Those weird twisty jumps are nothing to worry about, and are actually a sign of a happy rabbit. When a rabbit does a weird twist and jump in the air, it's called a binky. Rabbits do this when they have so much happy energy that they just can't contain it.
Rabbits binkying look a bit like a person gleefully jumping into the air and clicking their heels together. While rabbits don't actually do that Fred Astaire heel click, they do leap into the air and twist their bodies to show that they are happy or excited.
Happy and content rabbits will be constantly wiggling and twitching their noses, whether they're bouncing about or relaxing.
You may see your rabbit making abnormal movements like rolling, twitching, tilting its head, or being unable to move certain body parts. Grand mal seizures also cause loss of consciousness while experiencing involuntary tremors.
Some rabbits will tremble and vibrate when they are particularly comfortable in your presence. Their relaxed demeanor is a sure sign of their shaking being out of happiness rather than any negative cause.
The common causes of shaking are fear, nervousness, and stress. A less obvious cause of trembling is heat, as rabbits do not tolerate high temperatures well. If your rabbit is lying on its side and shaking, it could be due to a digestive issue (GI stasis). Also, it may have ingested something toxic.
The animal may appear to go into a trance-like state, staring at an object, or appearing confused or disoriented. In more severe seizures twitching or loss of bodily control can occur. The animal might lose control of their limbs or may pass urine where they are sitting/standing.
If a rabbit comes up and nudges you or hand and puts their head down to be pet, that's a sign that they love you and enjoy the way you interact with them. If a rabbit is willing to come up to you whenever they want and ask to be pet, then that is a clear sign that your rabbit loves and trusts you.
Vocalising – Bunnies aren't known for being noisy, but a scared rabbit may growl, grunt or squeal – a warning that says 'back off'. Aggression – A frightened rabbit might bite, kick or scratch. Unneutered bunnies are more likely to be aggressive. Shaking – Like humans, rabbits may tremble with fear.
Most rabbits absolutely hate being held. The experience of having all four feet off the ground and being trapped in someone's arms can make a rabbit really scared. If your primary way of interacting with a rabbit is to pick them up, then they will start to run away from you whenever you come near, to avoid being held.
To keep your rabbit happy and healthy, let it out of its cage at least once a day, giving it time to roam. Though at least one hour is necessary, aim closer to three or four. As a rule, never keep your rabbit cooped up for 24 hours at a time.
Licking You
Two bonded rabbits will show affection by grooming each other. Your rabbit might show his affection for you in a similar way, by licking you! A rabbit might also lick you to let you know he wants to be petted.
Ear mites very often cause the rabbit intense irritation, so you will notice your rabbit headshaking, ear flapping and scratching at the ears more often than usual. More severe signs may include twisting of the head (torticollis), spasms of the eye muscles and seizures.
Head Shaking
If the rabbit frequently shakes its head and scratches its ears, it may have a medical problem, such as an ear infection, that needs medical attention.
Most rabbits love to be cuddled and stroked when approached in the right way. Few like being held or carried as being so high up from the ground makes them feel insecure, however, many will happily sit on your lap or snuggle up next to you for a cuddle.
Should you avoid touching your rabbit's ears? 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.
They also lose much of their depth perception at close ranges, seeing in two dimensions (instead of the three that we are used to). Their vision also isn't as sharp as humans' vision. This grainy vision is why it's so easy to startle your bunny – they might not always recognize your shape.
You can help your rabbit calm down by covering their eyes with your hands. During this time, you'll want to speak gently to your rabbit. If your rabbit is familiar with you, then they'll also know your voice. Speaking gently can help your rabbit to understand that there is no danger, and will help them to calm down.
Move slowly and talk quietly around rabbits so as not to startle them. They're more likely to be relaxed in a quiet and calm handling environment. Picking rabbits up when you're close to ground level is less likely to scare them, and is also safer, as it helps prevent them from being dropped from a height by accident.