Rabbits are prey animals with instincts
that influence both behaviour and body language. Loud, vocal noises or too many
vibrant movements would just attract unwanted company from predators, forcing
rabbits to develop other more subtle forms of communication in order to
survive.
The wild rabbits main form of communication
is through scent, leaving markings of urine or droppings. Living in underground
colonies, they can be quite territorial, marking their living space in order to
communicate position in the area to other rabbits. The domestic rabbits exhibit
the same sort of behaviour as their predecessors, leaving markings and
droppings in their living space.(1) They also have scent glands
under their chins, and are often observed rubbing their chin on different
objects around the house, as to make them as their belongings, as process that
is referred to as chinning. (2)
(click on the image to go to its original source)
For safety reasons, rabbits seldom
communicate using noise. However, this does not mean that they are not capable
of vocalising. Grinding of the teeth is for instance known as a sign of
satisfaction. If they are irritated or discontent with the situation, rabbits
can give out grunting like noises as a warning before an attack or bite.
Thumping its hind legs on the ground may occur when a rabbit is startled or
nervous, and is often used as a signal to warn other rabbits of danger. Rabbits
that experience severe stress or pain are known to give out a loud, desperate
scream.(3)
Although subtle, rabbits also communicate
through body language, which in many ways is one of the only ways for humans to
pick up on a rabbits signals, as we don’t have the ability to sniff out
messages of scent. As mentioned earlier, a rabbits body language is often
muted, as it is restricted by instincts of survival, actually making rabbits
somewhat unsuitable as pets, especially for children, as they are easy to
misinterpret. One should therefore always keep an animal in captivity under
their own terms, making time and commitment to learn how to understand their
behaviour and language.
(click on the image to go to its original source)
Rabbits are highly sociable animals, and a
rabbit which wants attention and is contact seeking, will on its own terms come
jumping towards you, often sniffing or nudging you with their nose, as this is
their way of greeting. More powerful nudging and even pushing is simply a way
of telling you that you need to move, as you are in the rabbit’s way. Licking,
and casually settling its body beside you for a rest can show exhibitions of
fondness and trust. A rabbit lying down on its side, totally relaxed toward its
surroundings, is a great sign of complete trust, and should be taken as a
compliment, as the rabbit in many ways is setting its instincts of escape
aside, trusting you with its safety. (3)
To avoid predators, wild rabbits will stay
in their underground burrows during day, coming out at dusk and dawn to eat and
play. Rabbits leaping through the air are displaying happiness and playfulness;
a performance often seen when domestic rabbits are let out of their cages and
are free to roam, referred to as “pop corning” or having a “binky”. (2)
This act of playfulness also has a more serious background, training rabbits to
be able to quickly change direction and cause confusion when being chased by
predators. The underground borrows also often have quick escape routes through
a hole in the ceiling, making it possible to get away from underground
predators by simply making a giant leap into safer grounds. (4)
(click on the image to go to its original source)
If a rabbits want to be left alone, it will
turn its back on you, showing you no interest, or will simply just hop away. A
frightened rabbit will with flattened ears press its body to the ground to make
itself invisible, waiting for the right moment to escape. In some cases a
rabbit will attack. This can come to several reasons. A rabbit can hop toward
you, sometimes attacking, when you stick your hands into its cage to pick it up
or change its food or water. The rabbit is showing a completely normal,
territorial behaviour, and should not be punished! The problem can easily be
solved by letting the rabbit jump out of its cage on voluntary grounds, and by
giving it fresh food and water when the rabbit is already out of its cage. (4)
More serious situations, such as anxiety or
pain can also make a rabbit attack, as a last resort. Again, punishing it will
only make matters worse, and it is the owner’s responsibility to figure out
what is wrong by evaluating and fixing the situation. By learning a rabbit’s way of
communication, you can use it to your advantage by communicating back; if your rabbit
is being naughty, simply stop whatever its is doing, turn your back like a
rabbit would do, and walk a few steps away, showing that you are not very
impressed with its behaviour. (5)
Learning the different ways of how your
rabbit is trying to communicate with you is a crucial step in maintaining a
healthy and peaceful relationship. After all, you have in most cases chosen to
bring the rabbit home with you, making it a part of your family, meaning that
you should treat it and its individual needs with respect
References
(1) http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/rabbits/factfile
(4) The Great Book abour Rabbits, Marit Emilie
Buseth. Tun Forlag, 2010.
(5) http://www.barneyandjemima.co.uk/communication/unhappy.html
