You absolutely love your rabbit, and you’re not afraid to show it. But all the toys, comfy beds and treats, can’t let your bunnies know how special they are to you.
In this video, we’ll show you 14 ways to tell your rabbit you love them in a language they’re sure to understand.
Hiding Spot
Bunnies are always on the lookout for places to shelter. It makes them happy knowing there are places they can hide and feel safe. In their natural habitat, they protect themselves from predators with underground tunnels they can run into and hide.
So to show your rabbit you care for them, make them a hideout, like a wooden house in the style of a small kennel, so that they can have alone time when needed.
This will show them that you understand their needs and that you love them
Talk to them
A study conducted by Dr. Robert Nerem found that rabbits who were talked to and received affections during the feeding time, lived healthier and longer lives than bunnies who weren’t.
This means that speaking softly with your rabbit while petting them will calm them and help them relax.
Respect your rabbit’s nature.
Many rabbit owners dress up their bunnies or discourage them from certain inherent behaviors such as digging, chewing or eating their own droppings. This can cause anxiety and frustration.
It is important that you love your rabbits for who they are.
Pet them where they enjoy it most
Rabbits see petting as akin to grooming, which happens between two friendly bunnies. When you pet your rabbit, you’re telling them you care about them. It’s the most direct way to tell your little pet you love them.
The best places to pet rabbits are their forehead and behind their ears. They also love getting strokes down their back or around the shoulders. With that said, they dislike being touched on their bottom, feet, stomach or tail.
Get down to their level
Rabbits are prey animals and they find anything towering over them intimating.
When you’re standing or even sitting down, your bunny can only engage with your legs. They’ll see you as a big scary creature and are more likely to be wary of you.
Instead of hovering above them as an imposing giant, bring yourself down to their level.
Sit or lay with your rabbit on the floor and let them come up to you if they want to.
Chewing
Rabbits’ teeth will grow continuously all their lives, and they’re designed to be worn down to the right length by grinding away at food. In the wild, a rabbit’s buffet menu often includes hard vegetation such as hay, twigs, tree bark, and other material that requires lots of chewing. The extensive chewing keeps their growing teeth under control. This is why it’s important to provide your little pet with unlimited access to grass hay which they can graze on throughout the day.
Prepare their favorite food
Although many cartoons have misconstrued that rabbits love carrots, the truth is that rabbits love bananas more. This is because rabbits love bananas more than any other fruits or vegetables in the world.
Scent Mingling
Rabbits are territorial creatures and they love everything that smells like them.
Rabbits often mark their scent through their droppings, urine, licking, or chinning. Yes, that’s right. Rabbits have scent glands under their chins. When they rub their chin against something, a tiny amount of their specific scent is deposited on that object.
Spend time with your bunny and let them spread their scent on you and your clothing. Don’t move away when they lick you. Let them wander in and around your legs. It’s their smell that help them know you’re theirs and they will feel at ease with you.
Keep them calm
This is the best way to tell your bunnies you love them. Rabbits are prey animals and anything unexpected will end up scaring them or putting them on alert. If you make your rabbit’s day-to-day life scheduled and expected, they will be a lot happier in their environment.
Spend time with your rabbit
Like with any relationship, spending time together is a great way to show affection. Try not to get too distracted by the TV or your phone. Make a schedule and devote some time every day solely to your rabbit.
Never let them go alone.
Rabbits are incredibly social animals and appreciate constant companionship. In the wild, they live in large family groups, and constantly interact with each other.
Without your interactions, rabbits can get bored, even to the point of becoming depressed.
#3. Let your rabbit explore
Rabbits are curious creatures, and they love having the chance to explore new places and run around.
So make sure to provide your bunny a large enough space to run around and satisfy their explorative nature. You can even build a nice playground area for them. Cat tunnels are great gifts for your rabbit as they simulate their tunnels and burrowing systems. You can also use cardboard boxes to make them someplace to chew, hide and explore.