Compared to a dog, a rabbit’s communication with its owner is of course rather sparse. Nonetheless, your rabbit does let you know how they feel and even shows you affection through certain behaviors. If you are attentive, this will not remain hidden from you and you will learn to respond even better to the needs of your four-legged friend. Below you will find out how a rabbit shows affection and what other body signals you should know.
Key facts at a glance
- With enough activity and patience, rabbits can become very trusting.
- Hand licking is a typical behavior that a rabbit uses to show affection.
- Rabbits that are particularly trusting demand their owner’s attention by nudging and tugging at their trousers.
- Rabbits need activity and shouldn’t just sit alone in their cage.
Gaining a rabbit’s affection
Rabbits are naturally shy animals with a strong instinct to flee. In the wild, this helps them to keep themselves safe from predators. With a little patience and attention, however, rabbits become very trusting over time and form a surprisingly close bond with their human housemates.
How your rabbit shows you affection
If your rabbit licks your hand when you pet it, it’s a clear sign that he wants to show you his affection. Because it is part of the natural behavior of rabbits to clean each other. In this way, they strengthen their relationship with one another. If a rabbit exhibits this behavior with you, it sees you as a member of its own species, so to speak, who belongs to its pack.
How your rabbit demands attention
When your bunny nudges you with his nose, he is letting you know that he wants your attention and to keep you busy. This behavior can also normally be observed between conspecifics. If your rabbit is particularly trusting, it may even tug at your pant leg with its teeth.
Typical behaviors of a happy rabbit
If a rabbit rolls around on the floor or throws itself on its back and stretches its feet in the air, this is a sure sign that the little four-legged friend is feeling particularly comfortable. This also applies when it is lying on its side or stomach with its head resting on its paws. In this position, it can relax particularly well and, for example, sleep or rest.
Hooking and wildly jumping in the air are also a good sign. This is how your rabbit signals that it is full of joie de vivre and is letting its play instinct run free.
Our conclusion on the subject of rabbits and affection
As you can see, rabbits are quite capable of showing affection for their owner. It is therefore worthwhile in any case if you spend a lot of time with your four-legged friend and actively ensure that you develop a close relationship with one another. Because although many people are not aware of this, rabbits are not at all suitable to be simply placed in a cage or hutch and then left to their own devices.