Your kids are playing around in the house with your little bunny and suddenly they scream and shout out to you – it’s drumming on the floor again!
You dash to address the situation and find your rabbit thumping its hind legs in short intervals. It’s something you’ve been encountering for a while and wondering why. Why do rabbits thump anyway?
Rabbits thump for various reasons, but the most common is because they are scared or agitated. If your bunny is suddenly distracted from playing or eating while stomping away restlessly, things need to be taken care of.
If you’re seeking the causes behind your rabbit’s thumping spree, read through our article.
How Do Rabbits Thump?
Remember the 1942 animated movie, Bambi? If you’ve watched the movie, you must remember the cuddly bunny character, Thumper. And the way both the animated character and a real rabbit thump aren’t so different.
Usually, rabbits wait for a moment and arch or curl slightly their back while stepping on their front feet. It makes their hind legs suspended in the air a moment before those hind legs bang onto the ground. It typically sounds like a loud thud.
Rabbits may not stay in one place while thumping. It may rotate its body clockwise and thump once or twice in each position.
Remember, as your rabbit continues stomping, it may look playful. But don’t be fooled. A thumping rabbit must be scared or disturbed for some reason.
To know what makes your rabbit thump, let’s get to the next segment of our article.
6 Reasons Why Rabbits Thump
We’ve curated six reasons why rabbits thumping habit. You may or may not find these reasons relatable. However, they’ll probably help you address the situation more efficiently the next time your rabbit is in distress.
So, let’s find out those possible reasons below that trigger your rabbit to thump:
1. A Rabbit Thumps Due to Instinctive Reaction
Like a cat’s hissing or a dog’s growling in the face of a threat, rabbits have developed thumping. This instinctive behavior warns others of danger.
Rabbits don’t thump often for personal survival. It rather relates to a team effort for survival in the wild. A single rabbit will often thump to alert its colony of danger.
Since wild rabbits live underground, thumping on the groundworks more effectively than vocalizing might.
And since rabbits don’t shout or blare much, an underground vibration is more viable to send warning signals about potential dangers. It’s more like dolphins and whales who send messages through ocean waves from miles away.
2. A Rabbit May Be Trying to Scare Predators
Apart from making territorial displays, rabbits thump to ward off predators as well. It might sound crazy, but it really works for them. But how? Here’s the twist.
Rabbits can play with the predators’ killing instinct. Naturally, a predator like a fox or a wild dog is passionate about hunting down prey.
A rabbit works with this killer instinct. It will thump on the ground to give away its position, demotivating the predator from pouncing immediately. It lends the rabbit some more time to escape.
Furthermore, a rabbit may thump to deter another rabbit from invading its home. Territorial animals that they are, an unauthorized entrance can’t be tolerated.
3. Pet Bunnies May Thump Due to Being Scared
As said earlier, a rabbit typically thumps out of fear. If your pet rabbit is scared of something or someone, it will thump. Yes, it’s true that pet bunnies aren’t wild. But remember, instincts don’t leave so easily.
Next time, you should take the thumping of your rabbit as an indication of fear. And you mustn’t ignore them during this time. No matter how irritating it gets for you, stay there to calm your bunny.
Pet rabbits may stay still for a long time when they’re scared. You’ll see it thumping every 4-5 seconds until it’s sure that the threat is gone.
4. Reacting to Odd Sounds or Scents
Your bunnies may be triggered by a sound. While wild rabbits stay alert to approaching predators or hunters, pet bunnies get triggered even by the most usual sounds in the house.
Your kids might have shouted, a car might’ve honked outside, or a dog might’ve been barking— all to the dislike of your rabbit.
If you keep your bunny outside in a hutch, it may hear creepy noises from the road or nearby wooded areas. However, you may mistake its thumping as being unimportant while it’s doing this for legitimate reasons— maybe a burglar!
You may find your rabbit thumping because of unusual scents. Any smell coming out of another animal’s body, dirt, or even some food items may make your rabbit turn the other way. Note that they particularly hate lavender or vinegar.
However, if the smell persists, the rabbit will start stomping its foot, as if to say, get it away!
5. Bunnies Thump out of Anger
It’s incredible that your adorable rabbit can sometimes get angry. But when you see your rabbit thumping, that is one of the signs that it may be angry.
When having a bad day, your rabbit may express that to you through thumping. It’s much like a child throwing a tantrum.
You shouldn’t ignore your rabbit’s anger just because it’s not throwing things at you or breaking its toys. Constant thumping accompanied by jumping around and growling is a sign that it is in a bad mood.
It may lose its appetite or stay in its bed for a long time. If you’re unable to sort things out, call a vet.
6. Stomping out of Pain
Rabbits also may behave oddly due to being injured. Sometimes, they’ll thump to let you know that they’re suffering. Your rabbit might get stressed because of its injury or be unable to handle it; hence it is thumping or squealing around you.
Next time, if you hear your rabbit thumping for your attention, check if it’s wounded. If it is, apply first aid and then call a vet for further treatment.
Why Does Your Rabbit Thump In Its Hutch?
Your rabbit needs to move limbs after a long sleep. So, make it a habit to free your rabbit from its cage as soon as it wakes up.
Another reason to open the cage immediately is to save your rabbit from getting injured. When rabbits get impatient, they will keep kicking and thumping intermittently as long as you don’t let them loose. In doing so, they might hit the cage and hurt themselves.
