Why do domestic rabbits thump

But, it can mean that something is stressing them out or scaring them. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Squeaks and Nibbles. Pet Rabbits. Share on Facebook. Bunny Standing Up. Why Is My Bunny Shaking?

Please enter your comment! Please enter your name here. You have entered an incorrect email address! Are Rabbits Smart? Do Guinea Pigs Have Tails? Alpaca Names. Your rabbit is warning you that he or she senses danger. Thumping is usually an alert to danger, although it can also be an expression of annoyance. The key to knowing what your bunny friend is trying to say comes from the environment. What situation was your rabbit in before the thumping? Sometimes the cause is not as obvious as plane noise.

This means you must become a detective to figure out what might be bothering your bunny. Rabbits are individuals with different personalities. Just like people, some are laid-back and some are tense. Some rabbits easily adapt to changes and others need more time and TLC. Some thumping is normal. Something that you consider harmless might strike fear in your rabbit.

Crinkling paper, a certain odor, birds flying by the window, household noises — all seem like nothing to us, but to some rabbits these might cause heart-pounding discomfort.

Is it always at the same time of day? Is it in a certain room? Is it around certain people? Is it around another rabbit or pet? What can be seen, smelled, or even felt? A truck rumbling by could cause vibrations in your home. A local rabbit shelter operator might also have insight that can help. Desensitizing does not mean overloading your rabbit by massive exposure to the trigger! Every rabbit is slightly different. But, others may wake for brief periods through those hours, or wake very early in the morning to start playing and eating.

Thumping is a method of communication for rabbits. Maybe you opened a window at night and the curtains are blowing in the breeze. Rabbits that are thumping out of fear will usually thump repeatedly until the thing scaring them has gone.

If you check on your rabbit when they thump at night and notice these signs, they are likely to be scared by something. Another common cause of thumping in rabbits is because of anger or irritation. Again, this would be in reaction to something around them. Do you keep multiple rabbits? Perhaps one of them is doing something that is frustrating the other! If your bunny stops thumping as soon as you come over, or as soon as you pet them, this is probably what the behavior was for.

And, rabbits are clever little creatures. Encouraging this can make the problem more common.