If they live in cold climates, rabbits often sleep curled up in a little furry ball. This limits how much of their bodies are exposed to the nippy air – usually their paws will be nestled close to their stomachs. If they live in hot areas, they are less likely to need these heat-conserving positions.
If you see your rabbit in a hunched position, it will look like they want to settle down into a loaf but don't want to put pressure against their stomach. If you ever notice your rabbit sitting like this, it means there is likely something wrong with their digestive tract.
Lunging: Rabbits that lunge are very upset. This is often an aggressive defensive stance coupled with biting or grunting. Flattening: If your rabbit is flat with its belly on the floor, ears back, and bulging eyes, they are scared.
A bunny who is angry with their owner or another rabbit may let them know by giving them a cold shoulder, or Bunny Butt. They will turn their back on you and refuse to look at you. Bunnies hold grudges.
Loafed / Splooting: Loafing or splooting is when your rabbit is in relaxation mode. They're either bundled up and looking like a little loaf with their front legs tucked in to form a rounded shape or stretched out with their back legs stretched out behind them.
If they're close together, facing upwards and pointing outwards, your rabbit is likely to be relaxed and happy. If they're worried, their ears will be flattened against their back.
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.
Because rabbits are social animals, they will often get depressed if they are left alone for too long. A rabbit who is treated like a cage animal and left alone inside their enclosure day in and day out is very likely to become lonely and depressed. Instead, it's best to treat rabbits as companion animals.
Abnormal rabbit behaviour
Signs to look out for include biting the bars of their hutch, nipping at you, fur pulling or reduced grooming, changes in eating, drinking or toilet patterns, aggression, circling their run, sitting hunched up and hiding more than normal.
Petting the head
Rabbits love the sensation of being pet here. It's also the easiest place to reach with your hand coming from above their head. While petting your rabbit here, you can give them little scritches with your fingers, or you can give them small strokes on their forehead.
Hold rabbits gently but firmly - ensure one hand supports their back and hindquarters at all times. Help them feel secure by holding all four feet against your body. Never pick rabbits up by their ears - this would be extremely stressful and is highly likely to injure them.
Rabbits love being stroked on their foreheads and backs. Always stroke in the direction of the hair, never against the hair (unless you are checking for skin problems). Most also like being stroked behind the ears.
A head tilt in a rabbit is usually caused by a problem inside the ear or brain (where the balance centre sits). Inner ear infections and E. caniculi (a tiny parasite that causes swelling in the brain) are the two most common causes of a head tilt in a rabbit.
Honking. Honking is usually heard from a bunny who is excited or one who is about to receive their favorite treat.
Circling is one way that rabbits will show their affection for the people who they feel close to. It's an indication that your rabbit is excited to see you. You might even notice they are making a quiet oinking or buzzing sound while they do it (sometimes called honking too).
Rabbits enjoy being around people and can usually recognise their owners by sight and sound.
Signs that your rabbit might be bored
Rabbits might start chewing things that they shouldn't, destroying their pen, or trying to dig out. They might also start to over-groom themselves to give them something to do.