Although rabbits are playful and adorable, keeping them confined inside the coop may frustrate them— not to mention make them grumpy and sick.
Do Rabbits Thump for Your Attention?
Why wouldn’t they? Rabbits are playful and sensitive at the same time. They may be either wanting to play with you or feeling uncomfortable due to something. In short, they mean to communicate with you by thumping.
Rabbits may thump to draw your attention to an empty food bowl, a closed cage, to play, or just for a tasty treat.
Since rabbits get along quite easily with their daily domestic schedule, they don’t like it when things aren’t done in time. Your little companion will keep reminding you that you’ve got a job at hand.
Even if it’s for some cuddling, do it by any means. Rabbits love their owners’ attention and you’re the one to provide it. You might’ve been expecting some nudges or gnawings, but hey, can’t they show a little frustration to their loved ones?
Is Your Bunny Stomping at Night?
Do you keep your rabbit outside in a cage at night? Many rabbit owners don’t allow pets inside in the late hours. If you’re one of them, it’s possible that you’ll hear your bunny thumping in short intervals outside the house.
But what does it want to tell you? And what does it thump for at night? Fear— what else?
Rabbits are delicate at heart which is why they get nervous when they sense unfamiliar objects or movements, especially in the dark. Sleeping outdoors may be bad for rabbits due to this fear.
Another reason you might want to consider is boredom. You can’t expect your rabbit to slouch inside its hutch all the time. Some rabbits are semi-nocturnal, so they’ll try to keep busy at night. And that might make them call their owner by stomping in or kicking the cage.
So, the next time your rabbit is banging on its cage at night, peek outside to check if everything is alright. Take it inside if you can and give it what it needs.
5 Ways to Stop Rabbits from Thumping
Helping your thumping rabbit is likely the same as comforting a kid. They both require comfort and a sense of safety to recover.
Rabbits are sometimes lonely or overwhelmed by the human world. They react to these feelings by growling, skittering, squealing, and of course, thumping.
There are some ways to relieve their stress and stop them from thumping. You must help them in those ways if you care for their health. Remember, stressing out might make your rabbit go into shock.
So, the next time your pet rabbit thumps, use these five tricks below:
1. Find out the Causes
We’ve already shared a few things that might spook your rabbit. Finding out what exactly is on its mind is necessary to prevent shock or trauma.
If you know the reason why your bunny thump, you can take proper measures. Check if your rabbit got scared because of—
- discovering an unfamiliar object in its room.
- hearing odd sounds or loud music.
- Smelling an odor such as chemicals or strong perfume.
- being chased by other pets in the house.
- being caged for longer than usual.
2. Speak Softly and Caress It
Once you’ve found out the reason, get your rabbit close to you and pet it. Now, you have to win over its heart all over again.
Speak with it in a gentle and pleasant voice to soothe it. Give it some time to calm down. Stroke its forehead and pat its back to make it feel normal again.
If it’s responding well, take your rabbit on your lap and keep petting it until it’s at complete ease. If its heart rate isn’t slowing down, take it in your arms, keeping it softly against your chest. It may fall asleep after a while.
3. Try Distractions
Sometimes, distractions work wonders in human kids in stopping their tantrums. They might engage in anything to keep busy. Trust us, your bunny isn’t so different.
Try some distractions if your rabbit thumps all over the house and doesn’t stop easily. You can try shutting its eyes with your palms, to calm its mind.
Also, giving it a new treat like fresh green lettuce or a carrot top can shift its focus from the object that’s disturbing it. Or, pass along its favorite toys (ex: puzzle toys), so it gets distracted from what’s bothering it.
4. Shift Habitats
Many pet owners have observed that their rabbits can be spooked by their surroundings. It’s obvious that a new environment gets on a pet rabbit’s nerves easily. They express their agitation via thumping, skittering, or rejecting meals.
Your rabbit might be scared of cats, dogs, or exotic pets in the house. Or, if your rabbit is kept outdoors, it might feel scared due to some creepy raccoons, badgers, or coyotes.
The best thing you can do is change your bunny’s habitat. Bring it inside from outdoors, or accommodate it in a safer and cozier room without the other pets. And be attentive to its regular meals, cuddles, play times, etc.
5. Watch Closely
Now you know that when your rabbit starts thumping, it’s a sign of stress, pain, or fear. If you’re able to calm it down, don’t leave it on its own. Watch its behavior closely for the next couple of days.
Continue to care for and love your rabbit so it doesn’t get sick or lonely again. Remember, there’s a difference between cat and rabbit body types. Cats and dogs are sturdier than rabbits. This means that rabbits require closer attention and gentler treatments.
Call a Vet to Get Information and Help
If you think your rabbit’s restlessness isn’t improving, call a vet immediately. There are some things a vet can figure out way better than you could.
Trusting a professional vet with your pet rabbit is the best thing you can do in a crisis. Let the vet examine your rabbit to find an effective solution.
You may want to be equipped with rabbit insurance to cover vet fees and other costs. Thus you and your furry friend can return home with smiley faces.
To Conclude
A rabbit’s thumping can be difficult to handle sometimes if you’re not aware of its reason. Thumping or kicking can mean any of the things we’ve shared above.
It is important to be more attentive to your rabbit. Sometimes rabbits may act normal, as though nothing has happened to them. There might be no stomping, no tantrums at all. Still, you must check their eating, poop, and sleeping habits regularly.
Get your rabbit regularly checked by a vet. It ensures that your bunny is healthy and happy.