Little as your lovable animal rabbit may be, the aggressive stomping of his back feet can make a remarkably loud, disruptive and disconcerting noise. If your wee bunny stomps one or both of his hind legs down onto the ground every once in a while, he’s not aiming to annoy you, however instead aiming to express something to you. Focus on your bunny’s mode of communication.
Why Do Rabbits Thump Their Feet
Such behavior rabbits quite known, however many people not know reasons why rabbits stomp with their feet?
Rabbits thump usually because they are not happy about something. They may believe they remain in threat. They may be in pain (I had one rabbit do this). They may simply not like the way you are invading their home by insisting on giving them their meals and deals with on your schedule and not theirs. Feel in one’s bones that a thump never suggests the rabbit is happy.
A rabbit foot thumping is an alert to anybody nearby that something bad, unsure, or frightening is happening. In the wild, it’s primarily used to alert the warren that potential danger has to do with. With animal bunnies, it’s also a form of interaction. It can either suggest something scared the rabbit, the bunny is angry or annoyed with something, or something going on around it is causing aggravation. It is NOT limited to gender. In fact, I’ve discovered outspoken women to be especially susceptible to it if you’re getting too near to their personal space, choose them up when they don’t want it, or otherwise do something that troubles them!
Some examples of reasons a rabbit may thump are: being pestered by an individual or other animal, hearing a noise that they cannot tell the origins of, seeing an unexpected motion that frightens them, an owner aiming to get them back in the cage or attacking their cage when they do not want you, observing another rabbit getting something like food and understanding they don’t have any yet, trying to get the attention of a nearby bunny who’s overlooking them (among our more youthful males did this to my doe while she was out running!), or voicing that something is physically troubling them that they can not get rid of.
If the thumping is a kind of aggravation or anger, especially with females, it will sometimes be accompanied by a humming-like grunt.
Main Causes of Rabbit Stomps His Foot
So, Why do rabbits stomp their feet? Thumping ought to not be misinterpreted with binkeying, where the rabbit gets excited and leaps or bucks off the ground while running. That’s an expression of joy or enjoyment.
Look Out
If your bunny is loudly thumping his back leg over and over, he might be attempting to courteously inform you — together with everyone else in your house — of any impending threat that he views. If your bunny heard an unusual noise coming from outdoors, for instance, he may be aiming to alert you beforehand. He might simply be worried and terrified that predators are on the method.
I’m Feeling Irritable
Back leg stomping can also represent irritation in the rabbit world. If your bunny is feeling irritated about something, whether it’s your rubbing his back for a little bit longer than he wants or the existence of your rather hyper dog right beyond his cage, he may make it understood by thumping his feet. This behavior is a sign that your bunny is feeling somewhat inflamed or anxious at the minute, and most likely just has to be left alone for a little while.
I’m Really Angry
Although rabbits are usually docile animals, they’re in no way unsusceptible to occasional fits of anger. A rabbit may reveal feelings of belligerence and hostility by stomping his back feet. If your bunny remains in this nasty state of mind, offer him some much-needed time to cool off. Leave him be temporarily.
Pay Attention to Me
If your bunny is feeling especially energetic, dynamic and hyper, he might even stomp his back leg as a precursor to running around. By doing this, he’s aiming to get your attention and impress you. “Hey there, take a look at me. Do you see just how rapidly I can run?” All your bunny is requesting for is simply a little bit of your concentration.
When Should You Start Worrying
If your rabbit (or rabbits) thumps feet and it happened a couple of times, then there is nothing to worry about. We have described the reasons above. However, if you notice that rabbits often tap/thump their feet “for no reason”, then most likely there is a reason and you need to eliminate it.
Usually, they are concerned about the presence of someone. It may be another pet, such as a cat that they are not yet used to, or it may be a rat or a snake. You should identify the source of the rabbits ‘ anxiety and get rid of it. If they react this way to you, then be more polite to them. Accompany your visit with feeding (rabbits like to eat even when there is danger nearby). If there is a pest, then get rid of it by appropriate methods.
