are social animals, and, with a few rare exceptions, they need rabbit company. However, if properly and carefully introduced, some rabbits can bond with other animals, such as cats and dogs. You can also keep a solo rabbit, as long as you provide several hours per day of social interaction.
Human companionship:
If you don't want a second rabbit, you can help ease your rabbit's loneliness yourself: Give your rabbit at least an hour out of its cage each day. Spend some time playing with it at its own level on the floor. Rabbits love to dig, knock things over and toss things in the air.
Signs of stress may include: appearing nervous (freezing, hunched up with ears flat against the body) being excessively jumpy and watchful (bulging eyes) being aggressive to people or other rabbits, particularly if the behaviour is unusual.
In the days and weeks following its partners death, your rabbit may be withdrawn and hide away from you. It may even show aggression towards you, even if it has never been aggressive before. Others may seek you out for companionship, following you around and lying down close to your chair.
Grunting: Grunting noises are angry reactions towards another rabbit or a person and should be heeded as a warning to back off; otherwise the rabbit might escalate by scratching or biting. Rabbits grunt when they feel threatened or territorial. Thumping: Thumping is an attention getting behavior.
Let your remaining rabbit say goodbye
During this time, you may notice the surviving rabbit sniffing, nudging, grooming or even hopping on their companion to try to wake them. Once they understand that their friend has died, they will usually move away from the body.
Many people wrongly think rabbits are rodents and they believe they will be happy to be left alone in small cages for long periods (sometimes even forever). Rabbits need space to live a happy healthy life! Stuck in a small cage, rabbits become bored and depressed, because they cannot do anything.
Anything longer than 24 hours is too long – and even that is pushing the solitude limits of rabbits. Rabbits are social creatures and require about as much, if not more, interaction and maintenance as dogs do and more than some cats need. Considering rabbits to be low-maintenance pets does them a grave disservice.
Rabbits can develop abnormal behaviour and may suffer if you leave them on their own and with nothing to do for long periods, so you should keep your rabbit with at least one other friendly rabbit.
Indoor rabbits will probably live longer. They are safer from poor weather conditions, threatening animals, and are generally happier rabbits. When it is raining and cold, you may not go out to feed or check on your rabbit. He, too, is cold and lonely.
But we all love our rabbits here, and we want to know if they can understand that we love them. Rabbits are social and intelligent creatures. They'll know that you love them; you just have to learn how to say “I love you!” in a way they'll understand.
Staring is very common in rabbits. It's likely your rabbit stares at you out of love and happiness, but they could also be hungry, or confused.
Rabbits lick for affection, not for salt. Licking means “I love you, I trust you.” Lunging may occur when you reach into your rabbit's cage to clean, give food, or to take your rabbit out – a sign of disapproval.
If you spend the time to pet them and give them a nice massage, your rabbit will thank you by licking your hand or your leg. You may also receive a couple of light nips from your rabbit. This is especially likely if your rabbit is grooming you around the seams of your clothing.