Have you noticed your rabbits doing something strange?
The 2nd – 10th June is Rabbit Awareness Week. Our bunnies can bemuse us with their strange behaviour. Our vets answer 7 common questions about the odd things our furry friends do:
‘Why do my rabbits lick me?’
‘One of my rabbits has started to scratch and bite me. Why?’
Your rabbit could be in pain or it could be their hormones creating the problem. A trip to your vet will rule out pain or illness and your vet can tell you more about how neutering could help.
Your rabbit could also be bored. A good sized run – with room for at least three hops and for your rabbits to stand up on their back legs – and plenty of toys will keep them busy.
‘Why do my rabbits rub their chins on the furniture?’
Rabbits have scent glands under their chin and rub against things to mark it as theirs. If you notice your rabbit doing this, it’s a sign they’re making themselves at home!
‘Help! My rabbits are eating their own poop!’
Don’t worry if you spot your rabbit eating their own poo – it’s perfectly natural and helps keep them healthy! They only eat a certain type of poo called a ‘caecotroph’. This is a shiny, sticky dropping and is full of important nutrients. They often eat these straight from their bum.
‘Why do my rabbits thump their feet?’
It doesn’t just happen in films – rabbits really do thump the ground with their feet. It’s a way of communicating with the rabbits around them. Thumping could be a danger warning.
‘One of my rabbits has started to walk around me and nibble my feet. What’s going on?’
Your rabbit’s flirting with you! They’re probably feeling hormonal and sexually frustrated. It’s time to take a trip to the vet to talk about neutering.
‘Why do my rabbits grunt at me?’
This is a warning from your rabbits. Maybe they’re not happy to be picked up or they’re feeling protective of their food. Have a think about what you’re doing when your rabbits grunt at you and see if you can work out what they’re trying to tell you.
