As cute and cuddly as rabbits are, there is a lot unknown about them in general society. As someone who has owned a rabbit now for the past 4 years, I am constantly learning new things about how best to care for my darling bunny and have had to unlearn a lot of stereotypes that I had when it came to rabbits. The media has done a poor job of educating people, and so I thought it would be useful to share some of the information I have found in the hopes that it helps you all learn something new about rabbits and also help give your own little bunnies a better way of living.
Rabbits are crepuscular
Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk. In the wild, this is when predators are least active, with most hunting at night or in the middle of the day. As such, you may find that your rabbit is super active and playful first thing in the morning and right before human bedtime, but are quite lethargic and sleepy during the day and throughout the night. It also means that rabbits don’t tend to sleep for long periods of time, instead opting for powernaps throughout the day.
Rabbits need to eat very often
Rabbits have a very delicate internal digestive system that moves in only one direction. 80% of a rabbits diet should be made up of hay, and they should have unlimited access to this throughout the day. When they don’t get enough hay (and therefore not enough fibre in their diet) their digestive tract can slow down and this can lead to what is known as gastrointestinal stasis (GI Stasis). This can kill a rabbit very quickly. Their digestive system is one that means food can only travel in one direction, so they cannot vomit if something doesn’t agree with them. It also means that they cannot force anything out, so if there is a block anywhere along their digestive tract, they have no way of forcing it out. It is very important to always check that your rabbit’s digestion is working well. The most obvious way is to check their litter trays or living space for their droppings. They eat a lot, so therefore they will have a lot of dropping too. Rabbit droppings should be roughly the size of a pea and be of light brown colour, similar to the colour of the hay that they eat. Whilst the size and colour will obviously vary, the most important thing is that there are still droppings being made.
Rabbits hide their pain very well
As a prey species, rabbits are very good at hiding when something is wrong. Getting to know your rabbit is so important not only from a companionship perspective, but also so you can spot when they are behaving differently to normal. A tell-tale sign that a rabbit may be in pain is when they are sat very still, usually in a load position (with their feet tucked up under their bodies) and their eyes shut. Now some rabbits do sleep like this, but if they have been sat like that for a while, or they keep standing up and then going back into that position, it is likely they may be having some pain issues. I have also seen rabbits who will spread out flat on the floor (in what I like to call a sploot) and then get up again, before very quickly lying out flat. If you see your rabbit doing this for longer than 5 mina, that’s when you break out the favourite treats. If they refuse to eat even their favourite treat, then they are likely in a lot of pain and you should phone the vet immediately.
Rabbits LOVE bananas
This was something I learnt that really quite shocked me. Both of my bunnies would literally climb me for a bit of a banana. It is impossible to even pick up a banana without my rabbit appearing at my feet begging me desperately for some of that sweet, sweet yellow goodness. Honestly it’s like a drug for them. Now banana is very high in sugar, which is probably why rabbits love it so much, but as such it should only be given as a rare treat. I always keep some bananas in the house for emergencies (as with the previous point) because I know something is very wrong with my rabbit if she isn’t even interested in banana. I do not give her banana everyday, but if I do it will only be a very small slice.
Rabbits binky and flop when they are happy
One of the easiest ways to see if your rabbit is a happy rabbit is to notice if they binky or flop around the house. A binky is when a rabbit will jump into the air and wiggle it’s legs and head mid-air. They will most likely combine this with the very common ‘zoomies’, where they will run at full speed around the room, jumping and leaping as they go. It is their way of letting off energy, but also a way for them to play and be a little bit silly. It’s truly adorable and will give you the biggest smile on your face to witness.
A flop however is the complete opposite, when a rabbit is super relaxed and calm. They will, quite literally, flop onto their side and fall straight asleep, usually with their eyes closed and their legs all splayed out around them. This is considered a very vulnerable position for a prey animal to be in, as their tummy is exposed and it takes the longest time to get up from should there be an immediate threat. So for a rabbit to do this, they have to feel so relaxed and calm and contented, and know that there are no threats around them. Now it can sound painful – there is always quite a loud thud when my rabbit flops onto her side – but rest assured it does not cause them pain and is a sure sign that your rabbit is a happy and zen bunny.
Rabbits have different personalities
While most people would assume that of course rabbits have different personalities, I for one was not prepared for the varying personalities that came with our two rabbits. Sasha (who unfortunately passed away in 2021) was the most chilled out rabbit you could ever meet. She was also a total goofball. Rabbits don’t tend to like loud noises or being chased, but Sasha ADORED running around with us. It was her favourite game and she would tire herself out with binkies while we would playfully chase after her. usually this was because we were trying to get her out of a room that she shouldn’t have been in, but it was all a game to Sasha.
Lola on the other hand is such a diva. She will move when she wants to move. She can be silly and playful, but even then she does it with an air of sophistication. Her favourite game is reverse fetch – she throws a ball into the air and watches it roll away, whilst I have to then go and get the ball and bring it back to her. She is also so snuggly, but again on her terms. If she wants cuddles, she will sit by the bottom of my chair and stare at me until i pay her attention. She will also jump onto the couch when we are eating to see if she can grab a tasty treat. She is also, however, quite a grump and will stomp her feet at me if I dare to be even 2 minutes late in giving her pellets, or if I don’t let her under the bed, or if I don’t give her more banana. She has also honked at me a few times when she is super annoyed at me – usually when I am stopping her from going somewhere she shouldn’t or I have just brushed her.
Your rabbit will no doubt be wildly different to mine and it is so important to get to know your rabbit. Not only is it super rewarding to see this little personality bloom before you, it can also help you notice when they are not quite themselves.
Rabbits can purr
Ok so they don’t actually purr like a cat, but they do something that sounds very similar. When a rabbit is very happy they will rub their teeth together to make a soft purr-like noise. This tends to happen when you are stroking them and it is a clear sign to not stop petting them! I have seen videos where rabbits can even give a little chirping noise along with the teeth rubbing, but I have yet to experience it first hand. Either way it is incredibly cute to hear and again reassures you that you are looking after one happy little bunny.
Taylor Talks Vegan 