Rabbits growl for various reasons, including fear, aggression, and warning about their territory. When a rabbit feels threatened, it will growl to warn off the perceived threat. If the growling doesn’t work, the rabbit may resort to biting or scratching.
You love your rabbit, but lately, it seems like all your rabbit wants to do is growl at you. You’re not sure what you did wrong, but you want to make things right.
Feeling puzzled and even hurt when your normally cuddly bunny starts giving you the silent treatment is natural. After all, rabbits are social creatures that bond closely with their owners. So, why has your rabbit been growling at you lately?
There are a few possible reasons why your rabbit may be growling at you. It could be that your rabbit is feeling ill or in pain. If your rabbit seems otherwise healthy but is suddenly growling at you, it could be that something in its environment has changed and is causing your rabbit stress. For example, if you recently moved homes or introduced a new pet into the house, your rabbit may growl out of fear or insecurity.
In this article, we are going to go over the most common reasons rabbits growl and what you can do to put an end to this behavior.
What You'll Learn
The 6 Most Common Reasons Rabbits Growl
They’re Angry
Rabbits are capable of feeling a full range of emotions, including anger. If you’ve done something to upset your rabbit, it may growl at you out of anger. For example, if you try to pick up your rabbit when it doesn’t want to be held, it may resort to growling.
They’re Stressed
Rabbits are easily stressed by changes in their environment. If something in your rabbit’s surroundings has changed, it may cause it to feel stressed, leading to growling. For example, if you recently moved homes or introduced a new pet into the house, your rabbit may growl out of fear or insecurity.
Rabbits can also become stressed if they’re not getting enough exercise. If your rabbit is cooped up in its cage all day, it may start to growl out of boredom or frustration.
They’re Afraid
If your rabbit feels threatened by something, it may growl as a way to warn off the perceived threat. For example, if you have a dog that likes to chase rabbits, your rabbit may growl at the dog out of fear.
Sometimes, rabbits will also growl out of fear of people. If your rabbit is not used to being handled, it may growl at you when you try to pick it up.
They’re Sick
It’s possible that your rabbit is growling because it doesn’t feel well. If your rabbit is lethargic and not eating, it might be sick. In this case, you should take your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible.
They Want to Be Alone
Rabbits are social creatures, but they also need time to themselves. If your rabbit is growling at you, it may be trying to tell you that it wants to be left alone. This is especially likely if you’ve been handling your rabbit more than usual or if you’ve been trying to pick it up when it doesn’t want to be held.
Rabbits may also growl at people they don’t know. If you have visitors over and your rabbit is growling at them, it’s possible that your rabbit is just feeling shy and wants to be left alone.
They’re Showing Dominance
If your rabbit is growling, it may be trying to establish itself as the alpha rabbit in the relationship. This is most likely to happen if you have more than one rabbit and they’re still trying to determine who the “leader” is.
How Can You Determine What Your Rabbits Growl Means?
What Was Happening When They Growled?
The first step in understanding why your rabbit is growling is to think about what was happening when the growling started. If you can identify the trigger for the growling, it will be easier to figure out why your rabbit is doing it.
For example, if your rabbit starts growling when you try to pick it up, the growling is likely a sign of protest. On the other hand, if your rabbit starts growling when a new person comes into the room, the growling is likely a sign of fear or insecurity.
What’s Their Body Language Like?
In addition to growling, rabbits communicate through their body language. If you pay attention to your rabbit’s body language, it can give you clues about why they’re growling.
For example, if your rabbit is hunched over and growling, they’re likely in pain. If your rabbit is growling and baring its teeth, they’re likely feeling threatened. And if your rabbit is growling and running away from you, they probably want to be left alone.
What to Do When Your Rabbit Growls at You
You can do a few things when your rabbit growls at you. These tips can help defuse the situation and make your rabbit feel more comfortable.
Walk Away
If your rabbit growls at you, the best thing you can do is to walk away. This will show your rabbit that you’re not a threat and that they don’t need to growl at you.
See if You Can Identify The Problem
If your rabbit is growling because it’s in pain, try to make an appointment with the vet. If your rabbit is growling because it’s afraid of something, try to figure out what that is and remove it from the environment.
Speak Calmly to Them
In some cases, you may be able to calm your rabbit down by speaking to them in a soft, calm voice. This can help show your rabbit that you’re not a threat and that they don’t need to growl at you.
What if They Won’t Stop Growling?
If your rabbit won’t stop growling, there are a few things you can try.
Offer Your Rabbit a Treat
One way to get your rabbit to stop growling is to offer them a treat. This will show your rabbit that you’re not a threat and that they don’t need to growl at you.
Put Them in Their Cage
If your rabbit is growling and you can’t get them to stop, you may need to put them in their cage. This will give your rabbit a chance to calm down and will also protect you from being hurt.
Take Them to The Vet
If your rabbit is growling and you can’t figure out why, it may be sick. In this case, you’ll need to take them to the vet for an examination.
Are Unneutered Rabbits More Likely to Growl?
Yes, unneutered rabbits are more likely to growl than neutered rabbits. This is because unneutered rabbits have more testosterone, making them more aggressive. If you have an unneutered rabbit, you may want to consider getting them neutered. This can help reduce their aggression and make them less likely to growl.
Rabbits Are Great Communicators
Rabbits communicate through their body language, and if you pay attention to your rabbit’s body language, you may be able to figure out why they’re growling. In some cases, you may be able to calm your rabbit down by speaking to them in a soft, calm voice. If your rabbit won’t stop growling, you can try a few things, including offering them a treat or putting them in their cage. If your rabbit is growling and you can’t figure out why, it’s possible they’re sick and you’ll need to take them to the vet for an examination.
