Compared to humans, rabbits have more rods than cones in their retinas. This means rabbits can see better than we can in the dark but are limited to two-color vision. For example, they can distinguish between green and blue but cannot see red. Rabbits aren't the only animals that have trouble distinguishing colors.
Evidently, they can discriminate between the wavelengths we call “green” and “blue.” Although rabbits may not perceive green and blue the way we do, they *can* tell them apart. This means they have limited color vision, probably conferred by two different categories of cone cells (blue and green).
Rabbits tend to be farsighted, which means they can see long distances really well. However, their vision for items nearby isn't always so great. Part of the reason for this is the placement of the eyes on a rabbit's head. Rabbits' eyes are located high on the sides of the skull.
Thus, a rabbit only has about a 30 degree area directly in front of him where he has depth perception, and 10 degrees of this is his blind spot! There are other ways to gauge distance, and rabbits may use these.
Rabbits will remember the people that they spend a lot of time with, and this includes their owners and caretakers. As prey animals, they have neurologically developed with a strong long-term memory for places and routines. You can use these associations to help strengthen your rabbit's memory of you.
Rabbits can and do recognize their owners.
Whilst typically not being as affectionate as cats or dogs, rabbits do form bonds with their owners, and there are several tell-tale signs to look out for. The most important factor in encouraging your rabbit to recognize and respond to you is spending time with your bunny.
While rabbits cannot understand human language, they can be trained to understand what we say through gestures and verbal cues. Rabbits understand words using cues. These can be conscious cues, such as verbal commands and gestures. These can also be unconscious cues, such as body language and tone of voice.
1) Rabbits are very intelligent
Some breeds are even particularly trainable. You can, for example, teach them to recognise their names and come to you when called. Rabbits also have a very good memory: they don't forget negative experiences and emotions easily.
Your rabbit will watch TV. Rabbits enjoy moving images and noises, so television provides mental stimulation. Just be mindful of the volume. Rabbits have excellent hearing, so a loud TV can hurt their ears.
Licking: Licking is a way bunnies groom each other. If your bunny licks you, it's a sign of affection as you'll often see pairs of bunnies grooming each other this way. A bunny lick is a sign of a bond.
Do rabbits love their owners? Rabbits can be very affectionate pets if they are given the chance. They are very social and enjoy spending time with their human companions. Once you've gained a rabbit's trust, they'll start to show you how much they love you in their own bunny ways.
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 also have a transparent eyelid that they use while they sleep, which may make it seem like they are staring.
In my work with rabbits and other animals, it's very evident that they love to lie on the red when they lack regular contact with the outdoors. In contrast to red, blue is cooling. It calms and soothes and acts as an antidote for too much red.
Rabbits are capable of a wide range of emotions including jealousy, anger, fear, grief, love, irritability and insecurity. Understanding what is really going on in any particular rabbit's head may take months or even years of patient observance, particularly when you do not know the history of the rabbit from birth.
A domesticated pet rabbit will understand and mirror the emotions of their owner. If you're happy, you'll find your rabbit reflecting this joy. If you are withdrawn and depressed, a rabbit will express concern for your predicament.
Lack of an interesting environment, opportunities to exercise, appropriate company and mental stimulation can lead rabbits to display abnormal behaviours including depression, fur plucking (self harming), aggression, chewing cage bars, altered feeding, drinking or toileting habits, sitting hunched, excessive hiding, ...
The intelligence of a rabbit is comparable to that of a cat or dog. Bunnies know what they want, and how to ask for it. If you don't meet their requests, a rabbit will take matters into their own hands. Just like a cat or dog, you can converse with your rabbit.
Like most prey animals, rabbits need to establish trust in order to approach and befriend you. When they do, they are very loyal companions. They enjoy social interactions with people.
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.
Contrary to popular belief, most rabbits don't have very sensitive ears. While most rabbits aren't necessarily going to enjoy an ear massage, they don't mind when their ears are touched either. It's a neutral area for rabbits.
Rabbits are smart and can understand several words; two of the words he should be able to understand are his name and the word 'No'.
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.
As an animal that forms strong social bonds, a rabbit will actually rely on having a favorite person. It will grow to recognize its owner through repeated interactions. So long as these interactions are positive and the rabbit's affections are returned, the bond will grow and strengthen.