Throughout its life, your rabbit will share with you its worries, its stress, its happiness, its feelings, its sensitivity, its well-being and its fulfillment (or not) through a body language that you will have to learn to decipher. We help you do it in a crash course.

Communication, by voice and by posture, of your rabbit is much less than that of a dog or a cat . Does this mean that your rabbit communicates less? No way. On the contrary, your companion has a plethora of information to share. It is still necessary to know how to recognize and understand them. He needs space and time to express himself, after which you will have to respond to his demands and needs.

sounds to hear

No, your rabbit is not voiceless. Yes, he sometimes manifests his moods through his voice.

• The growl is quite noticeable, although the noise is quite muted. Your rabbit is not necessarily very happy and lets you know it. He will take an attack posture , advancing his head towards his “opponent”. This is the stage before the bite.
• Your rabbit (preferably unsterilized) can also make a noise: the “ honk honk ”. In summary, it is to signify to the congener in front of him that he would like to mate with him/her or at least that he likes this individual. This noise is accompanied by an emission of very strong-smelling hormones. At the same time, your rodent will raise its tail , a sign of excitement (can also be a sign of aggression or nervousness ).
• If your bunny is bored or unhappy, he may express it through sighs , just like humans.
• Your rabbit may also scream , make a shrill sound. It’s a sign of fear, like being chased by a predator.

Gestures and attitudes to understand

• He grinds his teeth . This can have a double meaning . In the first case, your rabbit will show its well-being . It can be during a caress. This squeak is then compared to the purring of a cat. However, if he grinds his teeth while staring blankly or tiredly, then your rabbit is in more pain .
• Your rabbit can tap its paw . He will thus express his dissatisfaction with a situation that does not suit him.
• When your rabbit is relaxed and about to fall asleep, he will lie on his side with his legs extended .
• Wide awake, your rabbit can also “show off”. In this case, he will stand on his hind legs . Your rodent invites you to interact with it. He also likes to give himself importance.
• Sometimes your rabbit does not want to communicate or even be disturbed. He’ll let you know by pushing your hand away from his muzzle . Therefore, you must leave him alone. He can also have his own moments.
• Conversely, your rabbit may lick you . In this case, it is a mark of affection . Just like when your rabbit licks the face of a congener.

A language that can signify an illness

This is not always the case, fortunately, but if your rabbit is shaking its head , it could be a sign of a pathology. You have to be careful and careful. Usually, this behavior is the result of your pet’s displeasure . However, it can also mean that something is bothering him, such as an ear infection or the presence of parasites . In this specific case, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian .

Another disease, more psychological: boredom. Your rabbit will tell you when he gnaws on his bars . No, your protege is not teething. He would like more stimulation and finds the time in his crate to be long . This is the right time to bring it out.

tail language

Like the dog and the cat, the tail of your rabbit can give some indications on its psychological state, its desires and its frustrations.

• At rest, the tail remains horizontal . Moreover, in many rabbits, it is not always noticed. It goes perfectly with the back.
• When he is aggressive or wants to impress a fellow rabbit, or even someone else, your rabbit will tend to lift his tail and put it almost vertically . Better to try to calm him down right away before a bite.
• The tail wags when your rabbit is excited .
• Its tail can also be used as a pendulum . As a result, he will lower it before jumping, and raise it when landing the jump.
• Tail down is when your rabbit approaches an unfamiliar object. It is a mark of fear. He is not reassured, if we add to that lying ears .

The language of the ears

Normally, your rabbit will have straight ears. They are turned on each side of the head and give it a normal look. Curiosity will show itself by ears turned towards an object which intrigues it, which questions it. Note the pavilions orient and face the object.

When your rabbit is resting or sleeping, he tends to lay his ears down . It is also a sign of serenity . This position is also taken when he cleans and washes himself .

In case of aggression , the ears will be laid down and the muzzle advanced as well as the hindquarters raised. His ears are slightly higher, but not too much if he is nervous and stressed .

In any case, the position of the ear alone does not mean much without having a complement (position of the hindquarters and the muzzle).

In summary

There are plenty of ways for your rabbit to communicate with you and his fellow rabbits. You must be attentive to all the signals he may send you. It will be the sign of his mood, of his current form. He can also send you vital information, such as being sick, even aggressive or stressed.