Rabbit Behaviors and Vocalizations
Vocalizations
People are often surprised to learn that rabbits make sounds! They don't use may sounds, but a few have obvious meaning.
Deep growling/grunting:
A deep throaty growl and grunts means your rabbit is ready to mate! Intact does may make this noise toward other rabbits to indicate that they are in a flirty mood. They may also use these sounds toward humans to generally announce they are looking for love.
Growling with stiff body posture:
A loud growl with a stiff body posture shows your rabbit is angry! They might be defensive and warning you off. Stay back! They might attack. Rabbits making this noise may lunge, box at you with their front legs, or even bite.
Soft squeaking:
Baby rabbits make a soft squeaking sound when they are calling to their mother or are excited. Sometimes adult rabbits will squeak when they are afraid or uncertain.
Grinding teeth (not while eating):
Teeth grinding can indicate pain, or it can indicate contentment! It is important to check the rest of your rabbit's body language to tell the difference, if you hear teeth grinding. Are you scritching your rabbit in the best place? The teeth grinding is likely contentment. Is the rabbit hunched in a corner, grinding teeth? Probably pain!
Body Language and Actions
Pressed flat to the ground:
This is a submissive position. The rabbit will press itself flat to the ground, lay its ears flat against its back, and open its eyes wide. If your rabbit does this toward you, it is not relaxed and is showing anxious behavior.
Crouching motionless:
Your rabbit is frightened and doesn't think it can escape! Rabbits will freeze in place with eyes wide open and ears up to check for dangers. They will also be breathing heavily. This is so that there is less chance of a predator seeing them based on movement.
Standing tall and tensed:
If your rabbit stands tall and upright and tenses, it may be defensive or excited. If the ears are back, your rabbit is defensive. Mother rabbits will often take this posture when defending their nest. If the ears are up, your rabbit is excited or curious.
Lying down, fully stretched out:
The back legs will be fully kicked out. This shows your rabbit is very relaxed! It may even lie on its side or roll onto its back. Rabbits only rest like this when they feel truly safe.
Standing up on hind legs:
Your rabbit may be curious or begging! Standing up can be used to get a better look at something or to get your attention!
Stamping hind feet:
This is a warning! It lets other rabbits know there may be danger. Bucks will also stamp their feet after mating.
Jumping in air, making sharp turns, shaking head:
When fleeing from danger, rabbits make these sudden turns and jumps to confuse their chasers and to make their escape. Rabbits can also make these moves while playing. When playing, it is called a "binky". Rabbits do binkies when they are having a blast!
Digging
Wild rabbits dig burrows to live in and raise their young. Domestic rabbits will often mimic this behavior by making digging motions on your clothes, in their litter box, or on the carpet. You can give them a box full of shredded newspaper or hay to let them engage in this natural behavior.
Sniffing, nose rapidly moving:
This indicates your rabbit is excited. The rapid nose movement will be coupled with rapid breathing. This indicates your rabbit noticed something unnerving. Keep in mind that if your rabbit is hot, this could also be an indication that your rabbit has heat stress or even is going into heat stroke.
Carrying hay (or similar items) in mouth:
This is usually a sign that a pregnant doe will be giving birth soon! She will take nesting material to her nest and arrange it just so. Does who are not pregnant may have pseudopregnancies (false pregnancies). Rabbits may also carry favorite treats away in their mouth to keep them from others.
Licking others:
Rabbits will lick their friends, including you! They usually lick the ears and heads of their friend, which is why they love to be gently pet on their heads and between the ears.
Mounting others:
Bucks mount does to mate, of course, but that's not the only reason for mounting. Mounting can also be a dominant behavior. Does may mount males, and same-sex rabbits may mount.
Chin rubbing:
Rabbits have a scent gland under their chin, and they will rub their chin on things to scent mark them as part of their territory.
Spraying urine:
Rabbits spray urine to mark their territory. While this activity is especially common with unneutered males, females, and neutered males may still spray.
Eating feces:
Rabbits have a special kind of poop called 'cecotrophs'. These cecotrophs are softer than normal feces and are clumped together like a bunch of grapes. They contain partially digested food plus enzymes and beneficial bacteria. Rabbits need to consume these to stay healthy and to get the most out of their diet.